Hunting Forum

For brassicas how small is too small? If the plot is a 1/10 acre will it get eaten before I am able to hunt it? What would be the minimum size for brassica plots?

My own plots are at least 1/4 acre in size and I also use a product called Deer Stopper and those drive-in fence post to put up a temporary fence till it can get big enough to survive regular use by the deer. The fence and the product I bought at a lanscape supply store and it works great for letting whatever you plant to get big enough where it is not killed by the deer eating it. The fence consist of the mentioned drive-in post and I use burlap 1/4" twine as the strands and you only need 2 and then I hang pieces of an old sheet along the pieces of twine and spray everything including the fence post with the Deer Stopper which for whatever reason smells like spearmnit. Since I started using this method my plots have all been productive as the deer are not killing it by eating before it gets big enough to survive being grazed on a regular basis. I was a bit skeptical the first time but you could see where the deer approaced the plots but would not go over nor under the fence but once it was removed they started using them as I had hoped they would. By doing this I was able to get my fall/winter plots to produce the turnips and other seed that was in the mixture to maturity. The turnips were not really eaten other than some of the plant leaves but when the first frost came within 6-8 hours of the frost the deer where in the plot pwaing the turnips out of the ground. The frost turns the starches to sugar and the deer know this and itis important that you keep up with the weather report and when they call for the first freeze as this happens in a matter of hours after the turnips are exposed to the freezing temp. This is not a precise plot size but is the on that I use so you can take it for what it is and that is my way of planting and taking acre of food plots. Also if you plant clover this is the best way to assure it reaches maturity and therefore it will produce for a few years instead of a short lived overgrazed plot. Clover grows best for me when I use the fence method and after it gets to it's first 6" height I then use my lawn mower and cut it to about half that and I will cut it if and when it gets to high as this keeps the growth young and tender which the deer love. My explanation and opinion on this subject and nothing more nor less.

thanks for the help