I know the title is totally weird but in difficult situations, we have to locate meat in order to provide sustenance for our family and possibly our community. There are a few animals that you can help encourage onto your property by planting their favorite foods and below I’ve broken it down into the most common hunted animals and their favorite foods.
Deer – The deer tends to be an easily spooked creature and prefers darkness; you can remove or lower any outside lighting and that will encourage their visits. There are salt licks and dried non-gmo corn that you can put into feeders to attract them, but be aware you could attract other creatures as corn is a lure for racoons.
- Mulberry Trees (any variety)
- Apple (Anna or Golden Dorsett)
- Oaks
- Willow
- Hawthorne
- Cedar
- Dogwood
- Crab Apple
- Petunias
- Chaya (tree spinach)
- Sweet Potatoes (any variety)
- Sunflowers
- Blueberry
- Azalea
- Holly
- Clovers
- Corn
- Plantain Lily Hosta
- Tulips
- Daylily
- Roses
- Hibiscus
- Morning Glory
- English Ivy
Rabbits – Wild rabbits are stealthy and prefer cover of darkness but will venture out during the day for those extra calories. Allow your native grasses to grow tall or provide a sweet potato patch for the rabbits to hide amongst from the predators. Avoid mowing during peak breeding season.
- Okinawan Spinach
- Sweet Potatoes
- Morning Glory
- Bachelor’s Button
- Impatiens
- Cosmos
- Marigolds
- Sweet Pea
- Verbena
- Zinnia
- Black Eyed Susan
- Clematis
- Daylily
- Crocus
- Liatris
- Plantain Lily Hosta
- Lilies (all varieties)
- Daisy
- Oriental Poppy
- Tulip
- Crab Apple
- Hawthorne
- Flowering Quince
- Rose
- Lilac
- Witch Hazel
- Serviceberry
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
- Grapes
Turkey – These feathery velociraptors will thrash around in the leaf litter in your woodland area, searching for everything moving that’s smaller than them.
- Lizards
- Small snakes
- Grapes
- Crab Apples
- Grasshoppers
- Caterpillars
- Acorns
- Walnuts
- Blueberries
- Spilled Birdseed (set up a bird feeder)
- Azalea Galls
- Paw Paws
- Crabgrass
- Crayfish
- Lichen
- Moss
- Pine Needles
- Tadpoles
- Pecans
- Prickly Pear
- Sedge
Ducks – Provide these creatures with a small body of water that has some duckweed and you’ll have a free source of fatty protein. Be aware that water sources attract other creatures and should be tended to avoid any moccasins turning it into their personal turf.
- Clover
- Dandelion
- Oxalis
- Plantain
- Purslane
- Strawberries
- Violets
- Duckweed
- Strawberries
- Lettuce
- English Peas
- Chard
- Kale
- Spilled Birdseed (put out a bird feeder)
- Oyster Shell
- Smartweed
- Crayfish
- Minnows
- Frogs
- Fish Eggs
- Fresh water reeds
Squirrels – These bold creatures will happily swing your bird feeder back and forth if it gets them some spilled bird seed, so while it may not seem worth investing in, it is in fact a good lure.
- Spilled Birdseed (set up a bird feeder)
- Mushrooms
- Acorns
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Fallen tree fruit
- Avocados
- Aloe
- Yucca
- Tomatoes
- Corn
- Hickory
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Tulips
- Crocus
- Sunflowers
If you have any questions about setting up your homestead, feel free to contact me on facebook or text. Happy homesteading!
Suburban & Rural Homesteading Today 