Considerations for Winter deer feeding
#6127389
01/16/18 02:17 PM
01/16/18 02:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,098 WI - Wisconsin
AJE
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,098
WI - Wisconsin
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I thought this is kind of interesting: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/documents/winterdeerfeeding.pdfI did a little research on the winter corn feeding topic, since I hear of a lot of people in Wi feeding corn. 1 thing that kind of stands out to me is the apparent possibility of deer getting something called acidosis from too much winter corn eating. I heard that deer that aren't used to farm crops are at more risk from winter corn feeding (i.e. such as the Central FOREST). I guess it can result in death, some biologists claim. It mentions something about how predators may 'gang' up on deer feeding stations. Makes some sense I suppose.
Last edited by AJE; 01/16/18 02:24 PM.
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6127397
01/16/18 02:26 PM
01/16/18 02:26 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 364 New Hampshire
Beaver Thumper
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I’ve witnessed white tailed deer killed by well intentioned winter feeding a few times. Acidosis and enterotoxemia are not pleasant ailments.
New Hampshire - Live Free or Die -
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6127406
01/16/18 02:34 PM
01/16/18 02:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,087 Wright county, Minnesota
Birch Tree
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Unless there is 5 feet of snow then feeding the deer is a waste of money. They are adept at finding the food they need to survive but deer are a huge market in regards to every aspect now. I suspect people want to feed them to keep them in the area year-round for easy targets next season and those who just want to look at deer in their backyards every day as if they have never seen one before. I believe it is more detrimental to most wildlife (not including birds) to feed them for any reason other than severe winter extremes that would prevent them from finding food on their own.
I have never and will never use bait of any kind in the pursuit of deer, it is just like a canned hunt IMHO.
Mark Skokan, Buffalo MN.
MTA and NTA Member.
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: Birch Tree]
#6127412
01/16/18 02:42 PM
01/16/18 02:42 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 364 New Hampshire
Beaver Thumper
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New Hampshire
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Unless there is 5 feet of snow then feeding the deer is a waste of money. They are adept at finding the food they need to survive but deer are a huge market in regards to every aspect now. I suspect people want to feed them to keep them in the area year-round for easy targets next season and those who just want to look at deer in their backyards every day as if they have never seen one before. I believe it is more detrimental to most wildlife (not including birds) to feed them for any reason other than severe winter extremes that would prevent them from finding food on their own.
I have never and will never use bait of any kind in the pursuit of deer, it is just like a canned hunt IMHO. Introducing feed to a population late in the winter season is a guaranteed way for feed to kill animals.
New Hampshire - Live Free or Die -
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6127428
01/16/18 02:55 PM
01/16/18 02:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,848 Wisconsin
The Beav
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Things have to be pretty tough for deer to eat corn.
There Is a 30 acre standing corn field where I'm snaring coyotes and today after that fresh snow there wasn't a deer track to be found any where near that field.
I know In the past the WI DNR would go out and cut down cedar In the north woods to feed the deer.
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: fossil2]
#6127429
01/16/18 02:55 PM
01/16/18 02:55 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,904 Central MN, sort of old
MnMan
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i believe its illegal to feed them here in Minnesota, as it causes them to gather to one area, and may help promote the spreading of CWD. From what I understand it is only illegal in the CWD zones and is legal all over after Feb 28th for some reason.
I'm just happy to be here! Today I'm as young as I'll ever be and and older than I've ever been before!
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: The Beav]
#6127441
01/16/18 03:15 PM
01/16/18 03:15 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 863 St. Croix County, Wisconsin
ToTheWoods
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Things have to be pretty tough for deer to eat corn.
There Is a 30 acre standing corn field where I'm snaring coyotes and today after that fresh snow there wasn't a deer track to be found any where near that field.
I know In the past the WI DNR would go out and cut down cedar In the north woods to feed the deer. Your kidding right?
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6127551
01/16/18 04:52 PM
01/16/18 04:52 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,568 Gitche Gumee Wisconsin
RiversNorth13
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Not much corn up in my country, but the couple of fields that are here won't have a cob left in them by March .
Simplify your methods to the point of perfection.
Become fast,efficient & effective.
The real "SECRET" to successful trapping.
KEEP IT SIMPLE!
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: The Beav]
#6127601
01/16/18 05:37 PM
01/16/18 05:37 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,485 mn north of blakely
Steven 49er
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Things have to be pretty tough for deer to eat corn.
There Is a 30 acre standing corn field where I'm snaring coyotes and today after that fresh snow there wasn't a deer track to be found any where near that field.
