when do beans become a main food source again?

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hunter10
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when do beans become a main food source again?

Unread postby hunter10 » Tue Sep 27, 2016 12:04 pm

After the colour switch from green to brown/dry in our hunting areas I have not seen the deer using it as a food source. I take it they have moved into the cover and acorns have become the main food. I know late season standing bean fields can be great but when do the deer go back to the brown beans?


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DeerDylan
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Re: when do beans become a main food source again?

Unread postby DeerDylan » Tue Sep 27, 2016 12:38 pm

I see them hit them again once the beans are cut. Other than that I see late season like you mentioned.

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Swampthing
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Re: when do beans become a main food source again?

Unread postby Swampthing » Tue Sep 27, 2016 12:51 pm

I had deer last ignore brown beans, and literally minutes after combining they were out picking.

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Re: when do beans become a main food source again?

Unread postby hunter10 » Tue Sep 27, 2016 1:03 pm

Thanks guys same observations I have had, thought maybe I was missing something. Unfortunately in my areas after beans are cut, it isnt long before the ground is plowed under. Never had the chance to have a standing bean field late season in a snow to consider a main food source.
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Re: when do beans become a main food source again?

Unread postby Jeff25 » Tue Sep 27, 2016 3:24 pm

I have seen does feeding in brown beans the first week of November.

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Hawthorne
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Re: when do beans become a main food source again?

Unread postby Hawthorne » Tue Sep 27, 2016 3:30 pm

One of my best years shed hunting was when a standing bean field was left up all winter. Not sure why they didn't harvest them but it's very rare to see. Usually see it more with corn. I think when the beans turn brown it's right about the time deer are looking for higher carb foods to put on fat. Corn , acorns , and apples are all getting fed on also. Beans are still getting ate and would bet if your in a high ag area deer harvested will have corn and soybeans in there stomachs.

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Sam Ubl
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Re: when do beans become a main food source again?

Unread postby Sam Ubl » Tue Sep 27, 2016 4:04 pm

Yellow beans are the start towards tasting bitter, and once brown, in their initial stage, become extremely bitter. It's this reason deer will typically transition from the beans once they turn, to greener pastures and standing corn.

Alfalfa has a similar bitter effect when it's overly mature, which becomes obvious when it begins flowering on top and looks more like a weed than a crop.

Around here in SE Wisconsin, typically if you have an acorn crop near by AND a bean field, deer will typically stick to the cover of the hardwoods tossing acorns until closer to dark before entering the open bean fields to browse. Just an observation that may play useful.

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Re: when do beans become a main food source again?

Unread postby Ack » Tue Sep 27, 2016 5:39 pm

Jeff25 wrote:I have seen does feeding in brown beans the first week of November.

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^ This.

A standing bean field can be a huge draw in November and December. I've seen it too, and think they tend to seek out the beans after leaf drop when acorns and such are covered up for the most part.
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Edcyclopedia
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Re: when do beans become a main food source again?

Unread postby Edcyclopedia » Tue Sep 27, 2016 10:43 pm

NH doesn't have beans - so never...

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