I've been plotting for 20+ years. Tried everything but sun hemp. Why did you pick that?
Have planted sun hemp a couple times past few years.
It withstands browse pressure. Deer bite top and it keeps growing.
It grows rapidly after a few weeks....stays well ahead of a high deer population.
Its is 20+% protein.
It will grow tall (8' to 10') but it can be mowed to keep it about 18" high and producing new growth. Shades out weed and grass growth.
When its time to fall plant cereal grains.....the sun hemp will be mowed close and tilled under.....puts 100 to 150 lbs acre nitrogen into soil.
Resists nematodes and diseases.
Puts down a long tap root that can/will bust thru hard pan. This makes it drought tolerant.
These deer in this riverbottom eat the heck out of, so I have to plant it in every plot to divert the extremely heavy pressure.
Its great brood cover during the rest of the summer for the turkeys.
It can be used as a screen to hide entrance to stands and provide sense of security for the deer. It grows tall and thick if not mowed.......can mow strips in the bigger fields like shooting lanes.....for a great setup.
Its is expensive but need no fertilizer. It is much better in deer plots than peas or any other legume.
Deer may resist eating it in regions with ag field soybeans and such. I dont have any ag.
BTW... was gonna mix in cowpeas and browntop millet, but decided the hemp will do all I'm after....and saves me money.