Was in the tree last night and night before, and I saw the deer get up out of the corn where they were bedded and run to the freshly combined bean field. There were quite a few deer than ran to the field and started eating the loose beans off the ground. Always thought they hit them when it was green and then hit them again in Dec. But I’ve never seen them choose the beans over corn when presented with the choice.
Where I hunt in SE MN deer love the fresh picked bean fields.
I even saw deer feeding in the unpicked beans last week. Not many, but 4-5 does doing it one morning. Thought that was odd since the combines were parked on the approach ready to get started.
I have always noticed that deer prefer beans over corn where I hunt. When the plants are green they eat the plants, when they dry down either picked or not they hammer them. I have had them feeding on the standing beans for a month now and now that they are picked they are back in them. My small plot at home is still standing, but they have touched those yet.
I wonder if it’s due to the fact that beans are just easier to eat when they’re all shelled out on the ground? Versus corn that the deer have to pull off the stalk, get through the husks, etc?
I guess one more question to add to the list of stuff that it would be nice to ask a deer about. They know, but they aren’t talking.
Grouse
Was in the tree last night and night before, and I saw the deer get up out of the corn where they were bedded and run to the freshly combined bean field. There were quite a few deer than ran to the field and started eating the loose beans off the ground. Always thought they hit them when it was green and then hit them again in Dec. But I’ve never seen them choose the beans over corn when presented with the choice.
Fresh picked field this morning had 15 deer in it still at 7:30AM. I’m sure they were feeding there all night. Not all picked beans are the same however. The older farm equipment provided the most beans on the ground for deer, and even if there’s lots on the ground, they won’t come to it unless it’s in an area they feel secure in. Most often, that’s not within sight of a road.
The same thing is happening for the guys that hunt where they chop corn for silage. I had a buddy who killed a really nice buck that was coming to a 3-hour old silage chop just a few weeks ago.
Amazing what opportunists they are!
Joel
Just past a 2-3 day old picked bean field on my way home from work and it had 11 deer both does and bucks in it. Southeast MN still has them hitting the beans.
Dave
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