This isnt really a criticism as it’s just asking the question of “I wonder if……”

I wonder if you could measure it how much utilization those huge fields of pure clover receive this time of year compared to the amount of forage being grown??.....Meaning…..are you growing 100 times more than is being consumed???......If so then it would stand to reason that while those fields look really, really pretty…..a more diverse stand of plant species may actually have more forage consumed per acre……Deer seem to be creatures that will only consume so much of one item no matter how much is available

We grow beautiful clover fields on our place also. The few turkeys we have love them. However this time of year I see very little to no signs of the deer using them. I’m not saying they aren’t. I just don’t see where the clover is clipped like when it’s young in December and January.

I still think even though we want to see those pretty magazine worthy picturesque stands of clover as humans that the wildlife would probably prefer it to be a weedy stand of clover and actually utilize more of it that way……You might not get the same kind of clover growth but like I was saying in the original post...do you actually need that much production?

I encourage diversity, even within my clover stands. Mine have plenty of clover, but also have Carolina geranium, henbit, chickweed, poa annua and other natives that provide insects, flower buds, and browse for all sorts of wildlife. I don’t get all hot and bothered by having weeds in wildlife plots. It’s a good thing. I’m not OCD about food plot maintenance with herbicides because it’s a food plot. It’s not a commercial agricultural crop.