By: Ryan Basinger

Ryan Basinger of Alabama is a certified wildlife biologist and the Wildlife Consulting Manager for Westervelt Wildlife Services. He has a broad range of professional experience managing wildlife populations and their habitats on public and private lands throughout the Southeast. Ryan has conducted research on a variety of species and habitats where he examined the effects of various forest management techniques on browse production, availability, preference, and nutrition for white-tailed deer. Ryan also has conducted extensive food plot research where he compared production, nutrition, preference, and availability of various forages planted for deer. He earned his bachelor's degree in wildlife science from Mississippi State University and his master's in wildlife management from the University of Tennessee.

Frosty Berseem Clover for Deer

Jul 9, 2018 Ryan Basinger

In a previous post, we featured berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) as a potential food plot species. The problem with berseem clover in food plots, however, is it is highly susceptible to winter kill. Many food plotters…

read more

Cereal Rye for Deer

Aug 15, 2017 Ryan Basinger

If there was ever a tough-man competition for deer forages, cereal rye would likely make the title bout. Cereal rye (rye hereafter) is a durable forage that can overcome adversity on many levels, such as…

read more

Forage Rape for Deer

Jul 11, 2017 Ryan Basinger

The very first time I planted rape (Brassica napus) was in 2001 on a property that had a high deer density of 50 to 70 per square mile according to a trail-camera survey. To my…

read more

Grain Sorghum for Deer

May 31, 2017 Ryan Basinger

Sorghums are classified into four groups – grass sorghums, grain sorghums, broomcorn, and sorgos. The grain sorghums are typically planted for deer and other wildlife because of their ability to produce grain. It is this…

read more

American Jointvetch

Jan 16, 2017 Ryan Basinger

American jointvetch (Aeschynomene americana), or aeschynomene as some refer to it, is a warm-season annual legume that is used in pastures as livestock forage, for hay production, or as green manure. It is also an…

read more

Austrian Winter Peas

Jul 28, 2016 Ryan Basinger

Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum) is a cool-season annual legume that has long been considered a high-preference forage for whitetails. Due to its nitrogen-fixing ability, winter pea has numerous agricultural uses, and it is very…

read more

Radishes for Deer

Jul 18, 2016 Ryan Basinger

Radishes (Raphanus sativus) are somewhat of a newcomer to the food plot menu for whitetails. Native to Asia, radishes are produced for a variety of uses but are primarily grown for food. In the United…

read more

Sunn Hemp for Deer

Mar 11, 2016 Ryan Basinger

Sunn Hemp Test Results for Summer Food PlotsSunn hemp is among the newer options for your summer food plots, and we tested it last summer at QDMA Headquarters. This short video shows you what we…

read more

Food Plot Species Profile: Alyceclover

Mar 27, 2015 Ryan Basinger

Alyceclover is a warm-season annual legume that is primarily used in pastures as livestock forage or managed for hay production. Despite the name, alyceclover is not a true clover, as it does not bear a…

read more

Food Plot Species Profile: Lablab

Mar 27, 2015 Ryan Basinger

Along with soybeans and cowpeas, lablab is one of the primary forage legumes planted for deer each spring and summer – and for good reason. Lablab (Lablab purpureus) is a warm-season annual legume that originated…

read more