List Of What To Feed Deer Other Than Corn
- Soybeans. Soybeans are slightly more expensive than corn but offer more in terms of nutrients. Moreover, they are...
- High protein pellets. Protein pellets are commercially produced for the purpose of feeding deer. These pellets are...
- Turnips. Turnips are great for deer because of their high protein content. Turnips have...
What to feed deer instead of corn?
What to Feed Deer Instead of Corn
- Consider a Food Plot. Deer food plots are a great way to provide deer with supplemental feed. ...
- Woody Browse. If you have trees and brush you can trim on your property, pruning them can be a great way to supplement deer feed.
- Formulated Deer Feed Mixes. This is an excellent choice for supplemental feed. ...
- Oats. ...
- Rice Bran. ...
- Alfalfa. ...
- Soybeans. ...
- Creep Feed. ...
What is the best food to feed deer?
What to Feed Deer in a Backyard?
- Browse. This is a deer’s favorite thing to eat. ...
- Mast. This is the second most essential component of a deer’s diet. ...
- Berries and Plums (spring/ summer) Grapes, plums, mulberries, and blackberries are ideal fruits to feed deer in the summer or spring seasons as these are packed with nutrients that ...
Why do deer like corn so much?
Corn is rich in both carbohydrates and fats, therefore providing deer with the essential nutrients. Besides corn being a highly nutritious food crop for deer, it provides cover from winds, beddings, and travel lanes.
Should deer eat corn?
- Concentrated Deer Bait - Turns your everyday corn/feed into a super attractant for white tailed deer
- Strong and Sweet Aroma - Draw more bucks from miles away or change deer travel patterns
- Large Coverage Area - Each bag of concentrate treats 300 lbs of corn/feed (50 lbs per 2 oz scoop)
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 can I feed wild deer in my backyard?
Oats provide deer with a healthy mixture of fiber and carbohydrates without disrupting their digestive system.A wide variety of fruits and vegetables – including apples, grapes, cherries, pears, carrots, and snap peas – are eaten in nature by deer. ... Acorns are another safe food source.
What is the best thing to feed wild deer?
What To Feed:Natural Food. If possible, it is best to feed natural food. ... Deer Pellets. Most farm feed outlets carry a specially formulated ration for deer or can tell you where it can be bought. ... Cereal Grains. ... Hay or Alfalfa. ... Fruit & Vegetables.
What household foods do deer eat?
What To Feed Deer In Your Backyard: Safe & Healthy OptionsAcorns.Soybeans.Oats.Alfalfa or hay (Warning: Do not feed during the winter)Turnips.And many others, depending on the time of year.
Can I feed deer apples?
Why do deer like apples? Deer have very sensitive digestive systems and feeding them the wrong thing can mess up their tummies. Apples are one of the fruits that they can find and eat naturally in the wild, which is why it is safe to feed them these juicy fruits! However, they should only be fed apples in moderation.
Will deer eat apples off the ground?
Deer Do Eat Apples But Not Exclusively Out of concern, they may leave out a bag of corn or apples for deer to eat, or may try other means of feeding deer. Naturally, the deer will gobble this down without giving it much thought.
What is the best thing to feed 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.
Should you feed deer in your backyard?
If you feed deer in your backyard or at a park, you could be harming them instead of helping them. Bringing deer together at feeding sites increases their risk of contracting communicable diseases, such as chronic wasting disease, from other deer.
Do whitetail deer eat oats?
As previously mentioned, oats are highly favored by deer and they consistently rank among the top species consumed by deer in forage preference trials. Oats are highly nutritious as well. In well-managed food plots with a neutral soil pH and good fertility, oats can contain more than 25% crude protein.
Do deer eat carrots and celery?
Do deer eat celery? Yes, they do. Deer will eat your celery plants to the ground if you let them. Therefore, you need to invest in the right deer deterrent methods to keep them out.
Will deer eat bread?
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?
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.
What to Feed Deer Instead of Corn
Deer food plots are a great way to provide deer with supplemental feed. They are safe, effective, and legal no matter where you live. This is the number one preferred way to supplement deer.
Inexpensive Way to Feed Deer
With the price of everything going up everyday, feeding deer can get expensive. Feeding the deer in your backyard probably isn’t your top priority when you have other bills to pay. So, how can we use the knowledge above to feed deer a healthy diet while doing so on a budget?
Frequently Asked Questions
A good deer feeder for someone just starting is this 6.5 gallon feeder by Moultrie. The setup is straightforward as it uses AA batteries. Fill the feeder and select the number of times per day you want to feeder to dispense. It comes with a locking lid to keep the feed dry and animals out.
Summary of What to Feed Deer Other Than Corn
The goal of this article is to help highlight why only corn might not be the best deer feed. After reading everything above you should now see there are some great alternatives. Whether you are feeding deer in your backyard or trying to attract deer for hunting, the tips provided will work.
Should I feed deer year-round?
It is advised to be very careful about frequency of feeding deer . Feeding them too often may discourage them to look for their natural food sources on their own. Another reason to limit is it might alter their natural biology which can further lead them to get infected by dangerous diseases.
What to Feed Deer instead of Corn?
