LBB
I've heard it many times over the years that feeding deer, particulary feeding them corn, where they are not used to eating corn, actually causes them more problems than just letting them fend for themselves.
Deer are ruminants and thus have a rather complex digestive system and as I understand it feeding them a feed that is too rich in carbs will cause an increased level of certain acids that kill specialized bacteria they need to break down woody browse that they survive on during the winter months. Basically then they can eat all they want but because their stomachs now lack the bacteria, they can't break down the food into nutrients, and they often starve or become weekened several weeks after the intial feeding.
Of course if you live where there is already corn stubble fields everywhere, then maybe they're already used to corn. But from what I've seen in northern MO they still hit the woody browse hard even though they forage on picked corn fields all winter, so . . . it's probably best just to let nature do her thing.
We're feeding 16%(min) protein alfalfa cubes (approx 1-1/2" squares). Four feeders spread out over 800 acres. Going through about 400lbs/week right now.
I'm from Indiana. We provide a diversity of food plots as close to year round as possible. There just isn't anything left come February and March. That's when we put out supplements.
Have found the deer will tell you when they are hungry...and when they don't need the supplements any more. i.e. We put out the first round of feed on January 26th. Trail cams confirmed the feed was found quickly, yet the deer really didn't start taking advantage of it until February 7th.
They are calling for temps in the 50's all next week, so I expect a gradual slow down and expect the deer to snub the feed by the end of the month.
We had zero mast crop last fall, below average temps this winter and above average snowfall....so the activity at the feeders was above average this year.
Mineral licks will be freshened for the year within the next couple weeks.
Goal is to have the herd in "growth" mode rather than "recovery" mode when the sun tells those antlers to take off. Healthy does yield healthy fawns as well.
Mike
I'm no expert on this, just passing along what I've been told and/or read over the years from those who are.
In general, yes, deer that are not used to being supplementally fed can suffer disastrous health problems (especially with corn if they aren't digestively "used" to it right now) despite the good intentions we may have. 99% of the time, unless they are USED to it, and are given the TYPES of winter nutrition they need, feeding does more harm than good.
The best way to feed deer right now is to cut some branches or hall in branches that they can munch on. They really don't need all that much food right now, a little goes a long way.
SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING Let's assume that a deer on decent natural habitat will eat no more than 25 percent of its daily diet in supplemental feed (high-protein pellets, cottonseed, dried soybeans, etc.). The only time I've ever seen deer eat more than about 2 pounds of supplemental feed per day is when they have degraded the natural habitat to the point that browse plants (including not just "ice cream" plants but also "subsistence" species) are of limited availability and quality. In such cases, the deer have no choice but to utilize supplemental feed heavily to get adequate nutrients.
True, whitetails can do well enough on supplemental feed, as evidenced by captive deer with no other forage options; however, they will only become dependent on such feed when forced to because of severely degraded habitat nearly devoid of natural browse. Deer are browsers by nature. Standing in one place at a feeder and eating feed is an unnatural act, and they will only do it in excess if forced to by the elimination of good browse options.
Let's assume that supplemental feed has 20 percent protein. With 25 percent daily consumption of supplemental feed and 75 percent of natural forage (at 11 percent protein), the average protein level increases from 11 percent to 13.5 percent. That's nearly a 25 percent improvement: much better than the natural habitat alone, but still well below the 16 percent level reputed to be the desired minimum for full body and antler growth.
Assuming that supplemental feed replaces 25 percent of the natural browse in the diet, logic says that the herd density can increase by 25 percent — to a deer per 19.1 acres — without a significant increase in browsing pressure on the habitat. Or, to look at it another way, if the density stays at a deer per 25.6 acres, the increase in the nutritional plane (as reflected by the increased protein level) would result in an increase in body and antler size. How much? Perhaps something along the order of 25 percent of what would be possible with ideal nutrition.
So with supplemental feed in poor natural habitats, we see real gains in both deer numbers and size - without, in theory, necessarily impacting the habitat negatively. And my experience with supplemental feed supports this theory. It can elevate the nutritional plane enough to boost size and allow more deer to be carried. However, the degree of improvement is incremental and limited without damaging the natural habitat.
One of the great benefits of supplemental feed is that it tends to help level out year-to-year and season-to-season forage fluctuations, which can be a real challenge in some parts of North America. Also, it can give managers without an agricultural option a way to improve the herd.
