Forage Mixtures for White-tailed Deer

Forage legumes are widely used as components of mixtures planted as supplemental browse for white-tailed deer. Warm-season forage legumes, such as Rio Verde lablab and Iron and Clay cowpea, are usually planted in late spring or early summer to provide a high protein source for deer in mid to late summer. These same summer legumes can be fall-planted in mixtures with clovers and small grains to provide supplemental forage from October through May. Cooperative research was conducted by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at Overton, TX to determine optimum seeding rates of these forages.

The image above shows a mixture of 40 lbs cowpea, 40 lbs oats, and 10 lbs arrowleaf clover. It shows the mixture at 30 days post-planting. For more information, please see the articles below.

Fall-Planted Forage Mixtures for White-tailed Deer
Wildlife Forage Areas and Food Plots for Deer