Best Oat seed?

[Sivart]

I want to incorporate some oats for this fall for Oct attractant. Is the buck forage oats one of the best seed? Is there some that is easier to grow than others? It's looking like a dry year.

[Bwana]

I have tried the buck forage twice... was not impressed either time...first time in a fall planting(labor day weekend)... was only about 3" tall when the first frost came the third week of October and killed them hammer dead. Tried them another time with a late March spring planting.. grew like crazy and was 2' tall in a short time... never really saw any deer use either time.
Have sown farm store "feed" oats on 3 occasions... can't say they did any worse than the bob oats.
Best test I ever did was to plant a fall hunting plot in a 4 acre field by sowing pure stand strips of brassicas, oats, and winter wheat. I spent a considerable amount of time sitting over the plot that fall and repeatedly watched my deer feed only on the winter wheat.
Thinking this fall I am going to try the same test with winter wheat, winter rye, and turnips.

[schlag]

Best oats are the one you go buy for horse feed. They are cleaned and cheap and grow just as good as the crap that costs a fortune. You will not be disappointed.

[Geo]

Jerry oats wont break the bank.



G

[Sivart]

Dr. Deer sure praises the buck forage version.......

[berk]

Originally Posted by Sivart

Dr. Deer sure praises the buck forage version.......

He also says brassicas are toxic to deer.

[j-bird]

I have not had very good luck with oats either. I can get them to grow fine - I just can't get the deer to eat them. I have the same deal with turnips. I will say that the deer in my area prefer winter wheat of all the cereal grains. After the season closes you can find deer out in the winter wheat fields eating anything that is green and again in the real early spring. They don't seeem to be much for a hunting plot in my area, but will provide food after the season. I am in farm country however and I also have standing corn plots so other food is available.

[dgallow]

Originally Posted by Sivart

Dr. Deer sure praises the buck forage version.......

Dr Deer won't share ALL he knows about BFO on TV either....just what you the audience and you the gullible consumer SHOULD hear. Things like BFO planted in replicated test plots adjacent to thick cover and NO deer use fall/winter/spring! Separating good marketing in a competitive industry from actual economics/usefullness to the plotter can be an elusive fine line! There are others besides Dr Deer playing this marketing game!

Especially when conditions are dry, look for a named oat (Bob, Jerry, Jim, Paul Ed, etc) with a certified seed tag and from the last production year. Get some of the seed out fromt eh bag fill spout and look at it. Are the kernals all plump and uniform in size with not off color(s)? If so buy it and plant it! In ideal planting/growing conditions, VNS or bin run oats are fine!

One thing you will find on this forum is 'average plotters/farmers' with honest opinions (but sometimes biased) and on-farm results, that in itself keeps most of the marketers only away!

Just remember as a US consumer you are free to make purchasing choices!

[dgallow]

Originally Posted by berk

He also says brassicas are toxic to deer.

MAybe one should Google 'red deer and brassica'?

He also won't tell that the data he speaks of came from red deer in a pen with no other food choice than brassica. His claims have yet to be substantiated in a free ranging herd with good habitat!

Yes, he is a savy salesman in addition to a good scientist! Do you think the BFO sponsorship is making/has made his Corvette payments?

Fortunatley, the US consumer can make free and informed choices!

Google and Gooogle Scholar rocks....separting maketing and true science!

[EddieC]

Do this: Take the money you would spend on Buck Forage Oats ($40+) and buy a bag of Jerry/Feed Oats or whatever your local supplier has on hand ($10). Then, take the money that you have left over and buy a membership to QDMA. That money will pay for itself with all the knowledge and information you get from this site and the publications.

Deer prefer the oats when they are young and tender, so plant them a few weeks before your hunting season begins. Once the plant gets above a certain age, the deer will no longer browse the plant (until it forms a seed head), unless they don't have any other food source.