I have 19 acres with 12 of that being horse pasture and the remainder is hardwoods in a wide shallow creek that is prone to flooding in winter rains.

I see plenty of deer during the summer, but they just disappear as soon as they cut the corn down the road. I think they just don’t have any decent bedding since the hardwoods all up and down the creek are mature (not a lot of underbrush). I’ve sectioned off 2 acres of the back pasture so the horses can’t get to it and I’m thinking of something like egyptian wheat to get the bucks somewhere to bed. Anyone ever do the same with any luck? Also considering letting it naturally grow up, but I’d hate to have to clear it back out if I ever change my mind on it.

I’m no expert, but have heard deer thrive in the 1-3 foot range. My vote would be natural regrowth that is cut back every so often so it doesn’t get out of hand. Egyptian wheat might be too tall. Curious what others say.

I’m no expert either, but I’ll tell you what I have seen on my property. I have planted both Egyptian wheat & sunn hemp for screening and/or bedding cover. The deer didn’t seem to use either one for bedding. Maybe they are too “stalky” and noisy for the deer to feel comfortable, just a guess. The deer very seldom even walked thru those fields. The Egyptian wheat works great for screening though.

Plant native grasses and burn it on a rotation.

Definitely.

I've given thought to native grasses, but it's a bit overwhelming. Do you have resources that you swear by for re-establishing native grasses? How do you balance NWSG and NCSG as far planting and disturibng soil?

Update: I went an entirely different direction. I just ordered 150lbs of millet seed.

I figured the deer can use it for bedding and if it doesn’t work, I’ll atleast have one hell of a dove field. Maybe even a duck or two as well.