Supplemental feeding

So does anyone put out feeders for the deer this time of year and in the spring and summer. Seen a few plans to make a few cheap gravity feeders thought mixin corn and a pellet of some sort. For those that do does anyone just a livestock mineral pellet instead of the deer brands.

I have in the past and deer have hit em hard... Just take into consideration though that whole kernel corn is very hard on their teeth... Using cracked corn is easier for them but it will cost you a little more per bag...

Also I wouldn't feed them since there is no snow on the ground since they won't have to work hard for something to eat...

I got one of the redneck t post feeders just set up. It seems to be working well so far. I put shelled corn in it.

I recently heard of a guy putting out goat feed for deer. I've tried deer pellets but deer won't touch them. Any comments??

ico919- You can start them with shelled corn which is something they're already accustomed to eating. Once they start visiting your site and gobbling the corn regularly, start mixing in some protein feed or pellets. Slowly increase the ratio of protein feed each time you refill, eventually eliminating the corn entirely. I use a textured sweet horse feed that is 12% protein.

Those goat pellets I think are usually around 30% protein, which might be too much for deer this time of year.

I've also tried the small alfalfa cubes mixed with corn, and found out they absolutely will not touch the cubes, regardless of what you mix it with.

Honestly I don't think the deer "need" supplemental feed in this part of the country. But it's fun to do as a hobby in the dead of winter. When combined with a trail cam, it's a good way of surveying what deer you have, watching for when they drop antlers, and etc.

If deer are not accustom to eating something that is edible for them they generally will not touch it... Like SS stated.. Mix with corn for awhile and slowly add less corn and more pellets...

I would also recommend shelled corn as it is easier for deer to eat and digest...

Thanks for the info. Ya we just like seeing what pics we get on our camera. The feed is there if they want it. Caught a young and an old bobcat on camera last summer.

Critters really didn't need much help where I am at till this week. This snow and ice crust is going be kind of tough on the critters this week with the temps staying below freezing. I noticed the deer were doing a lot of digging in the fields for corn. I dumped a bag yesterday, and going to get a few more out in different locations for them to get them through till the snow melts down some. Also put out some millet/bird seed in the thickets for the quail.

I cut down Cedars you wouldn't believe the deer that come to the cut trees

LOL!!! You think there are any cedars up in this farm ground??? We have very few around, only because I like having them. Anybody else around don't let them get more the 2' tall, before they get sprayed like multiflora rose!!! I should do an experiment, and go cut one down and lay next to a corn pile….and see which one gets cleaned up first.

Throbak is that White Cedar?

Eastern red cedar is what I have the deer love the tops on 10 ft and bigger trees

Pets are getting hungry! The beans this year got down bad before we could run them. Funny how a deer can find a stalk with bean pods still on it in 10" of snow!



One of the girls waiting on the morning "handout" as I make the morning coyote run. Been tossing out handfuls of millet in the thickets and fence rows I know they like to hang in as I drive by…..

Kick a hole under a multi for a rose in a blackberry thick so there is some cover overhead and throw the seed in there that worked well an no overhead hawks

Really love the quail pictures. Just seem really vulnerable in the open.

Dave/Dale, I feed them in the thickest stuff we have. But you are right Dave, I run them out of the open fields all the time! Hate seeing them out there!!!!

Dale, here are my "quail feeding stations" Its not much, but its what we have to give to them.


This one is actually a fence that has bent bent completely under and there is a tunnel under it that I drop feed into. I think the rabbits get as much or more than the quail.



This "grass waterway" we let grow up every year, basically because we can't get to it to mow. Its about 350 yards long. This is the one I have been working with Nate on to get some Native stuff in. Problem is, most springs it lays too wet to work up the ground before we have to get crops in. In the fall, I want to leave the cover…..catch 22….One of these springs, conditions will be right to get it done. I go through there on occasion with the 4 wheeler and knock the stalks down, and beat the seeds off of them for the birds. They like that ragweed as well as anything we have...

Just for the heck of it Yaz Throw some Switch grass in the wet areas Frost seed I have had some success with that I like alamo its real tall and stands up all winter od Cave in Rock not as tall but still takes the snow well

I will try that Throbak. Not wishing for a dry spring, but if I get the chance, we are going to try to get it in. I will frost seed just in case it don't work out again.