Can deer eat corn?

Asked by: Gabriel Counts

With proper adaptation, deer can safely consume corn and other high-‐starch foods.

What is the best thing to feed 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 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 should you not feed deer?

Do not feed hay, corn, kitchen scraps, potatoes, lettuce trimmings or any animal proteins from animals rendered into feed. Deer may actually starve when fed supplemental foods during winter if they have a full belly of indigestible foods. Many deer have starved to death with stomachs packed full of hay.

Is it OK to feed deer corn in the winter?

Although corn has poor protein, it has high carbohydrates. Whether it’s planted in a food plot, or fed at a feeding site, corn can be a great benefit to whitetails during winter. Most deer managers are more than willing to plant their plots in the spring and summer.

What do deer like more than corn?

Peanut butter has physical properties that will help deer hang around in front of your trail cameras better than corn. It tends to leave a longer-lasting residue than corn, so whitetails stick around wherever you smear it.

Will deer eat ground corn?

With proper adaptation, deer can safely consume corn and other high-‐starch foods.

What can I feed deer in the winter?

Deer eat woody browse in the winter. This can be leaves, berries, saplings, bulbs, or buds. In wintertime, they will take their pickings from the ground. They can also have some lush forage such as kale, radish, turnips, apples, or cabbage if it is available.

Why should you not feed deer?

Supplemental Feeding Can Harm Deer



attract predators and increase risk of death by coyotes or domestic dogs. spread disease among deer. cause aggression, wasting vital energy reserves and leading to injury or death. reduce fat reserves as deer use energy traveling to and from the feed site.

Can I feed deer carrots?

Carrots have proved to be among one of the best vegetables to feed these deer with. They contain vital nutrients such as beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, Potassium, and antioxidants.

What can you feed deer instead of corn?

Some good fall food sources include hard mast (e.g., oak acorns, beech nuts, chestnuts, hickory nuts, etc.), soft mast (e.g., apples, pears, persimmons, etc.), and agricultural crops (corn, soybeans, brassicas, cereal grains, etc.).

Is it OK to feed deer corn in the summer?

During the summer, don’t only use corn when feeding deer. Instead, combine it with a supplemental source of protein. It’s tempting to stock the feeder full of corn, but it’s not a good source of protein – only around seven to 10 percent. Rather, it’s mostly carbohydrates, which is needed more in the winter months.

Will deer come to sweet feed?

Yes, it works well. It’s grain with molasses on it. Of course they like it. I think you’ll find that most people don’t use it because it cost so much more than just a bag of whole corn, and corn works as well as anything.

What’s better for deer cracked corn or whole corn?

Registered. The cracked corn will be just fine. I saw a deer nibble on a turd once so that’ll be an upgrade.

When should I start putting corn out for deer?

Early spring to mid spring is a good rule of thumb to start your spring deer feeding program. This roughly coincides as food plots will start being planted.

What kind of corn Do deer like?

field corn

The best corn to plant for deer food plots is field corn. Choose late-maturing varieties if you want to leave corn standing in the plot for winter feeding. Avoid white corn and silage corn. There are many varieties of field corn and many that are designed for the region of the U.S. where you plan to plant.

Are salt licks good for deer?

All hooved mammals love salt, so licks made only of salt do a fine job of attracting deer. Licks with added flavors, minerals and nutrients can be even better, especially if you find one the deer in your area really love.

What is whitetail deer favorite food?

They love pecans, hickory nuts and beechnuts acorns in addition to acorns. A couple of favorite fruits are apples, blueberries, blackberries and persimmons. Deer occasionally enter yards to get their mouths on flowers, vegetables and ornamental trees — quite often to the surprise of the homeowners.

What can you feed wild deer?

A wide variety of fruits and vegetables – including apples, grapes, cherries, pears, carrots, and snap peas – are eaten in nature by deer. Therefore, it is safe to feed deer these fruits. Acorns are another safe food source.

Is it legal to put out salt blocks for deer?

Again, it is illegal to use salt/mineral blocks to attract deer for the purpose of hunting. Even after this product has dissolved into the soil, that location is still considered “baited,” as deer will still be attracted to that area to consume the product that has leeched into the soil.

Can you feed deer apples?

Waste apples and potatoes are palatable to deer and contain ample calories, but are not a healthy stand-alone diet. Fruits and spuds are high in water and too low in protein and fiber for wintering deer. If deer cannot access high quality natural forages around your feeder, they will not thrive.

Are mineral licks good for deer?

This need for sodium is mainly what draws deer to licks. A quality mineral mix will provide them with the vital phosphorus and calcium they need, plus a good mix of vitamins and micro elements in the precise proportions a whitetail’s physiology requires.

How do you bait a deer with apples?

Cut the slices of apples into smaller pieces and place into a bowl. Spoon several heaping scoops of peanut butter into the bowl and mix with the apple pieces until everything begins to stick together. Put the mixture of apples and peanut butter at your desired location for attracting the deer.

Do Deers eat peanut butter?

Deer love peanut butter, so it is an excellent bait. You can use peanut butter alone or in a mixture to lure deer into an area for hunting or just to enjoy watching them.

How fast will deer find corn?

1-3 days they should be on it good. If it is well traveled.