- Q Has Buck Forage Chicory ever been tested?A Yes. We side by side planted Buck Forage Chicory next to Buck Forage Oats on our hunting lease in Stuttgart, AR. It is the only other plant we have ever seen that deer will eat when planted next to Buck Forage Oats. Q Will Buck Forage Chicory attract whitetail deer as well as Buck Forage Oats?
A No. We have not found any plant that deer will eat as well as Buck Forage Oats. Buck Forage Chicory is a great protein source for spring and summer that can be fall planted. It offers good fall attraction.
A 5 lbs. per acre
Q Do I need fertilizer of lime?
A Probably. Check with you local extension office for soil and lime recommendations. A general recommendation is 200 to 300 lbs. per acre mixed-fertilizer. Optimal ph is 7, but chicory will grow between 6-8.
Q Do I have to work the ground?
A Yes. We have found that you get a much higher success rate if the ground is worked and the seed is covered at about ¼” depth. Dr. Kroll broadcasted Buck Forage Chicory on top of the ground or into existing vegetation with some success but this will not always work. Buck Forage Chicory is easy to plant.
Q Will Buck Forage Chicory reseed itself?
A Buck Forage Chicory is considered a perennial. However, planting any seed and forgetting about it is a myth. With proper care, such as fertilizing and mowing, a Buck Forage Chicory plot can be maintained for 3 to 5 years. For most outdoorsman, it is easier and more cost effective to replant every year.
Q Will Buck Forage Chicory grow in my area?
A Probably. Buck Forage Chicory is a highly adaptable plant. However, there are some environments that Buck Forage Chicory will not tolerate. Buck Forage Chicory will work in well-drained soils, and only in regions receiving 30 + inches of rain per year. Dr. Kroll has had good results in south Texas where drought can be severe.
Q Is there anything that will attract deer as well?
A There are several different plants that may attract better during warm season. Soybeans and cowpeas are excellent but are only spring planted and will not stand up to heavy grazing. Buck Forage Oats are more preferred during fall hunting season.
Q How much forage can Buck Forage Chicory produce?
A Under optimal conditions, Buck Forage Chicory can produce up to 73 lbs. per acre per day during the peak growth season. Chicory can usually average 50 lbs. per acre per day between the months of April – October.
Q How far north can Buck Forage Chicory be planted?
A Buck Forage Chicory is very winter tolerant. It can be successfully grown well into south Canada.
Q Will it make my bucks have big antlers?
A No single seed or mineral alone can guarantee that. There are many factors involved in producing trophy antlers. High quality food is a necessity but is far from the only factor.
Q Why should I plant Buck Forage Chicory?
A There are several reasons. First, Chicory is a good fall attractant. Second, Chicory is a high protein producing nutrition plot during spring and summer, with protein running at 20 to 30% depending on growth stage.
Q Can I plant Buck forage Chicory with Buck Forage Oats?
A Yes, in fact we suggest this. By doing this you can turn your harvest plot into a combination harvest/nutrition plot that can last almost year round.
Q Can Buck Forage Chicory be spring planted?
A Yes. This practice works best in the Northern U.S.
Q Is Buck Forage Chicory as good as clover or brassica?
A We feel chicory is superior to either because it is a highly preferred food source and excellent from a nutritional standpoint. Brassica (rape, turnips, etc.) is actually a very low choice food source in whitetail deer.
Q Is Buck Forage Chicory better than soybeans and peas?
A Yes. Buck Forage Chicory will withstand heavy grazing of its forage. Beans, peas, and chicory all have high protein and are preferred by whitetails. However, beans and peas will die if they are heavily grazed when they are small.
Q How large of a plot should I plant?
A As large as you can. Bigger plots produce more food.
Q Is Buck Forage Chicory a Harvest Plot?
A Yes, but it tends to go dormant in fall. Buck Forage Oats is still your best bet for hunting season.
Q What is a nutrition plot and would buck Forage Chicory be considered a nutrition plot?
A A nutrition plot produces high protein. The forage produced is highly digestible. Chicory is among the best for this purpose.
Q Will turkeys use Buck Forage Chicory?
A Yes, very well.
Q Is there a better spring or summer food plot?
A Not to our knowledge.
Q When do deer eat Buck Forage Chicory?
A Primarily in the spring and summer, but you will also get some usage in fall.
Deer Channel 
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