Alternative Food Sources

Deer hunters know of all of the major food sources that concentrate deer. Agricultural crops such as soybeans, corn, alfalfa, etc. We also know of the other "crops" that deer just love to eat at certain times of year. Items such as Acorns, (White Oak, Red Oak, Sawtooth Oak, etc) Then there are the wild fruits, persimmons, mescaline's. But when it comes to successful deer hunting, it is knowing the food sources when these are sparse. 

Here in the south we have been in a prolonged draught, acorns are sparse persimmons are there but small. Fruit and mast crops are hurting, it is during these times when we must find the other foods that congregate deer.

While this is very specific to your geographic area, there are other foods that will draw deer, even knowing they are grazers, and will take advantage of any foods that they know to be available. These include but are not limited to: Kudzu, Greenbriar, poke berries, ragweed, honey suckle to name a few. Knowing where these are located on your hunting land will greatly increase your odds when your other mainstay food sources are limited. 

Also one thing to keep in mind is that even in the poor mast years there is usually one or two trees that are not as effected, these will be hot spots, and every deer within a mile will know about it. Find that tree and hang a stand and get ready, it will be loaded with bucks. 

Another thing you can do to increase these odds for alternative food sources is to locate them and fertilize them. Put some fertilizer on the greenbriar, and honey suckle. (I would avoid planting and fertilizing kudzu unless you want to be engulfed by this vine while sitting in your stand. This prolific vine will grow several feet a day in good conditions.