How do you feel about feeding deer?

[hunTer06]

What are your opinions about feeding deer...for it? against it? Helps? Hurts?

[mullskinner]

I START FEEDING THE WEEK AFTER GUN SEASON AND SOMETIMES FEED TILL THE MIDDLE OF APRIL......MOSTLY FEED SHELLED CORN ... IN BAD WINTERS I THINK IT HELPS THEM SOME .......IF NOTHING ELSE THERE FUN TO WATCH ..:bouncy: :D :D

[geezer]

No problem as long as it not on a deer farm - some say it will cause the spread of disease but deer are herding animals and have physical contact all the time - i feel like deer farms are ticking time bombs for the spread of disease into the natural deer herd - just my 2 cents

take care
geezer

[OHBOW76]

I have nothing against it if its done over the winter months but once you start dont stop as the animals will become dependent on it. I dont like the idea of supplemental feeding in the warmer months as its unecessary to begin with and can congregate animals where they dont need to be congregated. As an example, I worked with a guy last year who was a non-hunter and was putting out bushels of cracked corn all summer within 50 yds of a major highway. By doing this he was only increasing the risk of deer collissions nearby.

[coonskinner]

its unnecessary for hunting...piling corn on the ground or putting it in a trough will spread disease...:mischeif:

[tuffshot]

Feeding deer can be good for the herd. My only question is why are some feeding the deer. Mostly because they want to assure themselves of a deer to shoot during the season. Other than that, nature does provide.:whistle:

[hunTer06]

we feed almost year round. We dont feed very much though...I'll take a 5 gallon bucket of corn and throw it around a field about ever 2 weeks. Dont have a particular reason for it, but I like to do what I can to keep the herd healthy; healthy does lead to healthy fawns, leads to healthy racks...thats the way I look at it.

I feel that feeding in the winter helps them out when food is scarce and feeding them in the spring helps them with the antler growing process and giving birth.

Feeding also helps get me some good pics on the camera :cool: :)

[sportsman34]

I feed deer all deer season. I don't believe it will spread diseases. Deer can get diseases from anything they eat. Too limit it down to people feedin them will increase the risk, I highly doubt it. Yes, I feed deer to get a shot at a deer, but also i do it so they at least have something to eat to stay alive during the winter. If peoples corn supplies run out, deer aren't going to go hungry, they are smart animals and will go find food, just because you feed them doesn't mean they will go captive. They found that food source and when runs out they will go find an other food source, but if it is always full they are set then. Also this is what Im going to end on, I would rather have them eat my corn on the ground than eat that spray and fertilizer infested crops that farms put out. Do you guys Agree??

[hunTer06]

I don't believe it will spread diseases. Deer can get diseases from anything they eat. Too limit it down to people feedin them will increase the risk, I highly doubt it.

Having corn in a pile on the ground does actually increase the chances, but like you said, deer can get disease from a variety of different sources. I feed in both a feeder and on the ground. I dont pile the corn though, I spread it over the entire field. Not sure if that makes a difference or not but o well.

we have been feeding for years and our deer heard seems to be very healthy and disease free:p