Often times popular believes are not entirely true. Corn is deemed as one of the best supplementary food of deer, which is not true. Many facts have surfaced which advocate in favor of feeding deer something else. Deer feed should include foods and nutrients that are similar to what they eat in natural environment.
Alternatives of Corn in Deer Feed
Some very popular alternatives to corn as supplementary deer feed are as follows:
Feeding Deer Corn Year Round
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 to Feed Deer Instead of Corn
Now, let’s take a look at what to feed deer instead of corn. If you want to supplement your deer feed with other protein-rich foods, there are plenty of inexpensive options available. Oats, dried fruits, nuts, and especially walnuts are great choices for making your own deer feed.
What to Feed Deer in Your Backyard
You can feed deer foods such as trimmings from trees, oats, ready-made deer food, acorns, and vegetables. These food sources are safe for deer to consume and enjoy. You should NOT feed deer corn and hay in the winter, human food, or meat products since their digestive systems cannot digest the food. Some of these products can even be fatal to deer.
What Do Deer Eat In The Wild?
Deer spend most of their days hunting for various types of plants for their herbivore diet. Their feeding habits change depending on the season, and on what they can find.
What Is the Best Thing to Feed Deer?
We’ve compiled a list of what deer like to eat when they’re out in the wild. But what can we offer when they come looking in our backyard? Deer are always on the lookout for some tasty treats to munch. So, if you want to know what to feed deer in your backyard, use any of the following
What Not to Feed Deer
High Carb Grains: Deer should not be given wheat, barley, or corn. The rich starch content in these meals might be fatal to deer since their stomach cannot digest and break down the starches. I know that there will be readers who question this.
What is Acidosis in Deer?
Deer are ruminants. They have a very specialized digestive tract which allows them to process the woody material they eat.
Should I feed the deer in my backyard?
Given that deer are, first and foremost, wild creatures, there will always be advantages and disadvantages to feeding them.
Tips For Feeding Deer in Your Backyard
To reduce deer/car collisions, place deer feeding sites at least a half-mile from plowed roads.
Is it Bad to Feed Wild Deer?
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. It depends on how and what you’re feeding the deer and your geographic location.
What Should You Not Feed Deer?
Sadly, many wild deer are killed each year by well-intentioned humans. Many people assume that it’s fine to give deer any leftover scraps they have on hand.
What Can I Feed the Deer in My Backyard?
If you’re going to start feeding wild deer, it’s important to try and replicate their normal diet. One of the safest ways to do this is by planting and maintaining trees and plants that attract deer.
Final Words
The bottom line is if you’re serious about helping your deer visitors stay healthy, do it responsibly. Take special care not to interfere with the deer’s natural habits. And remember that once you start feeding them, they will depend on you to make it through the winter.
How to feed deer?
Tips for Feeding Deer 1 Make sure that it is legal to feed deer in your state or country. In the United States, it is illegal to feed or bait deer. Different states have different laws regarding feeding deer, so make sure you know them. 2 Deer bodies are able to process food differently as the season changes. Their nutritional needs throughout the year keep changing. This happens due to the availability of food. Their dietary needs change based on these changes. 3 You can feed deer by creating a food pile, using feeders to regulate the feed better, or leaving small patches in the forest.
What do deer eat?
Deer are herbivores and mostly nocturnal grazers. They will eat most types of plants such as leaves, grass, nuts, fruit, corn, and fungi. The food they eat is often seasonal and their bodies change according to the weather to adjust to the kinds of food available to them. The deer digestive system is complex, and adaptable.
How do deer change their diet?
Their dietary needs change based on these changes. You can feed deer by creating a food pile, using feeders to regulate the feed better, or leaving small patches in the forest.
Do deer like fruit?
Most of the fallen fruit would be otherwise wasted on the ground. It is well known that deer love fruit. The fruit you collect can be scattered in the stockpile area and the deer will thank you for it. Another great idea would be to plant fruit trees or berry bushes near deer territory.
Is it legal to feed deer?
Make sure that it is legal to feed deer in your state or country. In the United States, it is illegal to feed or bait deer. Different states have different laws regarding feeding deer, so make sure you know them.
Can you buy clover seeds?
You can purchase clover seeds and scatter them around on the land. It is a very cheap way of making sure that there is always something around for the deer to eat.
Can you put salt licks on deer?
You can purchase mineral blocks or salt licks specifically for deer and leave some on a feeder around your land. Salt is an extremely cheap commodity and it is also a very easy thing to find. You can also mix nuts and other foods around the feeder.
Deer Supplemental Feeding
Many landowners use supplemental feeding programs on their property as part of their management plan. Most supplemental foods designed for deer are high in nutrition and can be important during periods of drought or extreme cold.
Types of Supplemental Feed
Corn is probably the most popular deer feed on the market. Hunters have used corn to attract and feed deer for many years. Increasingly, more and more states are making hunting over feed legal and corn has high attraction for deer. Unfortunately, corn is one of the least nutritious feeds you can provide to your deer.
Should You Feed?
Rather than telling you to feed or not, I will discuss the positive and negative aspects of feeding and let you decide. Supplemental feeding has inherent benefits and risks that should be considered before making a decision for your property.
Summary
The benefits and risks listed above are universal, but specific risk factors, especially disease and predation, can differ significantly by region.
