Land & Legacy - Habitat + Hunting · Land & Legacy

Just How Valuable are Forbs for Whitetail Deer?

·41 min·3 clips

Marestail and ragweed provide more phosphorus and protein than many food plot crops, yet hunters spend money killing them.

This episode of Land & Legacy focuses on the critical nutritional value of forbs, or broadleaf plants, for whitetail deer during lactation and antler growth. Host Matt Dye is joined by recurring expert guest "Chainsaw Chad" to dissect a specific university research study. They analyze the study's findings to provide practical takeaways for land managers and hunters. The discussion centers on research from Oklahoma State University, conducted with Craig Harper, which analyzed the nutrient content of native forages for whitetail deer. The study established that a lactating doe with twin fawns requires a diet with at least 15.3% crude protein and 0.34% phosphorus. Researchers evaluated forbs, semi-woody plants, and woody plants to see which met these demanding criteria for protein and phosphorus. They found calcium was rarely a limiting nutrient in these native plants, shifting the focus to protein and phosphorus levels. The average young forb leaves analyzed provided 18.6% crude protein and 0.28% phosphorus, nearly meeting the high standard. A surprising insight is that many plants considered agricultural weeds are highly nutritious deer forages. Species like marestail (horseweed), common ragweed, giant ragweed, pokeweed, and jewelweed often met or exceeded the nutritional benchmarks. The hosts note that 80% of marestail samples and 60% of pokeweed samples met the adequate levels. This challenges common practices, as hunters often spend time and money eradicating these plants from food plots. The episode emphasizes that prescribed fire and timber thinning are highly effective, low-cost methods to stimulate a flush of these valuable native forbs from the seed bank. The conversation clarifies that promoting forbs does not diminish the importance of woody browse, which is crucial in winter when nutritional demands are lower and forbs are not available. The research showed 11% of young woody plant leaves still met the protein or phosphorus requirements. The hosts advocate for a seasonal management approach, prioritizing abundant forb growth for spring and summer nutrition while maintaining woody browse for fall and winter. They highlight that fertilizing native forbs did not consistently increase their nutrient content, only their biomass, making disturbance a more effective management tool. The tone is educational and conversational, featuring a deep dive into scientific research framed through the lens of practical, on-the-ground habitat management. The hosts use specific plant names and study data to build their case while acknowledging where common hunter practices might be counterproductive. Listeners passionate about habitat management, ecological stewardship, and moving beyond simple food plot strategies will find this episode highly valuable. Those solely focused on late-season hunting tactics or quick-fix attractants might find the detailed forage science less immediately applicable.

As heard by us

A practical rethink of the weeds, browse, and native forage deer already use.

The discussion makes a strong case that deer forage reaches well beyond food plots, with native browse getting the attention it deserves. Adam and Matt move through burning, thinning, old fields, early successional plant communities, and wildlife openings, showing how each one…

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Why you'd press play

If you manage deer habitat, this one reframes weeds and forbs as part of the forage picture.

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