Winter feeding

[matchset]

Does anybody feed deer thru the winter ? Corn, alfalfa...? What works best for you ?

[shortfatguy]

I have heard that whole or shelled corn is bad for deer in the winter and may kill them. Something to do with not being able to digest it.

[flipper]

I wish deer feeding would be banned in Minnesota period.

[cavalierowner]

I wish deer feeding would be banned in Minnesota period.

At present it IS banned in some parts on MN. This is from the DNR HSOforum:

"A deer feeding ban covering Dodge, Goodhue, Olmsted and Wabasha counties became effective Monday, Feb. 14.

The ban will reduce the potential for the disease to spread from deer-to-deer by reducing the number of deer concentration sites. The disease can spread from one deer to another following nose-to-nose contact, contact with saliva or other body fluids. By eliminating deer feeding sites we are reducing the potential for the disease to spread.

The emergency rule makes it illegal to place or have out food capable of attracting wild deer. Those who feed birds or small mammals must do so in a manner that precludes deer access or place the food at least six feet above ground level.

Food placed as a result of normal agricultural practices is generally exempted from this rule; however, cattle operators are advised to take steps that minimize contact between deer and cattle.

Please download the rule to view the specific language. Once the rule goes into effect, official notice can be found here.

Methods and instructions to help landowners prevent wild deer from feeding on their property can be found here."

[Archerysniper]

Does anybody feed deer thru the winter ? Corn, alfalfa...? What works best for you ?

Alfalfa bales work great plus you can pick up your sheds around it. I can get the big round bales for $30,if you have a trailer that can handle that he lives a couple miles from my place. I feed mine alfalfa and petersons mill deer mix and you have seen how chunky they are

[harvey lee]

I know from talking with the area Co I have, that the North Dakota Game and Fish does not like people feeding the deer.

here are some of the reason I was told.

If you decide to feed deer, one needs to have numerous feeding areas set up as deer become very dominant by those areas. Some der will lay back and almost starve to death waiting for a chance to feed as the dominant deer will not allow them to.

Another reason is the spread of disease as one has so many deer feeding in that area.

Then one has to be sure to feed throughout the whole winter. People have great intentions to help the deer herd but if one starts to feed the deer and then finds out they cannot afford that much feed and quits, then you have done more harm than good.

I was going to feed deer on our deer hunting grounds but after I had figured out what the costs were going to be and the damage I could possibly do, I decided not to even start.

With the weather and snow in ND last winter or for that matter the last 3, I had it lined up to do the feeding but as I stated, the costs were just to high. hate to find many dead deer in the spring but it could always have had been worse.

[hockeybc69]

8 acres of corn and soybeans works for me.

[Surface Tension]

I prefer feeding alfalfa but have fed corn. If you start now then the their systems get used to processing the corn.

Best way to stop the spread of disease is to stop allowing game farms from bringing it in by infected animals.

That seriously is what torques me is allowing this carp to be transferred from game farm to game farm.

Same is true for the exotics and disease coming into the great lakes via the shipping industry then ask the common Joe to not spread it around.

[Musky Buck]

Hey Harvey quick ? does ND allow baiting for deer in any areas ? If so it would seem to contradict what the CO told you. We used to winter feed when the DNR told us to, it's been a long time ago now though, alfalfa pellets put on hay bale squares, they always ate the hay first, pellets 2nd. I'm really thankful for our weather so far, there luckily are fewer deer around for what's out there to eat on. I haven't seen this many fields plowed under before. A lot more crop farmers around and renting and way fewer farms that have animals. Fall harvest was a cakewalk this year, 1 day in the drier for corn and done. It's weird a touch the deer don't seem to be worried about eating or they'd chance being out before dark more. Monster acorn crop really helped and they are still on those in my yard at night, bizarre.

[harvey lee]

Yes, they do allow baiting of deer still I believe. My bet would be that in a few more years, this will be outlawed.

I think the differnce may be when one baits in the hunting season one does not have as large of a herd of deer feeding at one time.

In the past when I have baited deer for the handi-capped hunt I guide for, I typically would have approx 15 different deer there feeding.

Now, if I were to feed the deer during the hard winter months in a 100 acre alfalfa field, my guess would be I would have 150 deer there eating. My area CO agreed that many eating there in this field.

So, there would be more deer eating in a small area and many would have no chance to get to the bait pile.

That's me saying this and not the GnF.