Is it OK to feed deer corn in the winter?

Although corn has poor protein, it has high carbohydrates. Whether it's planted in a food plot, or fed at a feeding site, corn can be a great benefit to whitetails during winter. Most deer managers are more than willing to plant their plots in the spring and summer.

Why can't deer eat corn in winter?

Eating corn can mess with their digestive system and make it hard to absorb other foods. This will then dehydrate the deer and kill it. Leave it to the deer to provide for themselves. They have the biology to survive and probably have done so for many winters before.

What is the best thing to feed deer in the winter?

The best option is to give them more of the winter foods they are already adapted to eating: winter browse. This includes buds and twigs of woody plants. Introducing new foods in the middle of winter, especially in high quantities all of a sudden, can actually be more harmful to deer than not feeding them at all.

What can I feed wild deer in the winter?

The Best Deer Feed for Winter

How about woody browse like saplings, briars, and honeysuckle! That's right, it is the correct feed for this time of year. But you can't supplement those types of foods when times get hard, it's more of a long term management process.

When should you not feed deer corn?

Late Winter to Early Spring

“Are You Feeding Your Deer To Death?” is one example. This is because deer stop eating grains in the fall when corn, wheat and others are harvested. Incorporating grains at the wrong time can lead to potentially fatal digestion issues.

The Do's and Don'ts of Feeding Deer Over Winter

Can deer eat too much corn?

Deer that have eaten too much corn may also develop diarrhea, bloat (potentially lethal build-‐up of gases in the rumen), polioencephalomalacia (a potentially lethal condition of the nervous system), and in severe cases, blindness, seizures, and death. Other problems may develop when deer eat a lot of corn.

What is the best food to feed wild deer?

Feed deer fruits that are found in their natural habitat (apples, grapes, and carrots are all great). Do not feed them citrus or acidic fruits or vegetables. What type of corn should deer be fed? Corn is very hard for deer to digest, so it is recommended to not feed them corn at all.

Is it OK to feed deer corn all year?

If deer are already used to eating corn throughout the winter in your area, you can start feeding corn to deer slowly and see how they take it, but you will likely have no problem feeding deer corn year round in these areas.

Why should you not feed deer?

Unhealthy “Junk Food”

As ruminants, deer have a specific blend of microbes in their stomach that break down their naturally high-fiber diet. Large amounts of carbohydrate-rich, low fiber foods like deer corn can disrupt this microbiome — leading to bouts of severe diarrhea and dehydration that could be deadly.

What is the cheapest thing to feed deer?

An inexpensive way to feed deer is with corn. Deer love corn and many hunters rely on it for supplemental feeding. That being said, corn is not an excellent source of protein, which is essential for antler growth and the nursing of fawns.

Will deer eat clover in the winter?

Perennial clover plots green up early in the spring (when deer need it most) and generally will produce well into the frost season. Our whitetails work clover plots all winter long and will dig through 8 to 12 inches of snow to get to it.

Should you feed corn to deer?

Using only corn or other fermentable carbohydrates as a primary deer food can be dangerous. Eating a large amount of corn can affect the deer' digestive process and cause a flush of lactic acid in their stomach. In most severe cases, this leads to the dehydration and death of the deer.

Is it OK to feed deer apples in the winter?

You should try to load up deer feeders with apples near the end of winter. They'll benefit more from easily digestible foods during the winter months. Deer naturally eat apples, and apples are perfectly safe for use in a deer feeder. Apples provide deer with a sweet treat that gives them a large nutritional boost.

Can deer eat bread in the winter?

FYI- Feeding deer bread. A small amounts of white bread cannot do any harm, but if a single deer were to eat anything more than a few slices of bread there is always the potential for life-threatening lacticacidosis.

Are salt licks good for deer?

All hooved mammals love salt, so licks made only of salt do a fine job of attracting deer. Licks with added flavors, minerals and nutrients can be even better, especially if you find one the deer in your area really love.

Do deer like cracked corn or whole corn better?

Just dropped alotta money on feed and blocks. The feed store ran out of whole corn so i bought cracked. the guy at the checkout said deer prefer whole. looks like it would spread better and make the deer work to find the pieces.

Should I feed the deer in my backyard?

Supplemental Feeding Can Harm Deer

spread disease among deer. cause aggression, wasting vital energy reserves and leading to injury or death. reduce fat reserves as deer use energy traveling to and from the feed site. result in over-browsing of local vegetation and ornamental plants.

Is Cracked corn good for deer?

Don't feed the deer! Corn is what most wildlife lovers offer deer, and even if it's labeled “deer corn,” feeding corn to deer is about the worst thing you can do. Unless you're trying to kill the deer.

Can you feed deer carrots?

Carrots are root vegetables and can be found in a number of colors such as orange, purple, red, and yellow. Once in a carrot garden, deer will dig up the carrots and eat them. A garden full of carrots is one of the quickest ways to attract a population of deer.

How long does it take deer to find corn?

1-3 days they should be on it good. If it is well traveled.

Where do deer sleep in the winter?

Winter and Warmth

When the temperature drops, deer often take shelter sleeping under coniferous trees like pine trees. The dense, low branches of these trees both protect the deer from wind and falling snow while creating a makeshift roof that holds in heat.

Is alfalfa good for deer in the winter?

Yes, they do. Alfalfa is a great foraging crop and sometimes used for deer food plots.

How many pounds of corn will feed a deer?

A good rule of thumb is to have one supplemental site for every 100 acres of property. You can place a 50-pound sack of corn mixed with GYT90 at each site. This should be enough to help supplement the deer herd.

Will deer eat wet corn?

100% yes they will.

Do deer eat oats in the winter?

Oats. Come fall and winter, it's what's for dinner. This cool-season food source is extremely attractive during colder late-fall and winter days. This is an excellent choice for deer hunters who like to plant cereal grains.