[dougell]

What else can you feed the deer that would be beneficial for them?

Cut browse for them.Otherwise,if there isn't enough food for them in the winter,you have too many deer.Kill more doe.

 

[dblungem]

Bingo the correct answer

Deer change their diet in winter and switch to browse but they still may have some corn available to them in the fields. Once Their system is used to browse, large corn piles where deer courge themselves does much more harm than good and can / does kill deer every year. Just because a deer lives in AG country doesn't mean they can eat corn in large quantities in winter months. Their systems cannot handle the excessive starch. Biologists know much better than we do and I would encourage anyone wanting to feed deer do their homework first.

 

[safe cracker]

here we still have corn out in the field along with soy beans the farmers have not yet cut and the deer are in the fields........

 

[aroslnger]

What about sweetfeed mixed with the corn?

 

[Zixer]

Corn alone is not a good thing for the deer, but corn mixed with other things like clover or some form of greens isnt bad. They have to have a variety of foods to keep things working properly...I like alfalfa and corn...and throw in some oats.....

 

[H20fwler]

I feed corn year round, also have clover and brasica plots out. Between that and the browse the deer eat anyway the ones in my area sure look healthy and well fed in the spring even after a hard winter like last year.

 

[golfanddeernut]

Boy this is an interesting debate. I do feed the deer a small amount of corn near my cameras, when it is legal to do so. That is the only corn that I know of that they receive(there are no AG fields here). I do know other neighbors do feed them corn. I guess what I will do is just feed them small amounts occasionally. I did put a bushel out last night and will let that go until it is gone, it probably only take a couple of days. I have a nephew that feeds the deer all year and does not ever have any issues.

 

[Billy H]

Throw out a small half gallon size bucket of corn every day. Wont hurt them in the least. Once they find it, it will keep them coming back for more.

 

[Pete53]

I feed deer in northern Minnesota,i have a lot nicer deer because I feed deer corn,apples and whole sugar beets all winter we have snow and cold 5 months a year sometimes longer

 

[Old Dutchman]

There is another good reason NOT to feed in PA right now -- CWD. Baiting and Feeding causes unnatural concentration of deer, which can be a major source of spreading CWD. In the CWD management zones, feeding is prohibited. It would be helpful if everyone in the state quite feeding the deer right now.

Here's a pdf with a ton more info. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/707296/feeding_deer_pdf

 

[Wildan]

If you are in an agricultural area where crops are grown there should be no harm.Deep woods deer,not a good idea.Lots feed corn and round bales in our area.We still have standing corn fields in Jan.and they are full of deer.

 

[SoIl.deerslayer]

i start them on corn and slowly bring them into pelletized feed

 

[bgriff008]

Where I hunt and have watched deer eat corn, oven ever seen any eat a lot at one sitting. They hang around for a few minutes then head out. But I've heard it's not good. I feel deer are smart enough to know how it affects them.

 

[turkeysroost]

Not a good idea to feed deer corn in large amounts. Especially in the winter.

 

[GR82DRV]

With most grazing animals sudden shifts in diet are often dangerous to their health. The digestive system is complex and certain microbes will gradually populate the gut to accommodate the feed these animals encounter over time. An abrupt change will often cause serious problems.

We own horses and we have to be very careful how they are gradually transitioned on feed, especially as green pastures become available in the spring. If they get too much diet that is too rich we're likely to see intestinal colic and histamine-induced hoof laminitis. Similar problems can occur with deer that suddenly acquire a significant diet of corn in mid-winter.

 

[John_pro]

I live in the suburbs of Pittsburgh and have a lot of deer on or near my property. I found a local farmer where I can get corn for $5 a bushel (about 58 lbs). The deer love it but I have read mixed reviews on feeding them corn, some say it can even kill them in the winter if they are not used to it. I certainly do not want to kill the deer, and would like to keep them coming to my property year round. We cannot bait during the season, but after the season it is legal. Other than eating peoples shrubs or grass during the winter I am not sure how they survive. I do have tons of monster Oak trees, but by now the acorns are gone. Tell me your thoughts on feeding corn.

Small amounts over a gradual period time is the way to do it imo. Deer are very adaptive and resilient creatures, feeding 5lbs of corn a day in the winter isn't gonna result in herd decimation.

However, if you dump 1000lbs out in a pile, the initial shock may be enough to wreak havoc in some deer rumens. If your supplementing a fairly small amount of corn, it will still force the deer to utilize woody browse. The key is moderation in winter feeding

 

[DMAX-HD]

I live in northern WI. The high today was -8. We have 120 acres of corn next to the house that the farmer didn't get to before snowfall and I certainly don't see deer falling over dead and I doubt I will. North of here where there isn't corn or logging and the snow is deeper many deer deer just plain starve or freeze.

So for the 'holier than now' folks that say "DON'T do it" yea ok - is it better for them just to starve?

I think in harsh conditions a little supplemental feeding isn't going to hurt. Deer cams show pretty clearly if you put out both corn and hay they eat both this time of year. The deer seem to know or sense they can't fill up completely on corn. A bellyache from too much corn beats death.

Can't say I've ever come across a winter kill with a belly full of corn.

 

[dspell20]

Deer around Pittsburgh get plenty of corn and bird seed. Feed away but the season doesn't go out until January 24th in Allegheny County

 

[arrow_chucker]

I feed deer year round, but I do give them a little of everything. I now to create browse (letting it grow to briers) around my plots, then have grass/clover 10' wide around plots, then have multiple plots ranging from standing beans to brassicas. I also feed pellets/corn/supplement mix in feeder 9 months of the year. In my experience, this has not been an issue, but maybe for reasons suggested already. Either way, they are healthy and I do not find dead deer. I say that not being vesecious, but because I cut new clearings yearly, shed hunt routinely, and scout/monitor deer year round. I would say introducing piles would probably be a bad idea, but generally around here deer won't eat a pile of corn.....rather eat what is broadcasted or in a feeder. Even in a feeder they seem to limit consumption to a few bites and move on to natural browse (or planted food). This is just from what I've seen here and on cameras on my properties. But I do agree, add real nutrition rather than just corn. Plant trees, best food plot period. Persimmon, paw paw, apple (different types with different fruit periods). Good luck

 

[whyatt]

i think the mineral licks are the way to go. deer can never get all of it. but they can dig it up and keep small amounts of the minerals they need in their systems rather food is plentiful or not. i might be wrong on this. any one have other findings or thoughts on this? i havent researched it, but i know they will dig craters in the ground in search of the minerals.