Impact of Simulated Deer Feeding on Cotton at Various Growth Stages

In recent years, many growers have noticed an increasing incidence of deer feeding in young cotton.  There are many theories as to why deer have begun to feed on cotton in recent years, where they didnt in years prior.  The number of deer feeding complaints has risen sharply in the last five years, however these cases are relatively isolated to fields that are noticeably population with a high number of deer.  Deer appear to feed on young cotton (less than five to eight true leaves) and primarily on the terminal bud.  Preliminary observations suggests that deer feeding can severely delay maturity and potentially reduce yields.  The objective of this study was to quantify the potential impact of simulated deer feeding on cotton at various growth stages