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Post by olmucky on Jul 31, 2023 12:05:54 GMT -5
One thing to take note of is how deer prefer forbs over grasses. I hunt a central Florida wma and over the years I’ve seen deer browse and rarely have I seen them stop to eat in one spot longer than a minute or so. They move through forbs, a nibble here, a nibble there, chew, move along, repeat. I haven’t figured out if it’s cause they like to keep moving, the variety they encounter when they move or they don’t want to eat an area out in one stop. Prolly all 3 When I have seen them stop in one spot for any length of time. They’ll take a nibble here and there but mostly it’s to groom, scratch their head, ears, have a bite figure out where they’re heading and is the coast clear. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them spend much (if any) eating grasses.
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Post by One Man Gang on Jul 31, 2023 12:43:26 GMT -5
We don't have to worry about it here but deer can mow down a field of soybeans. Those first few rows next to the woods always get browsed down pretty good.
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Post by Crkr 23 on Aug 1, 2023 6:09:31 GMT -5
Honey Locust, deer eat the seed pods. I've never found it growing in Florida, I suspect it may grow in NW Florida. I have found it in Central Alabama. If you tear open one of the seed pods it has a real sweet smell. The other identifying characteristic is the dang thorns, they are close to 2 in long and cover the whole tree, trunk, limbs, everywhere. Don't make the mistake of trying to hunt out of one, they'll eat you up. Attachments:
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Post by 4ward on Aug 3, 2023 19:53:04 GMT -5
Black Titi, I remember some studies that I read once( in the 90’s), I have never tried to identify it myself. I do remember that it was a huge % of an old GFC study on north Florida deer stomach content.
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Post by Crkr 23 on Aug 3, 2023 20:31:36 GMT -5
I believe black titi is the scrub like bush that you find growing in cypress ponds. Maybe Cyclist will step in and help identify it. I remember reading the same thing about titi at a kiosk at a NCF WMA.
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Post by 4ward on Aug 3, 2023 20:49:49 GMT -5
Long dark ( evergreen ) leaved shrub. Almost fern like. Off memory. Aw shit, now I gotta get on google. Thanx
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Post by Crkr 23 on Aug 3, 2023 20:51:05 GMT -5
I think this is a photo of black titi. Attachments:
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Post by 4ward on Aug 3, 2023 20:58:36 GMT -5
I’ll look for the old printed study that I had. This was pre-internet so it might be fun. I’m pretty sure that I still have it somewhere.
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Post by Crkr 23 on Aug 4, 2023 8:57:34 GMT -5
4ward, if I remember correctly from the FS forum that you are from the Cross Creek area. Now if I'm correct in what I'm calling Titi, it's the predominant plant growing in Mosquito Bay especially in the couple of places that they made cuts in the bay. If it is real wet you will find it growing on old stumps.
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Post by Crkr 23 on Aug 4, 2023 9:17:35 GMT -5
Early season/hotter in pine plantations are full of mushrooms and deer love them. I watched a yearling and doe eating them one afternoon. Yearling had one hanging out her mouth like a pacifier. LOL
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Post by Crkr 23 on Aug 4, 2023 9:22:57 GMT -5
I watched a decent 9 pt feed for over 30 minutes on the rotting logs at an old log loading ramp. I could not for the life of me think of what he was feeding on. After the hunt I went over and checked it out. He was eating the fungi that was growing on the rotting logs.
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Post by cyclist on Aug 4, 2023 9:52:30 GMT -5
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Post by Crkr 23 on Aug 4, 2023 11:30:55 GMT -5
I believe you don't see much evidence of them browsing on titi because there's so darn much of it, kind of like gallberry.
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Post by tampaspicer on Aug 4, 2023 13:15:13 GMT -5
I watched a decent 9 pt feed for over 30 minutes on the rotting logs at an old log loading ramp. I could not for the life of me think of what he was feeding on. After the hunt I went over and checked it out. He was eating the fungi that was growing on the rotting logs. Yeap and the fungi that grows on rotting wood is non-toxic.
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Post by Crkr 23 on Aug 5, 2023 6:56:59 GMT -5
All right guys I'm getting to the end of my small knowledge of deer food sources so I saved the best for last. It's not really a great food source because it doesn't have enough protein to sustain deer so I would call it an attractant. It's been the death of many deer, mostly does and yearling bucks. It also was been the ruin of some pretty good hunters, they seem get as drawn to this food source as the deer are. They become sitters and not so much hunters and begin to believe the only way to kill deer is over this food source. This food source is primarily found on private land, in fact if you find it on public my advice is "run". When you get a safe distance from the food source call the GW, he'll appreciate it. Attachments:
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