I watched the radar and the dark cloud cover approach from the southeast as I waited for the rain to christen my freshly planted seeds.  Three hours earlier I applied lime and fertilizer, drug the dirt, and then spread an application of Whitetail Institute of America’s Tall Tine Tubers on top of the seed bed.  Along with many others, I was anxious to see how well these new turnips grew and held up to the deer grazing.  The Southeast experienced the beginnings of a drought, but that was supposed to change with this rain.  At least that is what was supposed to happen.  What actually happened was the dissipation of the storm front and five more weeks of drought.

Tall Tine Tubers were designed and developed by the Whitetail Institute of American to provide food sources through the fall and winter months.  Tall Tine Tubers is the first tuber variety developed specifically for Whitetail deer.  As with all seed types, varieties, and mixes at the Whitetail Institute, Tall Tine Tubers was put through a rigorous phase of testing.  For those who have used WTI products, a standard of excellence is expected.  As with any living plant however, certain conditions must be met; proper soil conditions, adequate moisture and sun light.

I planted Tall Tine Tubers in two locations expecting emminent rain. This particular area experienced temperatures in the high 90’s with a couple of days in the low 100’s and NO RAIN.  I gave my Tall Tine Tubers up as lost and prepared to replant after the first rain.  Two weeks later, when I returned to the property, this is what I found.

I could not believe that the seeds had germinated and then survived.  I was lucky enough that this small plot received only partial sunlight through the day and was at the bottom of a downward slope, holding what pre-existing moisture was available.  Even still, I couldn’t imagine it surviving much longer without rain. I was wrong again. The turnips were only three inches tall when the deer started grazing them. I feared the seedlings would be unable to reach maturity under the heavy grazing.  I was unable to plant any other plots because of the drought, so these two small patches were receiving all of the attention that was normally spread across 3.5 acres.  I thought for sure the plants would be stunted.  I was wrong once again.  You can see here that the Tall Tine Tubers turnips grew fabulously.  They pulled deer, held deer, and stood up to the heavy traffic.  Then they began to form the tuber below the green top.  At this point things really picked up.  About the same time we received two heavy rains and two days of light frost.

 During the late summer, a soil analysis revealed a below optimal PH of 5.4.  I applied 1600 lbs of lime per acre and provided fertilizer at a rate specific to the soil needs.  The soil was plowed before the application and then I pulled a harrow drag over the surface.  The seeds were then spread over the top and set with a roller-packer.  These seeds met my expectations even in adverse conditions.  A biologist for the Whitetail Institute, when I asked if the Tall Tine Tubers were really worth all the hype, replied “oh yeah.”  He was right.  Not only do the deer love them, but they met my own taste test.  You may have even seen “Possum’s” pictures of a meal he made of WTI turnips and greens.  A major advantage to these turnips is their persistent growth.  The leaf can withstand grazing and the plant will continue to grow.  We are only just reaching the point where the Turnips are softball sized and beginning to turn sweet.  I have found the occasional tuber up-rooted and chewed up and expect to find many more in the up-coming weeks.

Even in the Deep South, Tall Tine Tubers have earned their place among such names as Imperial Clover, Pure Attraction, Chic Magnet, No-Plow and all the others.  Expect to see superb results in the more northern states where Tall Tine Tubers will take advantage of the cold and snow that they are designed to withstand so well.  You can bet Tall Tine Tubers will be in my Management Plans.

By Brent Sawyer

TalkHunting Pro Staffer, Brent "Cobrican" Sawyer, was born into a sporting family.  His first couple years of life were spent on the banks of Lake Arthur and around his grandfather's farm in Jennings, La.  Even when his family moved to the city, they visited the farm often.  Brent's parents and Pawpaw spent as many hours as they could find taking him outside to learn how to care for and survive on the land around him.  They camped and hiked.  They gardened.  Brent joined the Boy Scouts as a Bobcat and continued to be involved through his High School days.  There, he learned many new skills to help him belong out of doors.  Brent and his cousins would often sleep out under the stars with only a blanket.  

At the age of 8 he was given his first BB gun.  At 10 he was allowed to hunt with a shotgun.  The family had a lease where they hunted, predominantly, Speckle-belly geese with the occasional snow or duck.  They also hunted doves and rabbits.  Brent learned how to call specks well enough to hunt on his own in only a short time.  About the time Brent went to college, his grandfather dropped the hunting lease.  Fortunately, North Louisiana offers some great opportunities for hunting on public lands.  He spent many hours duck hunting as well as hunting small game.  In 2000 Brent was invited to his first deer hunt.  Since then he has been fully involved in the deer hunting experience.  He also loves to fish.  Lately he has made more opportunities to fish salt water than freshwater but he enjoys both.

Brent Graduated with a degree in Forest Technology and has used his degree as a basis for hunting and recreation properties management.  He joined Talkhunting.com in 2008 and has attended gatherings in Louisiana and Alabama.  He also works for Breathe Safe Environmental Services as a third party monitor for lead and asbestos abatement.  He loves his job but hopes to be able to one day move exclusively to property management and consulting.

Comments(3):

1. Good to know!

   I have looked at the TTT and wondered how they perform. Reading what they stood up against in this article and that they still thrived is a great testament to their performance. Thanks for the info!

   Tuesday, December 28, 2010 Duane

2. look at tall tine tubers

   already planting wti clover, wintergreens, and pure attraction, may have to add these for upcoming year to have enough food for my deer yard herd. thanks for the informative article cobrican.

   Tuesday, December 28, 2010 brad

3. TTT

   Brent I pulled about a dz of the Tall Tine Tubblers turnips last week and tossed them in front of a game camera and they were eaten in 2 days. Yesterday I pulled a mess to eat myself... Awesome aritcle...

   Saturday, January 15, 2011 Dennis