I know In the past the WI DNR would go out and cut down cedar In the north woods to feed the deer. Our deer must be smarter, I can show you some stand corn fields and corn stubble that have a pile of deer in them.
"Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon". Milton Friedman.
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: Steven 49er]
#6127605
01/16/18 05:42 PM
01/16/18 05:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,040 ND
grumley701
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ND
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Things have to be pretty tough for deer to eat corn.
There Is a 30 acre standing corn field where I'm snaring coyotes and today after that fresh snow there wasn't a deer track to be found any where near that field.
I know In the past the WI DNR would go out and cut down cedar In the north woods to feed the deer. Our deer must be smarter, I can show you some stand corn fields and corn stubble that have a pile of deer in them. same here...
Pure Blood
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6127613
01/16/18 05:50 PM
01/16/18 05:50 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 414 Roanoke, VA
Meathunter1978
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No corn around me for miles. So what I do is buy 7 or 8 bales of alfalfa and put it out through out winter. They seem to like it.
Formally known as Meathunter78. Just doing it for meat.
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6127635
01/16/18 06:21 PM
01/16/18 06:21 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,077 Wyoming
cmcf
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I read it has to do with the bacteria that is in a deer stomach. If the don't have the correct bacteria to digest corn they can't. The deer in Texas must have the correct fauna in their gut cause they eat tons of corn at the deer feeders down there.
“The world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined” B. Disraeli
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6127656
01/16/18 06:50 PM
01/16/18 06:50 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,804 WI
WIMarshRAT
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Usually when deer are not eating standing corn, there is a reason. Most likely, it has mold on it. The next likely reason is because someone close by is dumping shelled corn. Deer are lazy and will take the shelled corn first. Other reason is you lack the thermal cover close by.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain!
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6127671
01/16/18 07:05 PM
01/16/18 07:05 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,912 Central, SD
Law Dog
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Here is my understanding of the deer's winter digestion cycle told to me from a MI biologist that I did some wildlife clear cuts for many years ago. Their system turns from summer (green plants) to winter (Browse) and that takes a while to change over so feeding hay, corn during the tough winters do little as they don't get the benefits if they are in the browse stage of winter. He said even after a harsh winter and a warn spring arrives their system needs to change over so they are still at risk of malnutrition with green grass available because again they get next to nothing out of it until the chemicals to digest it switch back.
In the winter dropping a few aspens will do more for the deer/snowshoes then corn and hay, clearing some hardwood areas out of everything bigger then 3 inches while leaving the fruit/nut trees is the way the DNR did it back then. The regrowth would be thick for years until it thins itself out over the coming years.
Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!
Jerry Herbst
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6127692
01/16/18 07:14 PM
01/16/18 07:14 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,942 PA
elkaholic
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I've seen both deer and elk dead from malnutrition with bellies full of corn. We had a few elk die a couple years ago that all they were eating was corn put out. It's a pretty horrible death.
Corn is like candy to them. Like stated above if they aren't in the standing corn there's something wrong with the corn, not the deer.
If you live in a farming area with a lot of cornfields they should be able to tolerate it in moderation pretty good.
Millions of trees die every year to print environmentalist publications
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6127804
01/16/18 08:33 PM
01/16/18 08:33 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,548 Cleveland IL
muddyriverdogz
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Somebody is going to pop that one next year.
He's already been trained to come to feed.
Last edited by muddyriverdogz; 01/16/18 08:33 PM.
You only live once, so get over it!
Tactics may change but the goal remains the same.
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6127820
01/16/18 08:43 PM
01/16/18 08:43 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,385 western mn
bucksnbears
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There can be standing corn but if deer don't have good thermal cover very close by, they may not feed there.
swampgas chili and schmidt beer makes for a deadly combo
You have to remember that 1 out of 3 Democratic Voters is just as dumb as the other two.
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6127865
01/16/18 09:03 PM
01/16/18 09:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,912 Central, SD
Law Dog
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That's what the same biologist said they track the thermal index I believed he called it and that was a predicting factor on figuring stress/loss.
Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!
Jerry Herbst
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Re: Considerations for Winter deer feeding
[Re: AJE]
#6129045
01/17/18 09:11 PM
01/17/18 09:11 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,323 Northern MN
Osky
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I've seen deer do awfully well on 14% horse feed mix along with alfalfa.
Osky
"A womans heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth, and I can find no sign on it" Jabless in Minnesota www.SureDockusa.com
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