The danger of too much long-term dependence on supplemental feed is the temptation to increase deer numbers to the point that the natural habitat is severely degraded. This creates a damaged ecosystem, a situation unacceptable to any responsible deer manager.
I'm using 3 1200# feeders filled with 13% or 20% creep calf feed. I keep it up for them year round. They were already hitting the cattle feeders anyway, and this style gives them the ability to get it in their system, get used to it, and thrive off of it when they need it. When other food sources are available, they use it less, but still use it.
don't
I do like the idea about the alphala cubes too. Got me thinking about cowpea hay and how hard that would be to put up.
In nature, the available feed sources change relatively slowly. it gives the papilli a chance to get shorter and fatter to avoid getting burned and the bacteria will be able to shift their populations to better digest the new feed source. If you want to feed deer, you need to be consistent. You can't wait until they are starving and then dump a bunch of feed to them. browse is actually pretty nutritious and will get deer through the winter fine if there is enough quantity. I like the idea of cutting down a tree or putting some trimmed branches out there for the deer to feed on.
I agree.
The days in Ohio where deer live on woody browse all winter are LONG since over. They most likely survive on corn and soybeans from picked fields.
Feed 'em corn and they'll be just fine.
He's been a keen observer and prudent manager of wildlife for quite some time, and knows the subject firsthand, not from reading what some "expert" wrote in a magazine.
I haven't examined the stomach contents on very many of the deer I've killed over the years, but my first one, a healthy young buck killed in late October, was busily snuffing up acorns when I shot him, but had a good bit of corn in his stomach when my buddy who was hunting with me that evening checked it out. That tells me that our deer around here, which usually grow up within easy walking distance of a cornfield, can digest a certain percentage of corn in their diet on a regular basis.
I've noticed some deer feeding sign around the edges of cornfields every time I've looked for it for the last fifty years, but it seldom extends past the first few rows. That indicates to me that they take a few nibbles when it's convenient, but don't make it a staple of their diet when other preferred foods are available, which pretty much also substantiates what pav said.
Lastly, I've seen the results of the winter feeding that my brother-in-law and nephew do on their property. They feed pretty much on the same pattern that pav does, but on a smaller scale. They only supplement during the hard winter months, and added some extra this year because the winter has been a particularly tough one.
Like most anything else you can name, feeding can be overdone until it becomes a negative, or done poorly, but I see no harm, and only good from doing it within reasonable limits and with some common sense.
To expand on what has already been said, corn is far from the best option available. Actually, it is a poor choice for your money. You are only talking roughly 7% protein content...which is nearly 40% less than natural browse.
Purina markets a deer chow at 20% protein, but you are talking in excess of $20 for a 50lb bag. Depending on the quality, alfalfa cubes and pellets will be somewhere in the 14-16% protein range. The deer will utilize these much more readily than actual alfalfa hay. Keeps better in bad weather too. You can buy 100lbs of cubes/pellets for about the same cost as 50lbs of chow.
For a midwestern climate, we're only talking a couple months of feeding. A mix of perennial food plots (clover, alfalfa, chickory, etc..) coupled with some annual food plots (brassicas, oats, rye, etc..) will sustain the herd's needs from spring warm up right up through early winter. As mentioned earlier, February and March are the critical months.
We know our deer aren't going to starve without the supplemental feed, but we also know they will go into spring growth and fawning in alot better physical shape with it than without it.
Somebody asked if this was just for bucks? Well, you can put a "Buck's Only" sign above the feeder, but I don't think the does will pay a bit of attention to it.... :^)
I believe the issue here is that a prolonged, severe winter has dramatic impacts on herds.
A normal hard winter isn't great but most adult animals can survive but it's when it's hard AND long is when a supplemental feeding can improve things significantly.
I have never heard that feeding them corn could hurt them as the property i hunt just started the year round feeding and we noticed a HUGE difference in body weight and antler production.
Again, this has been an awful year hear in TX and region. Anything to help get the animals through the next few weeks would be worth it.
you have now :-)
Another thing to consider is turkeys. If you have many turkeys wintering in the same area you are feeding deer, they will flat take over corn, all-stock, or a mixture of the two. We learned about all-stock the hard way. Bought some 14% all-stock one time and ended up with a couple thousand trail cam photos of turkeys! They hung out from fly down to roost time...every day ..until the all-stock was gone. Those birds are much less likely to bother alfalfa cubes and pellets.
