DNR to Allow Emergency Deer Feeding in Northern MN

[minky]

I say keep feeding the deer.

We already have the funds to do it.

[Bear55]

Anyone every been involved in the feeding they are talking about? Just wondering honestly how many deer are helped by this? Northern MN is a pretty big place, if we are helping 5K or 10K deer and big half of the rest of the deer die we are screwed anyway so it might be pointless.

[laker1]

In the past when volunteers with good intention put feed out where they wished,it often ended up being wasted or like some would put it next to a road snowbank and to lazy to get it away from the road. Consequence was a road kill deer and motor vechile accident.

Also many people don't know where the most deer are at. In the 80's the DNR had maps and pins marking deer yards and where people were already feeding. Much more efficient.

[Don Brinkman]

In the past when volunteers with good intention put feed out where they wished,it often ended up being wasted or like some would put it next to a road snowbank and to lazy to get it away from the road. Consequence was a road kill deer and motor vechile accident.

Also many people don't know where the most deer are at. In the 80's the DNR had maps and pins marking deer yards and where people were already feeding. Much more efficient.

The DNR may have had maps and pins but there was no internet so people could get the information because they didnt have a HSOforum a

[Getanet]

Anyone every been involved in the feeding they are talking about? Just wondering honestly how many deer are helped by this? Northern MN is a pretty big place, if we are helping 5K or 10K deer and big half of the rest of the deer die we are screwed anyway so it might be pointless.

The MDHA posted a link to the following on their Facebook page:

MDHA is receiving a lot of calls and emails from volunteers wanting to do their part to roll out the feeding program. We appreciate all of you! This is going to be a huge effort that will require many volunteers. If you are interested, please contact Jenny at the State Office ([email protected]) to give her your contact info. We are especially looking for people with snowmobiles, as this will be the main mode of transportation into the feeding areas (unless you're willing to snowshoe in and pull a sled! In which case, I'd like to personally shake your hand! J)

We'd also like to hear from those who were part of the feeding effort back in the 90's to give us any of your thoughts or insights into ways to make things run smoothly.

We will be looking to our local MDHA Chapters for volunteer leaders, and would like to see a contingent from each of the following Chapters: Trail's End, Sturgeon River, Hibbing/Chisholm, Itasca County, Lakes and Pines, Woodland, McGregor Area, Quad Rivers, Carlton County, and Lake Superior. Please contact me at the State Office with your names and numbers as soon as possible!

If you have a specific feeding area in mind, and it's on public land, send us the GPS coordinates, or township/range info, if possible, so we can add it to our map. We will try to have all feeding areas mapped out ahead of actually getting in the field. Here are the 11 zones we will be working in: 108, 119, 156, 169, 173, 177, 178, 179, 181, 183, and 197. Area 199 is a possible add-in, but the decision is pending a meeting of the Fond du Lac Tribal Council to have a chance to review. Check your maps to be sure the areas you are sending us coordinates on are within these hunting zones, and remember, they have to be on public land!

[Musky Buck]

Bear55 this emergency feeding was done on my land and pretty much everyone in the area is very aware it's the main wintering ground around there with a tar frontage and trail in and volumes of deer it was the logical place to do it for access and having 100+ deer eating there, this was in ag country. Much easier in the farmland to zero in on the deer herd/wintering herd. Many mile sections can be viewed from the roads etc. I have no idea how you zero in up north to help as many deer as possible unless they do fly overs and or talk to the locals and CO's maybe that have kinda current data on some deer yards. Did not like the projected forecast, cold into March is a coming again and a pile of snow coming for eastern MN into Wisconsin tomorrowish. They better be enjoying today and the thought of a very possible late spring once again wouldn't help.

[Bear55]

They certainly have the right approach, you have to find the wintering grounds. I just wish we knew if it was worth the effort and how many deer are actually saved. NE MN is a big place and I am sure it helps a little but I kind of wonder if we are only helping 1-2% of the herd what is the point. Even if you are helping 5-10% you are looking at 90% of the deer taking a beating. Sure it sounds good in the news that we are feeding the deer but if we aren't making a dent in the winter kill we could have had an amazing fire with all that money.

[B. Amish]

even the deer that do get fed, the ones that benefit will be the healthiest anyways and maybe would make it regardless. if you've ever seen deer that are fed, the strong ones beat the tar out of others that are tryin to eat to keep them away.

[Musky Buck]

Indeed Amish for sure, just like our turkeys every day, the main ones do not allow the inferior, seems like younger ones to get at it, they peck em fight em etc. Same when I lived in town and had 7 regular deer at the feeder, a couple dominated the bird feeder, the rest tried to scratch up acorns or eat from the cedars or mountain ash berries etc but as soon as they got close to the bird feeder the fight or running them off was on. I wonder if the spreading it out would help that because when they're into our acorns and they are spread out all over the deer seem to tolerate each other better more so than a single pile of stuff, idk. This wet heavy snow that will be frozen solid soon enough is a bit worrisome, the easiest chow of the winter has already been chowed.

[SmellEsox]

They certainly have the right approach, you have to find the wintering grounds. I just wish we knew if it was worth the effort and how many deer are actually saved. NE MN is a big place and I am sure it helps a little but I kind of wonder if we are only helping 1-2% of the herd what is the point. Even if you are helping 5-10% you are looking at 90% of the deer taking a beating. Sure it sounds good in the news that we are feeding the deer but if we aren't making a dent in the winter kill we could have had an amazing fire with all that money.

You hit the nail on the head. It is just to appease those hunters and people that think it helps. It really doesn't.

[mntatonka]

Indeed Amish for sure, just like our turkeys every day, the main ones do not allow the inferior, seems like younger ones to get at it, they peck em fight em etc. Same when I lived in town and had 7 regular deer at the feeder, a couple dominated the bird feeder, the rest tried to scratch up acorns or eat from the cedars or mountain ash berries etc but as soon as they got close to the bird feeder the fight or running them off was on. I wonder if the spreading it out would help that because when they're into our acorns and they are spread out all over the deer seem to tolerate each other better more so than a single pile of stuff, idk. This wet heavy snow that will be frozen solid soon enough is a bit worrisome, the easiest chow of the winter has already been chowed.

one of the requirements in this program is that the feed must be spread over an area and not just piled up, thus giving more deer an opportunity to feed