The cereal grains are a group of forages often grown as food for people. These grains are also planted in food plots to provide a nutritious forage for deer and to create an attractant during the hunting season. Cereal grains are most nutritious to deer when the plants are young and growing quickly. Deer will also eat the seed heads if these forages are allowed to mature.
Winter vs. spring varieties of cereal grains
Cereal grains are annual forages that must be replanted each year. Most species are available in either "winter" or "spring" varieties. Winter varieties are generally planted in the fall and can provide deer with a food source during the hunting season. Depending on the region where you are planting, some fall-planted "winter" cereal grains will over winter and grow again the next spring, providing an early spring food source to deer. Spring varieties of these grains are planted in the spring and generally have little, if any, tolerance to cold.
Plant cereal grains with other forages
Cereal grains can be planted alone but they are most beneficial to deer when planted in a mixture with other annual or perennial forages . They are especially valuable when planted as a "nurse crop" for legumes such as clover. Because cereal grains grow faster and begin growing earlier after planting than clovers, the grains often receive most of the first grazing pressure from deer, when the clovers are young and susceptible to grazing damage.
Types of cereal grains
The following is a description of the three species of cereal grains most commonly planted in deer food plots.
Oats are a cool-season cereal grain that are highly preferred by deer. During the first months of growth oats are high in protein (14% to 18% protein) and easily digestible. In most cases, deer prefer oats over the other cereal grains. Oats are most often used in fall-planted hunting plots to attract deer.
Site requirements of oats
Oats have a couple drawbacks that make them unsuitable for some planting situations. First, they are the least cold tolerant of the cereal grains and they are easily killed off in extreme cold. As a result, they may not be the best choice for planting in northern regions. Second, oat plantings will often fail if planted in no-till food plots; the seeds must be covered with 1" to 2" of soil for proper germination. For best results, plant in well drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Oats will not grow well on deep sands, and they will not tolerate poorly drained sites.
Winter oats best for deer food plots
Oats are available as winter oats and less commonly as spring oats. Spring oats are summer annuals and tend to have lower forage production than winter oats. Spring oats have no tolerance to cold temperatures. Winter oats will generally be your best choice for deer food plots. When selecting winter oats, choose varieties that are the most winter hardy. Buck Magnet oats is an example of a winter hardy variety. Other varieties used in deer food plots include Arkansas, Dehli Bob, and Florida 501.
Suggested forage mixtures with oats
The following are some examples of suitable forage mixtures that include oats:
winter oats, soybeans, and winter wheat
winter oats and brassicas (forage rape and turnips)
winter oats, Austrian winter peas, and forage rape or turnips
Wheat is a cool-season cereal grain that is preferred by deer and ideal for planting in mixtures with other forages. During its first months of growth, wheat is high in protein (14-20% protein) and highly palatable to deer. As a result, it is an excellent forage for fall-planted hunting plots and as an early-spring food source.
Site requirements of wheat
Of the cereal grains, wheat is the most tolerant of heavy wet soils. It is more cold tolerant than oats, but less tolerant of cold and acidic soils than rye. It grows best on well drained or moist soils with pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Unlike oats, it can be planted successfully without tilling the soil.
Winter wheat vs. spring wheat
Wheat is available in "winter wheat" and "spring wheat" varieties. Winter wheat does best when planted in the fall, and spring wheat is planted in early spring. Choose winter wheat in regions where wheat will over-winter. Because winter wheat establishes in the fall and begins growing early in the spring, it is available to deer for a longer period, and it has greater production than spring wheat. If planting spring wheat, plant as early as possible to maximize the amount of forage produced.
Varieties of wheat
There are many varieties of wheat to choose from but you should always select "forage" varieties for deer food plots. Also, select varieties that are resistant to diseases such as root rot, mildew fungus and rust. Ask your local Cooperative Extension agent which diseases are a problem in your area. Winter hardy varieties of winter wheat include: Caledonia, Harus, Mendon, and Genesis 9953. Other varieties used in deer food plots include: Pioneer 2551, Pioneer 2548, Fuller Florida 302
Suggested forage mixtures with wheat
Wheat is most beneficial to deer if it is planted in a mixture with cool-season legumes. The following are some examples of suitable forage mixtures that include wheat:
wheat and crimson clover or arrowleaf clover
wheat, red clover and ladino clover
wheat, red clover, ladino clover and birdsfoot trefoil
Rye is a cool-season cereal grain that is less preferred than oats or wheat, but is still eaten readily by deer. Rye is most palatable to deer when it is young. Protein content in young, tender stems is between 14% to 16%. It is most useful when planted in a mixture with cool-season legumes. It is suitable for use in fall-planted hunting plots and as an early spring food source.
Site requirements of rye
Of the cereal grains rye is most winter hardy and drought tolerant. It will grow on a variety of soil conditions including sandy soils and low acidity. It is less tolerant of wet sites than wheat. Rye grows best on well-drained soils with pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Rye is excellent for no-till planting.
Winter rye vs. spring rye
Rye is available in winter rye and less commonly in spring rye varieties. Winter rye tends to have greater production than spring rye. Occasionally you will read about "fall" rye; this is just another name for winter rye. Aroostoock is a winter hardy variety of winter rye.
Suggested forage mixtures with rye.
Rye is most beneficial to deer if it is planted in a mixture with cool-season legumes. The following are some examples of suitable forage mixtures that include rye:
rye and crimson clover or arrowleaf clover
rye, red clover and ladino clover
rye, red clover, ladino clover and birdsfoot trefoil
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