Deer feeding

[Notime]

I see that the DNR has put an ok on feeding the deer! My question is, what should I offer them? I got 50 pounds of cracked corn and a 50 pound bag of whole corn mixed with pellets and grain screenings. They have not found it and I have shoveled a path on top of the grass 75 feet in both directions. We always fed them just corn years ago but I have heard that is not good for them. I would like to find something that has more energy for them. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have a spot cleared out behind the house about 80 yards next to our fruit trees. Would getting some apples for them help?

[Jameson]

The DNR has no choice but to start feeding the deer this year. They do not think it is a good idea, but have been told to do it by the legislature.

The DNR is doing it the best they can. Using some sort of alfalfa mix in established wintering yards and continuing to do so until the snow is gone.

It sounds like the deer are not wintering behind your house at this time. Don't feed the deer there now then. If you want to feed the deer find where they are wintering and distribute the food there.

Long article in the StarTribune about it today. Next year the DNR will likely push to eliminate the rule/law making them have to feed the deer.

[Bureaucrat]

It can be very hard on the stomach if their internal chemistry isn't acclimated to corn. If they've been eating corn all along, they'll probably be ok, but it can be taxing on their bacterial community in their gut for such a quick change in forage.

[Notime]

They are wintering very close behind our house. I had fresh tracks in the garden last night! We have a good size pine stand starting at 100 yards out, but they just seem to miss the feed pan, maybe I need to put it higher off the ground for them. I have heard that there are different types of alfalfa, and it has to do with stem size??? Something about the deer have trouble digesting the regular old livestock stuff. Sounds kind of hinky to me...

[B. Amish]

Quote:

Some Disadvantages of Supplemental Feeding

Feeding deer in late fall may disrupt deer migration to natural wintering areas

In early winter, deer normally migrate to preferred wintering habitat, in some cases more than 20 miles from summer range. Deer "short-stopped" by supplemental feeding operations are often more vulnerable to malnutrition, because they do not have access to the right type and amount of foods found in traditional wintering habitat. Also, without the protection of wintering habitat, deer are particularly vulnerable to severe winter weather and predation.

Supplemental feeding may not reduce deer losses during winter

Predation, not starvation, is the major cause of winter mortality among deer in Maine. Although predators, such as coyotes and bobcats, will selectively kill winter-weakened deer, they are also able to prey upon healthy, vigorous deer. Winter severity (deep snow, intense cold, glare ice on lakes) and the quality of wintering habitat are the real determinants of deer survival in winter. Supplementally-fed deer are still vulnerable to predation, if wintering conditions are severe, particularly where deer are being fed in marginal habitat.

Supplemental feeding may actually increase predation

Providing a supplemental food source crowds deer into a smaller area than when deer range widely to find food. Concentrated deer maintain a limited network of escape trails, since they often bed near feeders. Deer require extensive trails to elude predators. It is not unusual to observe predation on deer within sight of supplemental feeders.

Deer feeding sites near homes also place deer at greater risk of death from free-roaming dogs

Family pets that are allowed to roam pose a serious threat to deer, particularly when snow is deep and crusted. Winter feeding operations that concentrate deer in residential areas increase the likelihood that deer will be run and killed by neighborhood dogs.

Deer feeding sites may increase deer/vehicle collisions

Most deer feeding is conducted near homes, which places deer in close proximity to well-traveled highways. Collisions with motor vehicles near supplemental feeding sites can result in significant losses to a local deer population. For example, at a large feeding site near a well-traveled highway in Maine, 60 to 70 deer are lost to motor vehicle collisions each winter. This loss may exceed the amount of natural losses one would expect, if supplemental feeding were not being practiced in that wintering area. Locating deer feeding sites 1/2 mile or more from plowed roads can minimize road-kill losses.

- Deer may starve when fed supplemental foods during winter.

Deer require one or two weeks to adjust to new foods

Waiting until deer are starving before offering supplemental foods actually hastens starvation. Stress (related to diet change) is minimized if deer are introduced to supplemental foods early in the winter, when they are still healthy.

Some foods are not easily digested by deer during winter

Hay of any kind, kitchen scraps, or cabbage and lettuce trimmings do not provide adequate nutrition for deer. Feeding these foods to deer can lead to starvation. Deer usually do well when apples, oats, or acorns are given as diet supplements. However, the best supplemental food is a complete horse, dairy, or deer formulation in pellet form. It contains about 14% protein and provides sufficient energy and fiber to promote normal digestive function in most deer.

