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[Don T]

Hello everyone. My name is Don and I live in Baton Rouge, LA. I have had vegetable gardens before but it was just stick in the ground and hope. I am nearing retirement and looking at gardening as a hobby.

I also have a small piece of land where I hunt deer. I am looking at planting anything that I can plant there that helps them through different times of the year. Also planting some fruit trees that give both myself and them something to eat.

[kbb964]

Hi Don !

and dont forget to check out your Regional page on the forum!

[yolos]

Do a google search for Austrian Winter Peas. I think you plant them in the fall and they grow throughout the winter. They are also a good cover crop. I planted them in my old row garden last fall trying to enrich the soil but the deer ate the tops off every last one of them.

[Don T]

Do a google search for Austrian Winter Peas. I think you plant them in the fall and they grow throughout the winter. They are also a good cover crop. I planted them in my old row garden last fall trying to enrich the soil but the deer ate the tops off every last one of them.

I usually have Austrian Winter Peas in the mix that I plant on the food plots. Only once did they make it until spring when they grew very well. I found it strange that the deer ate the plants but did not eat the peas themselves. Most years they clean them out in the fall.

[brenda g]

Hello Don, and welcome! In regard to your deer - based on your location I am guessing it is whitetail deer that you are after? That's what we've got up here and since there are many rules on baiting, having deer friendly plants on your property is a great way to go without having to worry about all those rules! They love white oak acorns, apple, pear, crabapple trees and clover. I guess the most important thing is to have some variety year - round that will keep them near by - and, variety in diet will keep them healthier. It also wouldn't hurt to have a pond dug if you don't already have a source of water on your property, but that's taking it to extremes! Hope you get some good venison!

[Don T]

Yes, whitetails are the only native deer in LA. And LA is one of the states you can legally bait. I have already planted several varieties of fruit trees. I lost two Santa Rosa Plum Trees to the deer last year, by not providing a cage to protect the trees early enough. They ate every leaf off both trees.

At present I have planted sawtooth oaks, white oaks, cow oaks, peach trees, crab apples, and three varieties of pears, and persimmons of which only one turned out to be female. Muscadine grapes are native to the land, and many varieties of native browse.

Venison is very easy to get but I have a hard time shooting the does for some reason. I usually let the guests take them to keep the population in check.

I'm always looking to plant something new and will probably plant more next spring.

Just started my SFG at the house. Making it a very nice garden that can hold flowers if I take a break from veggies. Enjoying the process of learning.

Don

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