Deer and sunflowers

**Silentweapon338** · 06-09-2015, 08:38 AM

Is there a certain stage in a sunflowers growth that deer can not hurt them?

This is the first year I have planted flowers for birds and tried to keep deer out. Normally I plant with the intent of feeding the deer.

I didn't know if the plant got "X" height or statue and the deer would no longer be able to hurt or retard the growth of the plant.

Thanks for the help!

**EveryDay** · 06-09-2015, 08:41 AM

Only when it turns brown and dies.

I have seen them eat the flowers as long as there is still green on them.

**2thDoc** · 06-09-2015, 09:16 AM

my opinion...take it for what it's worth....

A lot depends on your deer density and overall forage available. Deer really like sunflowers when they first germinate. I have seen some deer damage all the way up to when they start making, but I havent seen them eat the flowers! I am sure, in some places, that they do....but once you get the plant up a few feet and the leaves are as big as a pie plate, they dont seem to mess with them AS MUCH.

Granted, I had a buddy who said the deer were wearing out his corn. I was confused and asked him when he planted. He said " a month ago." I couldnt figure out what the hell he was talking about so I went and took a look. It turns out that he had recently fertilized his corn and his deer were eating the stalk and all the leaves. This is WAY before the corn was even close to making. I was shocked...but he was right. In my area, I dont have enough deer for them to want to eat my freshly sprouted corn.

**Sportin' Woodies** · 06-09-2015, 09:44 AM

They eat the flowers.

**Catdaddy** · 06-09-2015, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by 2thDoc

I was shocked...but he was right. In my area, I dont have enough deer for them to want to eat my freshly sprouted corn.

Yep, they have ruined a few corn fields I have planted the last few years. Most were 6 acres or less.

The problem with deer in sunflowers is that after eating the main stalk, the plant suckers a lot and you end up with 6 flowers the size of golf balls, instead of one pie plate.

**willk** · 06-09-2015, 10:23 AM

We had a ten acre field planted wall to wall in sunflowers several years ago. EVERY DAMN PLANT in the field was eaten. Lots of them were eaten all the way down to the ground.

**The Assassin** · 06-09-2015, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by willk

We had a ten acre field planted wall to wall in sunflowers several years ago. EVERY DAMN PLANT in the field was eaten. Lots of them were eaten all the way down to the ground.

How big did they get before they wiped them out?

**Highstrung** · 06-09-2015, 10:31 AM

They will eat full grown heads off, they'll eat the entire plant if they want to. They're deer. When it's dead they'll leave it alone. Once they find it, you might as well build a fence.

**willk** · 06-09-2015, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by The Assassin

How big did they get before they wiped them out?

2-3ft probably.

**rocketman** · 06-09-2015, 10:40 AM

I've given up on planting them until.we can get a fence built.

**Slaya** · 06-09-2015, 11:10 AM

Deer suck.

**JOHNSON** · 06-09-2015, 11:16 AM

They ate my cantaloupes in the backyard over the weekend. They're also working on the sunflowers pretty hard at the moment.
I'm afraid to look at the corn.

G

**2thDoc** · 06-09-2015, 11:30 AM

i checked them both sunday. some browsing on the flowers but not enough to matter. corn looked OK. no browsing.

**stant** · 06-09-2015, 11:39 AM

We lost half of a 6 acre field last year, so far this year no damage. The fence works great. And thanks to HS for the design.

**Calibogue** · 06-09-2015, 12:23 PM

Deer eat ALL things fertilized....know that!

**Calibogue** · 06-09-2015, 12:24 PM

Sonsabitches are nipping my pond corn right now but not for long!

**Silentweapon338** · 06-09-2015, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Calibogue

Deer eat ALL things fertilized....know that!

This I know! And the corn thing I knew! I tried to explain to the good folks at DNR this was happening and they didn't believe me.

They do now lol! after it got up about knee high they left it alone. By then the food plots pulled them off of the corn but man that was a chore for a while!