Deer compete aggressively for scarce, high-quality foods

When crowded together, only the strongest, most dominant individuals in the deer population gain access to the food. Frequently, those deer most vulnerable to starvation in winter (usually fawns) are denied access to supplemental feed by more aggressive deer. Distributing supplemental feed in many locations reduces competition among deer.

Deer reject grains or pelleted foods that have become spoiled or moldy

It is difficult to keep grains dry outdoors. Special feeders, which protect feed from rain and snow, may help, but none are foolproof. Hence, much feed is typically wasted. There are some molds deer may not detect; consequently, they may ingest toxins that can be fatal.

Supplementally-fed deer may die from eating too much feed at one time

Losses of this nature have been observed at winter deer feeding sites in Maine. Mature bucks seem to be most prone to overeating high-energy supplemental foods.

Supplemental feeding is expensive

Grains and pelleted foods are sold at a premium price in winter. A deer will consume 2 to 3 lbs of grain each day. Deer seem to be able to communicate the location of "free food" among themselves. Consequently, people who feed a few deer in December often find they are buying food for considerably more deer by February. Some large-scale feeding operators spend $300 or more per week on grain for wild deer.

Once a feeding program is begun, it should not be terminated until spring greenery emerges. Ending a feeding operation prematurely, or providing inadequate amounts of feed, will lead to nutritional problems for deer that have become dependent on supplemental feed. Attracting deer to feeding sites, while failing to provide adequate amounts of supplemental foods can actually cause malnutrition in normally healthy deer populations.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), is sometimes requested to fund, support, or implement supplemental feeding programs for deer during winter. While emotionally appealing to those concerned for the welfare of deer, emergency feeding programs seldom succeed in reducing deer losses during severe winters, and the cost of procuring and distributing feed to several thousand deer wintering areas across Maine would be prohibitive.

Deer concentrations at feeding sites may increase the vulnerability of deer to diseases

MDIFW has documented deer concentrations equivalent to 350 deer per square mile at some feeding sites. This level of crowding produces ideal conditions for outbreaks of infectious diseases. One such outbreak occurred in 1994 among supplementally-fed deer in Michigan. The highly infectious disease, "Bovine tuberculosis," is currently infecting deer and cattle within 4 counties in Michigan. This disease outbreak poses a serious threat to deer populations and livestock in the affected area.

In Maine, we have documented an outbreak of demodectic mange among deer using a winter feeding site. Demodectic mange is specific to white-tailed deer and is caused by tiny mites living on the hair. Severely infested deer lose their protective winter pelage and are covered with skin lesions. Mange mites are transmitted among deer by close contact, as at crowded feeding sites.

Source

[Jameson]

...I have heard that there are different types of alfalfa, and it has to do with stem size??? Something about the deer have trouble digesting the regular old livestock stuff. Sounds kind of hinky to me...

There are different kinds of alfalfa and deer do prefer one to another, but that don't matter right now. They aren't going to be THAT picky right now. Which alfalfa to have is more of a decision when choosing what to plant for a food plot (and bailing if doing so.)

If the pine stand starts at 100 yards out, put the food at 200 yards out.

[Jameson]

From the StarTribune, http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/245699161.html

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced last week that it will launch controversial emergency deer feeding this winter in parts of northern Minnesota, though the agency strongly opposes feeding whitetails. But the feeding will be on a much smaller scale than the last effort, in 1996. DNR and Minnesota Deer Hunters Association (MDHA) officials answer key questions about the topic below.

Why is the DNR opposed to feeding deer?

Officials say previous major feeding efforts in 1989 and 1996 did little to help deer. The program in 1989 reached only 11 percent of the deer, and a larger effort in 1996 reached about 20 percent. The DNR also is concerned feeding can encourage the spread of disease. “The science shows it doesn’t have a population level impact, and it increases the risk of disease transmission,’’ said Paul Telander, DNR wildlife section chief.

So why has the DNR decided to go ahead with deer feeding?

Basically because agency officials feel they have little choice. The Legislature established a deer feeding account in 1997, diverting 50 cents from each deer hunting license. In 2003, the Legislature allowed the DNR to use those funds to combat deer diseases. “We’ve been hearing from deer hunters about their concerns this winter, so we feel like we need to act in good faith on purposes of the account,’’ Telander said.

Do agencies elsewhere in the nation feed deer?

“I’m not aware of any other state that feeds whitetail deer,’’ said Ed Boggess, DNR fish and wildlife division director.

How will this winter’s feeding program compare to those in 1989 and 1996, the only other large-scale feeding efforts conducted by the DNR?

