Wall,

Sand or sand gravel soils can be tough to deal with. Here is the southeast we have areas with the sandy soil type "Lakeland". It is a deep sand and being such is very well drained. Without frequent rains such soils become droughty and don't offer much growth potential in drier times of the year, ie, summer. These soil types also tend to be on the acidic side thus limiting the utilization of clovers and other legume forage crops without liming, in some cases heavy liming.

One can amend such soils with organic materials such as manures, composted sawdust, or other composted organic material, even clay if you can get it. Adding such materials will boost the water holding capacity and the cation exchange capacity (ability to hold fertilizer) of these type soils. This process can be costly on the large scale, not to mention the difficulty of hauling a large volume of said amandments to the site. Dump trucks along with lime and fertilizer trucks, don't fit into wooded hunting areas very easily. You must also have equipment capable of tilling the amendments completely and effectively into the soil. This tilling should be to a depth of 6-8 inches.

Deep rooted crops like Chicory can be utilized effectively on such sites with adequate preparation. Chicory will send a tap root to "China" if you have decent soil prep. This characteristic helps it keep up with moisture in well drained soils. It will grow on slightly acidic sites. I have had decent luck with it here in the south on sandy soils with a pH of 5.6 to 5.7. It will grow well in the north (I've seen the common form on road sides in Michigan). There are many forage varieties available from many different seed sources. Pennington and Cooper are typically good companies to deal with. As with any crop you need to soil test first to ascertain soil pH and fertility levels.

It has been my experience with chicoy that it tolerates close grazing very well. It is highly attractive to deer and is very nutritious almost 90% the value of alfalfa. Stands in my research plots lasted 3-5 years before disease and grazing pressure took thier toll. chicory will require about 150 pounds of nitrogen per acre per year for good growth. That is best split into 50 lbs at planting, 50 in the late summer/early fall then 50 in the spring. In the south we plant Chicory in the fall (9-15 to 10-15) I can be sucessfully planted in cooler climates in the spring.

The seeding rate for Chicory is 5 pounds per acre.
Prepare site by tilling as deeply as possible. Chisel Plowing in two different directions (cross ripping) is very effective.
8 to 10 inches in depth is necessary for sufficient tap root development assuring drought tolerance.
Harrow to break clods and smooth site.
Drag or culti-pack to assure an even, level seed bed.
Spread seed evenly then drag or culti-pack again to assure good seed to soil contact.
Plant no deeper than 1/4 inch.

If your soil pH is adequate (7.0 to 7.5) Alfalfa can work as it will root quite deeply given adequate soil (read deep) prep and proper pH. Follow the soil prep recommendations above. The recommended Seed Rate for most varieties is 25 lbs./acre. Cultipac and cover seed 1/4 inch deep. You must inoculate seed before planting. Establishment and maintenance costs for alfalfa are very high. It is highly susceptable to overgrazing in small plots.

Cereal grains like Rye, Wheat and the wheat/rye hybrid triticale can provide excellent grazing during certain times of the year. They are an annual crop and must be replanted each year. This requires more work than utilizing perennials such as Chicory or Alfalfa. Of these tow I would look at Chicory first.

If you can get a soil test done on your planting area you are welcome to email the results to me at uge3237@uga.edu. I will be glad to make fetilizer and lime recommendations accordingly.

Wall, this is the best I can do for you. In real life I am a professional agronomist, but as I stated my expertise is centered in the southeast. I see no reason the above forage crops won't work in your area. Results as always are dependant on preparation, weather and a cetain amount of luck.

Also, if your local extension agent has been unresponsive to your questions I bet their boss would like to hear about it! Helping you is their job...

Good Luck!

Try some clay peas, it works for similar soil at our club. Another thing that loves rocky soil and the deer will go crazy is watermelons!!!!! Not sure how costly that would be though. Best thing is the peas for deer. Good Luck