Will deer eat hay bales?

round bales and square bales for cows and horses are usually too "prickly" for a deer to swallow. they may nibble at bits but they wont go crazy. we sometimes drop bales and the deer dont even touch em. they like the nice tender new stuff that grows just after baling.

Will deer eat hay bales in winter?

Biologists have stated that it is wrong to feed deer hay and grain during the hard winter months because they are in browsing mode and do not have the correct bacteria in their digestive tracts to digest the grain and hay. Apparently, deer can starve with full stomachs of hay.

Can deer eat baled hay?

Yes, deer will eat hay, any kind of hay, if they're hungry enough. If they're not, they won't touch it, or they'll be very picky as to what they eat.

Will deer eat straw or hay?

They will not eat old hay if there is something better. As for straw, the definition has already been given. The only reason a deer would browse on this is if the chaff of the grain was blown onto the swath before it was bailed.

What do deer love to eat the most?

Deer will primarily eat browse (woody portion of leaves and stems), forbs (broad-leaved plants), mast (acorns, apples, etc), and grass. Although these are the main foods deer like to eat, the quantity of these different foods differ throughout the year and the region you are hunting.

DEER HUNT'N (quick tip #37) alfalfa bales- post season feeding

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.

What should you not feed deer?

Corn is very hard for deer to digest, so it is recommended to not feed them corn at all.

What kind of hay does deer like?

Timothy hay is better suited for deer as a bedding material than as food. Another thing wildlife owner usually want to know is if deer can eat alfalfa hay. Just like with timothy hay, they can eat alfalfa hay, except that the timing is very important.

Will wild deer eat hay?

White-tailed deer are selective feeders. They normally pick only the most nutrient-packed, easily digestable plant parts available and cannot efficiently digest grass hay. When forced to do so, they will die. Avoid feeding hay to whitetails during winter.

Will deer eat straw bales?

From what I remember: feeding deer hay or straw during the winter can starve deer because they guorge themselves on it. This food source holds little nutritional value in comparison to natural browse. Therefore there is peer reveiwed sources stating deer have been found dead with a full stomach of hay/straw.

Will moldy hay hurt deer?

The good news is that most mold in your hay won't harm your livestock. Not all molds produce mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are chemicals produced by some species of molds that are toxic to animals. In most cases, if you can't readily see or smell the mold in your hay it won't harm your animals.

Will deer eat baled alfalfa?

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

What do deer eat in winter?

Usually deer can comfortably survive the winter by eating their usual diet of twigs, stems, grasses, and other plants wherever they typically would find them, as well as by supplementing with higher-calorie foods such as nuts, fruits, and even mushrooms.

What can you not feed deer in the winter?

“The worst thing we can do for deer in a tough winter is shock their system by providing a new food, particularly a high-energy food such as corn or high-protein food such as alfalfa hay that they are not used to,” said Kip. “In most cases, it ends up being worse for the deer than if they had not been fed.

How do you help deer in the winter?

Other good choices for winter forage are brassicas (greens and root bulbs) and sugar beets (greens and root bulbs). Both of these food types are favorites of deer because they are palatable and provide the nutrients necessary to help deer thrive during the winter and are particularly high in protein content.

How do you attract deer to your house in the winter?

Water- having a food plot, a feeder, and a water source is just supplying one more essential need, giving them even more of a reason to stick around. Block – another added attraction to this micro area, the Big and J Deer Cube supplies just that…with the added nutrient and mineral advantage.

Is it bad to feed deer?

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.

How do I attract deer to my yard?

Is a salt lick good for deer?

Deer lick blocks and powders draw deer to your area and provide needed nutritional supplements for your herd. Deer attractants like salt and protein licks can draw deer into your hunting area. Many also provide added nutrition for better rack growth and a healthier herd.

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.

Should I cut up apples for deer?

Items you will need

Use more apples once you begin to see deer at the feeding spot. Cut the slices of apples into smaller pieces and place into a bowl.

Is peanut butter good for deer?

Deer love peanut butter, so it is an excellent bait. You can use peanut butter alone or in a mixture to lure deer into an area for hunting or just to enjoy watching them. Peanut butter is much cheaper than most commercial deer attractants and works as well or better.

Is corn bad for deer in winter?

Corn doesn't have as much fiber in it and has more carbohydrates. In the winter, the deer's digestive system is slow and will absorb more necessary nutrients. 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.

Will deer come to sweet feed?

Yes, it works well. It's grain with molasses on it. Of course they like it. I think you'll find that most people don't use it because it cost so much more than just a bag of whole corn, and corn works as well as anything.

Is corn bad for deers?

Corn is high in starch and a good source of digestible energy, but can cause problems in a deer's digestive system. When deer eat too much corn or other high-‐carbohydrate food, many complex changes occur in the rumen. Some microbes proliferate while others die.