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Create a deer and turkey plot #892351

Asked February 05, 2025, 5:45 PM EST

I have a couple acres in Cincinnati (north side neighborhood) and would like to plant grasses for deer to forage and protective cover for birthing, bedding, etc,. We also have wild turkeys from the near by cemetery that like to roam onto the property and would like to plant to support there visits . I have been clearing the land of honeysuckle, poison ivy. Am also adding a couple of native plum trees. What grasses would be recommended to accomplish this? I did spread a winter cover crop in one area of radish and clover can both grasses and cover crops be planted together?

Hamilton County Ohio

Expert Response

Libby: keep in mind that our white-tailed deer aren't "grazers" like cattle. They are "browsers." While they may feed a bit on grass blades, they didn't evolve where grasses dominate. They eat tree leaves, small stems, buds, etc., and enzymes in their saliva are so good at deactivating plant toxins such as tannins that they can eat a quantity of acorns that would kill a cow.

However, that does not mean you shouldn't plant grasses. In fact, you may want to treat your acreage like a pasture by using "pasture grasses" for a couple of reasons. First, grasses can be highly competitive preventing some of our nasty weeds like poison hemlock and wild parsnip from establishing. Those weeds can quickly establish where there's low plant competition. Here is a posting that describes both. All of the pictures were taken in and around Greater Cincinnati: https://bygl.osu.edu/node/2356

A couple of other reasons for planting pasture grasses is that the seed is readily available, for obvious reasons, and many are eye-catching when they produce seed. Here are two publications that can guide you on selection and establishment:

https://equine.ca.uky.edu/content/which-grasses-should-you-plant-your-pastures-seed-selection-pasture-renovation


https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0145/8808/4272/files/A3637.pdf


An Ask Extension Expert Replied February 07, 2025, 11:29 AM EST

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