It will be minuscule. In 1989, about $750,000 was spent. In 1996, about $1.2 million was spent. The DNR is budgeting $170,000 this year. “We don’t know if it’s enough,’’ said Mark Johnson, MDHA executive director. “We may ask for more money later if we need it.’’

Why so little?

The DNR has about $770,000 in its feeding/deer disease account but wants to maintain $600,000 for disease efforts, including chronic wasting disease.

How many deer will be fed?

That’s uncertain, but at 15 cents a pound, $170,000 would buy about 1.1 million pounds, or about 37,000 pounds a day for 30 days. That means about 18,500 deer could be fed 2 pounds a day for a month. “We need to find out how many deer are in our target areas,’’ Johnson said.

When will the feeding start?

DNR officials aren’t sure. “I don’t think it will happen until about March 1,’’ Johnson said. “That means some deer will die between now and then. There’s a lot to do to get this ramped up.’’

Who will do the deer feeding?

Volunteers, primarily from the MDHA, will haul bags of feed into the woods. Among the MDHA chapters expected to be involved are those in Carlton, Cook, Duluth, Grand Rapids, Hibbing-Chisholm, International Falls, McGregor and Silver Bay.

How many people will be involved?

“I would say hundreds,’’ Johnson said. His group has been flooded with calls from people asking to help.

How long will the feeding continue?

Probably four to six weeks, depending on weather. “Hopefully it won’t be longer than that,’’ Johnson said. But once it starts, it must continue until snow melts because deer will be dependent on the supplement.

“We’ll have to feed until you can see brown on the ground, and there’s 40 to 50 inches of snow in some places,’’ Johnson said. “We’re supplementing their food sources and providing them a little extra energy to make those last few weeks of winter survivable.’’

Where will the feeding be done?

In 11 deer permit areas, roughly within the area formed by a line from Cloquet to Cass Lake to International Falls to Ely and back to Cloquet, excluding the North Shore.

How were those areas chosen, and what about other areas that have had deep snow and cold temperatures?

The DNR says feeding will only be allowed in areas where the winter severity index (a combination of snow depth and temperature) was over 100 by Feb. 15, and with deer populations below goal or projected to be below goal this winter. Some areas in the northeast were eliminated because deer feeding isn’t allowed in prime moose habitat.

How will the feed be distributed?

Using snowmobiles and ATVs. “Many of our members are members of ATV and snowmobile clubs,’’ Johnson said.

Will it be placed on private and public lands?

Public lands only. And feed will not be distributed to people who already are feeding deer on their own lands. “This is not to finance people privately feeding deer already,’’ Johnson said.

Where will the feed be placed?

In deer wintering yards — areas where deer are known to congregate in the winter. “We won’t be able to get to all of them, but we’re going to get to as many as we can,’’ Johnson said.

How will the feed be distributed?

“We don’t want to build feeders,’’ Johnson said. “And we don’t want to dump it in piles. We want to spread it out and make it as much like grazing as possible. Maybe an inch thick, maybe along a snowmobile trail or packed area, so it doesn’t sink into the snow.”

Will it be placed on existing snowmobile trails?

“No,’’ Johnson said. “That would be dangerous to deer and snowmobilers. We want to put it back at least a mile from roads, and not draw deer out to where they will be in danger.’’

What kind of feed will be used?

High-protein pellets that likely would include ground oats, corn, alfalfa, molasses, vitamins and minerals. Plain corn won’t be fed because it could kill deer that aren’t used to digesting it.

There’s some concern that concentrating deer at feed will make them more vulnerable to wolves.

“There are a lot of wolves in the country where we will be feeding,’’ Johnson said. “Hopefully, this will provide extra energy for deer to stay away from wolves, rather than providing wolf feeding stations.’’ But officials acknowledge there likely are more wolves now than in 1996 when feeding last occurred. “It’s possible there could be increased predation of deer in some of these areas,’’ Telander said.

Will the feeding help the deer herd?

No, the DNR says. “This is not going to be effective at helping deer on any large scale, like in a permit area or region,’’ Boggess said. “It may have an impact on a local level.” Said Johnson: “It won’t have a population impact, but we can help pockets of deer, and that will certainly help the rebound of the population.’’

What happens after this season?

The DNR wants to revisit the state’s deer-feeding policy and the law establishing the deer feeding account. Though reluctant to say so, officials clearly would like the law changed and deer feeding to end. Johnson said he’s willing to discuss the policy. But, he said, “We think there’s a place for emergency winter deer feeding.’’

[minky]

I am all for keeping the fund to feed the deer but would it be wiser to put some of the money into improving the deer winter areas?