This is the situation , the property I lease is a transitional area between two fields. there are beding areas on both sides of the property.
the fields are alternated between Corn and Soybean. In our State we are aloud to Bait all year round. What does anyone think that would be a good supplement ,that would be diffrent then what is in the fields.After the fields are cut , I want the deer to come to me.
On a diffrent prperty I used corn ,but there were no field of any kind. it worked well the doe's came and the bucks followed.We had a good harvist that year.

I feed corn all year round, turning down the feeders during the summer. I also supplement with protein (Purina Antler Max) when they need it most- I have three 700lb protein feeders, which I fill b/w late jan-feb through august. Usually a palate of protein (1 ton) every two to three months.

In addition to the protein recommended, see if the farmer will plant or allow you to plant winter wheat or ryegrass in the vicinity of your feeder. That's what we do in Arkansas, also turnip greens and other mixed greens. Fertilize your plots good and they will come.

If your climate is not too cold up there. Merg

Another good and less expensive source of protein than pellets is cotton seed.

Will deer eat cotton seed slung out of a feeder OK

I am mixing antler max and corn in my feeder. Corn is a good attractant but it don't help with a lot of protein. I am going to look at some free choice feeders for the protein.

Only problem on my place is the feral hogs. If your feeders aren't fenced with hog panels, then the deer won't get much of the corn/protein/cottonseed, etc. And, if the pen isn't large enough in diameter to contain all the feed being slung by the feeder, the hogs all around the pen will keep the deer at a distance--at least until the hogs clean up everything outside the pen. If you've never seen what a mature hog can do to cattle/hog panels just with their snouts, you will be surprised the first time you return to your "new" pen and find it raised off the ground enough for the hogs to squeeze under it. You've got to stake it down securely at close intervals, and check it frequently.

I had thought about using cotton seed as a supplement in the past. However, I read about a study that was done at Texas A&M that, as I remember, indicated that there were compounds in cotton seed that actually retarded antler growth. You will find a couple of stories if you do a google search of "cottonseed for deer or try "agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/WFSC/May2703a.htm - 9k". I feed a combination of corn, roasted soybeans milo and deer pellets (13 to 20% protien) from my spin cast feeders and straight protien from my demand feeders.
GWB

As a taxidermist, I once had a captive reared whitetail. He was fed Purina but heavily laced with corn. After a few years he began to grow "elf shoes" on his hooves. Ag folks told me that too much corn supplements have caused this defect. Wondering if any of you see that in your deer that you feed corn to year round.

In my feeder, the corn goes in in November and peters out in January. Then it's pellets. We cave corn and soybeans for them to forage on in the fields, but two things I've found them to be absolutely nuts about: Crowder peas and a small imported melon from Korea. The peas never get to mature and the melons just begin to ripen when they're gone.

I've wondered about oats. In the far reaches of Saskatchewan, well above the bread basket area, deer go nuts over oats. BTW, my pet deer would go nuts if anyone came around with a pack of cigarettes. He thought tobacco was catnip. He died at 16 1/2 after fighting a wild buck through the fence, getting his antlers entwined, and suffering a heartattack that literally exploded his heart.

George, could the hoof defect have been due to the pet deer being confined in an area where its hooves didn't get normal wear and tear? I've seen horses and ponies in fields where they had 8 or 9 inch hooves that looked like sled runners or elf shoes as you said. Like our fingernails, a horses hoof keeps on growing unless it gets trimmed or wore down.

Sorry to hear about your deer's tragic ending. What size of a rack did he have at age 16 1/2?

Plinker

I wondered that as well.

"Willow" was a button, a fork horn, and then a 10 pointer until he was 10. He began throwing off stickers, kickers and drop tines. I don't know why, but at 11, he had a stunted rack, his joints cracked audibly, and he acted as if he didn't feel well. At 12 however, he had his largest rack with 6 inch bases, typical 10 with two drops and a big kicker. That was his last good rack and the one he had at 16 looked a lot like a Pere David deer and the beams and tines just went all over the place.

As most penned deer, he was docile in velvet, but when he was 5, he got tangled in the chain link fence. I had to go in and pry him out. Right before I got to him, he jerkec himself free, tearing a hole in the fence. Stupidly, I went to the tear to repair it and let him get behind me. All I had was a 4 ft. 2x4 and when I sensed him coming, I turned and hit him right between the brow tines. He collapsed and I thought I'd killed him. Just as quickly, he jumped up and was almost on me before I caught him again with a blow as hard as I could deliver. When he went down, I ran for the barn and closed the door quickly behind me. He split the door and sent splinters into my arm. I got outside the pen and grabbed the water hose and started wetting him down to cool him off and make the ground too wet for him to get any traction. From that day until the day before he died, he hated my guts all year long. He NEVER forget the sound of my voice. He'd come up to others and eat out of their hands but when he saw me, the ears went back and the nape stood up. That's just the way I mounted him and when I go by all his sheds with his big shoulder mount (He weighted 350 pounds live) I have to smile at that pissed off look the mount captured.

Wow, what "whacky" experience! Good you had that 2 x 4 in your hand. Kind of gives a good reason to hunt from a tree stand.

Plinker

Cool deer story. Thanks for sharing it!

George , Post a picture of the Deer.

Blaser, I'd love to if I could figure out how to do it. I tried the FAQ and it said if I had to ask, I was too dumb to do it. The other sites I visit allow me to load directly from JPG files on my PC, but it seems you have to have them processed someplace else? Any help would be appreciated. (BTW, I don't have an account on any of the online picture services like Photo Bucket)

George, the PA Game Commision magazine had at one time ,a photo of a deer with abnormal hoofs. They explained it was from a deer that had been poorly fed just like yours.Animal nutrition , and that includes people, requires complete nutrition which amounts to a mix of foods not just corn !!

Nah, Georges deer wasn't poorly fed. He fed it the best he could, he said he fed it Purina. Heavily laced with corn but you know how finicky animals can be. I bet it might not have ate at all without the corn in the mix. Maybe it also didn't get enough browse, but hard to give them that when they're penned up.

Plinker

Anybody else noticed the price of corn....it isn't cheap anymore. Last year it cost 6.25 a hundred now it's 10.00.

Plinker

I'm told it's the demand for ethanol. Funny how bootleg corn liquor got a fancy name and a bigger price tag when the bunny huggers discovered it. LOL

Price of corn here in Ohio was $7 per 100, now it is $7 per 50lbs.

George, I will send you a PM on how to post a photo.

I haven't tried it yet but with the price of corn shooting through the roof, I think I'm gonna try some of this: Golden Deer Nugget

Alfalfa Hay. They love it and high in everything they need.

I took some alfalfa and put it at my place in East Texas. It layed there until it turned brown. I guess the deer didn't know what it was. They don't eat soy beans either.

This year corn is even high...I noticed at Wal-mart that the "cattle corn" is about a dollar cheaper a bag...must be because it costs a dollar to put a deer picture on the bag

I've been told the Axis Deer will eat all of the Alfalfa hay and whitetail will only eat the leaves

Robert

quote:

Originally posted by RVL III:

I've been told the Axis Deer will eat all of the Alfalfa hay and whitetail will only eat the leaves

Robert

Depends on the deer and the area. I've seen some whitetail completely devour every crumb of Alfalfa they can find.......stem and all.

Try dried sweet peas. Buy in bulk by the bushel.

The way to get the best price on corn is to negotiate a deal with the grower and buy directly from the field. When the combine is full have it discharge into your rig! Avoid the middle men.

Andy