Fallow Antler

Do Deer Love Soybeans?

Game management has been given proper credit for reestablishing the deer herds, but it is actually the deer themselves that should be credited for changing their habits to adapt to our civilization. Soybeans are not exactly the native forest environment of deer.

Deer love soybeans. Soybeans are a particularly good food source for nursing does because they enhance rich milk production. The excellent protein of the soybean produces fat little bucks. Deer can be spotted at night in soybean fields in prolific numbers in areas of successful repopulation. Soybean fields are a great place to scout in order to estimate deer numbers or to select a particular specimen. Simply shop for deer from the convenience of your automobile by using a spotlight. This is generally legal providing the spotlighters do not shoot the deer, an action which is illegal everywhere. Some states allow no spotlighting at all. The individual law may state that it is legal only if no firearms or other devices for taking game are in or on the vehicle. In some instances, local laws do not even allow a scouter to shine his headlights over a field and will prosecute for “harassing wildlife.” Check with officials before attempting to spotlight a bean field. Never use your vehicle to chase or harass deer.

Red lights are less alarming to deer. The kind that plug into a cigarette lighter are the most popular. White lights will do quite well, however, and will show up antlers instead of just eyes.

Soybean foraging by deer is a growing concern for farmers. Small numbers of deer cause no major crop damage, as the deer selectively nibble a little here and there. But in areas of high population density, deer congregate to socialize as well as to dine and become a nuisance. Often bean farmers welcome hunters with outstretched arms until the hunters destroy more beans than the deer do. Hunters often show little or no consideration for crops by driving through crops or dragging deer through them.

The fallow fields are primarily hunted during early season, which is generally bow season. Mid-October is the usual harvest time in most areas. After the beans are harvested, the deer will move into other areas in search of other food supplies. It is usually true that acorns become the new primary food. Sometimes beans are harvested early enough that a good number of soybeans which fell away from the harvester root and sprout. This new growth is prime deer forage and suitable hunting ground for later hunters.

In shooting deer in the soybean fields, the hunter must take care not to damage the beans. Deer must be carefully carried out and not dragged.

Deer are most destructive to soybeans when they are first sprouting from the soil in the spring. This is the only time that deer will consume the whole plant. This is not often a problem, however, since the woods and fallow fields are also producing new growth at this time.

Later in the season deer merely eat small parts of a plant here and there. They do not uproot plants or take them to the ground. Groundhogs (woodchucks) do a lot of the damage to soybean fields that is attributed to the track-leaving deer.

Farmers sometimes get upset when they spot a couple of deer out in their beans. Such farmers can have their crops inspected by conservation officers and biologists upon request. Farmers are issued special hunting permits which allow for some departures from the regular laws of the harvest. These permits are often handed out by the farmer to hunters who might assist him in reducing the number of deer in his area. These permits are usually for does only, since does do the reproducing. Bucks are to be left for regular hunters.

Sometimes the farmer may be allowed to sell these permits to recoup some of his income. For foodfare these animals are of the finest quality. Those who complain of “wild-tasting” venison (providing that the wild taste is not the result of poor cleaning methods) should consider hunting beanfield raised deer.

To find out just who has these special permits allowing hunters to take more than the regular number of deer, the hunter might check with the game warden, the feed and seed store, or the local agricultural office, co-op, or other farmer-related places.

For beanfield hunting during gun season, a flat-shooting, long-range rifle with a scope is recommended. A field that is barren of deer upon first observation might at any time have deer all over it suddenly appearing which had been bedded down out of sight in the shallow cover of the bean plants. Scope out the field for antlers.

About the Author

Albie Berk enjoys hunting and sharing what he has learned and any successful tips he can with others. He enjoys
South Carolina hunting
and usually stays at
Carolina Buck and Boar

Development of the antlers in the Fallow deer

FALLOW DEER – buck / male in rut, with grass on antlers Photo Mugs CAN-891 FALLOW DEER – buck / male in rut, with grass on antlers UK Dana dana John Cancalosi Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way. contact details prints ardea tel and 44 (0) 20 8672 2067….

Fallow Deer – buck with grass caught in Antlers Photo Mugs CAN-908 Fallow Deer – buck with grass caught in Antlers Dama dama John Cancalosi Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way. contact details prints ardea tel 020 8672 2067….

Fallow Deer – Buck with large antlers Photo Mugs USH-2643 Fallow Deer – Buck with large antlers Jaegersborg deer park, Copenhagen, Denmark Dama dama Duncan Usher Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way. contact details prints ardea tel 020 8672 2067….

Three Antler Fallow Lamp This Three Antler Fallow table lamp has a rawhide shade included. Bring the distinctive taste of Western America into your home today with a quality hand-made antler lamp. Hand-made antler products begin with hand selected shed antlers, no deer are killed. The antler itself possesses a beautiful color and is graceful in shape, making this lamp a highly unique piece of art. All of our lighting comp…

6 Light Elongated Fallow Antler Chandelier This elongated fallow antler chandelier is illuminated by six lights that require 60-watt max candelabra bulbs.Hand-made antler products begin with hand selected shed antlers, no deer are killed.The antler itself possesses a beautiful color and is graceful in shape, making this chandelier a highly unique piece of art. All of our lighting components are UL listed and approved and is entirely concea…

8 Light Elk & Fallow Elongated Antler Chandelier This fallow and elk antler chandelier is illuminated by eight lights that require 60-watt max candelabra bulbs and finished with lovely rawhide shades.Hand-made antler products begin with hand selected shed antlers, no deer are killed.The antler itself possesses a beautiful color and is graceful in shape, making this chandelier a highly unique piece of art. All of our lighting components are UL li…

Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Various types of deer from Mary Evans $29.99 Photo Puzzle, Various types of deer. Four types of deer Fallow Deer, Roe Deer (male and female), and Antelope. . Chosen by Mary Evans. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5. Puzzle image 5×7 affixed to box top. Puzzle pieces printed on RA4 paper at 300 dpi. This item is shipped from our American lab….

Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Fallow Deer – Buck with large antlers from Ardea Wildlife Pets $24.99 Photo Puzzle, Fallow Deer – Buck with large antlers. USH-2643 Fallow Deer – Buck with large antlers Jaegersborg deer park, Copenhagen, Denmark Dama dama Duncan Usher Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way. contact details prints ardea tel 020 8672 2067. Chosen by Ardea Wildlife Pets. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black ca…

Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Fallow Deer – Male from Ardea Wildlife Pets $24.99 Photo Puzzle, Fallow Deer – Male. SM-223 Fallow Deer – Male Autumn Dama dama Stefan Meyers Please note that pritns are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way. contact details web ardea tel and 44 (0) 20 8672 2067 . Chosen by Ardea Wildlife Pets. 10×14 Photo Puzzle with 252 pieces. Packed in black cardboard box of dimensions 5 5/8 x 7 5/8 x 1 1/5. Puzzle image 5×7 a…

Do-All Outdoors Iron Buck Antler Mount Kit $25.00 A new way to show off your trophy! Do – all Traps Iron Buck Antler Mount, ON SALE! Your antlers plus this Iron “Skull” equals one amazing work of art! The Iron Buck Antler Mount allows you to display your antlers with pride and style. Just slide your antlers between the two iron plates and tighten the screw… nothing could be easier! Very versatile and completely reusable if a bigger pair of antl…