Don't start what you can't finish. Financially, three of us will spend close to $200 apiece feeding 400lbs/week for two months. The tough part can be the weather. Wading knee deep snow with 50lb bags over your shoulders is no picnic. Quite a workout actually!
OK, carry on, ttt.
Corn? Better go back and read again.
How much food to put out will depend on how many deer are visiting the feeders, how often, and the number of times per week you are willing to restock. I couldn't begin to guess how many different deer hit our four feeders regularly?
We restock once every seven days when the deer are hitting the feeders hard. Trail cams are a big help. If I show up at the end of the week and the feeders are empty...I need to know when the feed ran out in order to adjust the amounts effectively. If there is feed left over, just top it off accordingly.
Weather man says a gradual warm up is on the way. The feeders will soon give way to new spring growth in the clover and alfalfa plots.
That is "feed" not "corn".
How and Where to feed: Winter feeding does very little to help the regional deer herd survive the winter because most of the herd (as much as 70%) is inaccessible to feeding. However, it can benefit individual deer if done properly. If you intend to feed, you must DO IT RIGHT, OR DON'T DO IT AT ALL! Careful consideration should be given to feeding efforts prior to implementation. If done improperly, you can do more harm than good.
Feeding tips: try to feed near sheltered areas with conifer cover that are out of the wind feed away from areas of high human use, dogs, cars, and snowmobiles supply feed at a rate of 2 pounds per deer per day resupply feeders when 90% of food is eaten put food in several places to avoid competition among deer for food use trough or box type feeders placed on the ground to avoid waste and fecal contamination Keep feeding deer until the snow melts in spring. Also, be aware that feeding can attract fairly high numbers of deer, and can result in surprisingly high expenses. Feeding deer in or near your yard can also attract and concentrate deer where they may also browse on much of your, or your neighbor's, ornamental trees and shrubs.
What to feed: If you accept the responsibilities of feeding deer, the following foods should be considered.
Deer Food Mixes: The Department of Natural Resources recommends feeding a special deer food mix consisting of a mixture of corn, alfalfa, oats, soybeans, molasses, and several vitamins and minerals. Many feed mills in Wisconsin sell this mixture in pellet or meal form. If such a mix is not available, rabbit or horse pellets with at least 12% protein can be used. By late February, deer that have been eating on woody browse for most of the winter can switch and readily digest this food better than corn or hay.
Oats: After the special deer food mixture, oats are preferred over all other supplemental foods. They provide deer with a very favorable ratio of fiber and carbohydrates.
Corn: We do not recommend feeding deer a pure corn diet as the high starch content of corn can cause high acidity in the rumen which kills microorganisms necessary for digesting food. Corn is widely used deer food in Wisconsin. It is less expensive than the deer mixtures, but not as nutritious. If corn is fed, it should be mixed with oats at a ratio of 4 parts oats to 1 part corn. Do not use corn unless you start feeding it early in the winter before deer are stressed.
Hay: In northern forested areas of Wisconsin, hay is the least desirable food for winter feeding purposes, and is not recommended. When deer have had reduced intake because of low food supplies, rumen activity declines and fermentation of fiber decreases. The fiber type in alfalfa cannot be readily broken down, and it can impact deer in such a way that it dooms them to continued starvation.
When to feed: Deer can be fed all winter if done for recreational purposes. If the intent is to save deer in a severe winter, the most cost effective approach is to start feeding in late February and continue through snow melt or until deer have dispersed to summer habitats. During March and early April is the time of winter when most deer that succumb to winter stress are likely to die. This is the time when supplemental feeding can benefit deer most, and will insure that you do not run out of interest and funding at a critical time of the year for deer.
During the cold and snow weeks, each of our four feeders were going through about 100lbs of supplement per week.
Last week, the sun came out, the snow melted off, and across the board...feeder usage was cut in half. It will continue to dwindle until we pull the feeders altogher in a few more weeks. Mission accomplished!
Like guidermd said...
"the deer know what to eat, how much of it to eat, how much not to eat, and things they should or shouldn't eat. when it comes to their nutritional needs, they are superior to man in knowing what they need and don't need."
Feeding concentrates deer unnaturally and encourages habitat destruction and disease transmission.
Let God take care of them.
