Is corn good for deer?

Asked by: Brenda Mobley

Many articles, presentations, and campfire conversations about deer nutrition state emphatically that corn is not good for deer. In a general sense, this is true because corn is low in protein (9%), has a poor mineral profile, and can cause digestive upset and metabolic problems.

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 best corn to feed deer?

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.

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.

Is corn bad for deer 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.

When should you stop feeding deer corn?

Late Winter to Early Spring



“Are You Feeding Your Deer To Death?” is one example. This is because deer stop eating grains in the fall when corn, wheat and others are harvested. Incorporating grains at the wrong time can lead to potentially fatal digestion issues. Of course, diets change with the region.

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.

What can I feed wild deer in my backyard?

Oats provide deer with a healthy mixture of fiber and carbohydrates without disrupting their digestive system.

• A wide variety of fruits and vegetables – including apples, grapes, cherries, pears, carrots, and snap peas – are eaten in nature by deer. …
• Acorns are another safe food source.

What do deer like better 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.

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.

Are salt licks good for deer?

Deer lick blocks and powders draw deer to your area and provide needed nutritional supplements for your herd. Deer attractants like salt and protein licks can draw deer into your hunting area. Many also provide added nutrition for better rack growth and a healthier herd.

Do deer like cracked corn or whole corn better?

Just dropped alotta money on feed and blocks. The feed store ran out of whole corn so i bought cracked. the guy at the checkout said deer prefer whole. looks like it would spread better and make the deer work to find the pieces.

How long does it take deer to find corn?

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

How much corn is too much for deer?

Caution in feeding deer corn



CORN! In addition to being low in protein and minerals, corn is very high in starch, and the rapid consumption of two to three pounds by a deer not used to it is enough to cause serious problems.

What can I feed deer in summer?

High-quality food is the name of the game in summer. Productive, high-protein food plots in peas, beans or lab-lab can provide up to 35 percent protein when properly fertilized and are also very palatable, so your deer are able to digest most of the protein and nutrients that they consume.

Can deer eat whole corn?

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

Are carrots good for deer?

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 I feed my deer to make them bigger?

Protein Pellets – One of the best ways to supplement whitetail deer is through protein pellets with at least a 16 percent protein content. Many commercial brands are available and they contain not only protein, but all of the necessary macro- and micro-nutrients.

How do you fatten up a deer?

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.).

Does corn help deer antler growth?

With only six- to eight- percent protein (the “building block” of antlers), corn can barely support daily bodily activities for an adult deer, which does not provide antler growth. So corn does play a factor, but not much.

What is the best time of day to feed deer?

Best Times to Set Your Deer Feeder

• Dispense feed once early in the morning and once in the afternoon for a few seconds each time.
• Or, dispense feed close to hunting time for a few seconds.

Where do you put corn on a deer?

And just sling it just sling that all over the place twenty yards that way thirty yards this way twenty yards this way twenty yards that way just sling it out and that does two things one.

Is Cracked corn good for deer?

If deer cannot access high quality natural forages around your feeder, they will not thrive. As a winter supplement, cracked corn, oats, or barley are an improvement over veggies and fruit, but single diets of grains are not optimal.

Can you have too many deer feeders?

Registered. First in some respects your buddy is correct, there is no such thing as too many feeders. The deer will only eat what they want or need.

Do deer feeders scare big bucks?

Because not all spin feeders blend in with the natural surroundings, you may wonder if even their existence will scare deer away. Although these feeders seem like they have the potential to scare deer, they actually attract them.

How do I attract bucks to my feeder?

So if you'll spread the corn. You can see I've got spread all around you'll spread the corn around. It like I've done here. Bring it all around okay you see how far down from that feeder.