What can I feed my yard for deer?

Asked by: Silvia Chinnici

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 can you feed deer to keep them around?

What To Feed Deer In Your Backyard: Safe & Healthy Options

• Acorns.
• Soybeans.
• Oats.
• Alfalfa or hay (Warning: Do not feed during the winter)
• Turnips.
• And many others, depending on the time of year.

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 food attracts deer the most?

Food Plots



Plants that typically attract deer include red clover, chicory, and orchard grass. Certain high-protein crops, such as peas, soybeans, turnips, alfalfa, sorghum, kale, or corn, are also attractants that the animals enjoy feeding on. Deer like the nutritious nuts that come from chestnuts and acorns as well.

Is it OK to feed wild deer?

Supplemental feeding of wild deer is harmful and can lead to bouts of severe diarrhea and dehydration, which could be deadly.

Is it OK to feed deer corn?

Using only corn or other fermentable carbohydrates as a primary deer food can be dangerous. Eating a large amount of corn can affect the deer’ digestive process and cause a flush of lactic acid in their stomach. In most severe cases, this leads to the dehydration and death of the deer.

How do I make my own deer feed?

Mix equal parts corn and whole oats.



Cracked corn, whole kernels, or ground corn all work well for deer treats. Mix an equal amount of your corn with your whole oats. Amounts will vary depending on how much deer food you want to make.

What else can you feed deer besides 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.).

What can I feed wild 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.

What human food can deer eat?

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.

Do deer eat carrots?

Fruit & Vegetables. Although deer will eat apples, carrots, cabbage, etc., their use is not recommended. They are like candy to a child tasty but of little value in providing a well-balanced and nutritious diet.

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.

Do deer like apples?

While deer do eat apples, it should in no way become their staple diet. Think of apple as a candy treat for deer. They find them delicious, but it is hardly good for them to eat exclusively. Deer enjoy apples but have difficulty digesting them.

Is cracked corn or whole corn better for deer?

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.

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.

Can deer eat unpopped popcorn?

So what animals can eat popcorn? Plain air-popped popcorn can be fed to alpacas, cows, chickens, roosters, goats, horses, llamas, pigs, sheep, cats, chinchillas, dogs, ferrets, fish, hamsters, mice, pet birds, rats, frogs, monkeys, raccoons, turtles, squirrels, wild birds, and deer in small amounts.

Will deer 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.

Whats the best food for deer?

The 9 Best Late-Season Deer Foods and How to Hunt Them

• Acorns. In most areas, there are still plenty of red oak acorns on the ground for deer to feed on. …
• Newly Seeded Alfalfa. …
• Apples. …
• Soybeans. …
• Brassicas. …
• Corn. …
• Hard/Woody Browse. …
• Shrub/Brushy Browse.

Can deer eat bread?

Corn, bread will be eaten by deer but can kill them. Small amounts are fine, but if one leaves a bunch of it and only one or a couple of animals find it and eat the whole lot they can die from indigestion. With wild deer not approaching it until you leave, you can’t control how much any one of them will consume.

Can deer eat bird seed?

Deer and Bird Seeds



Unfortunately, deer eat bird seeds even if they’re not the first or second food choice. If you own a feeder, birds may not be your only diners. Deer can quickly empty out birdseed, which costs homeowners more money. You’ll need to purchase more seeds for your flying friends.

Do deer eat marshmallows?

Deer will eat anything. They will eat most sweets, but it breaks down the amino acids in their digestive track and inhibits their ability to digest properly. Our old neighbor used to feed deer marshmallows.

Do deer eat potatoes?

Yes, they do, especially the sweet potato variety. They will also eat other potatoes, including toxic potato leaves if hungry enough. Potatoes are equally used in certain areas to feed deer, so they are not deer deterrents.

Can deer eat banana peels?

Look at that they do a look about it Wow sweet banana Joe in a banana peel.

Do deer like tomatoes?

Deer love tomatoes, but other plants in your garden might also be at risk. Other favorites of the deer are the Swiss chard, strawberries, sweet corn, raspberries, and some varieties of beans.