suggestions for feeding deer

[todd k]

I bought a deer feeder from cabela's and have had it out for about a month and not much luck drawing in the deer.So far I have just ran straight corn through it.A guy I work with told me to mix a bag of sweet mix from T.S.C. in with the corn.It is basically ground up mollases in powder form.I was wandering what you guys have the best luck with?

[M.Magis]

If attracting them is your only goal, shelled corn is all you need. You'll just be wasting your money with any sort of cattle grain, as it will just disolve.

[bowhunter1023]

Magis is right. I have thrown out some of our cattle mix just to get rid of the old stuff, but it is not a magic attractant. They will find it, you just have to give them time to get comfortable with the feeder being there. Not sure what model you have, but mine made a ton of noise when it turned on. I quit using it and just feed on the ground. Try moving it to a better area, or throw out some corn on the ground next time with some carrots and apples just to get them coming to the area. Good luck...

[OhioStuds2310]

Take a bag of whole corn and mix it with the smaller sized bag of buck grub. Works wonders, just got trail cam back the other day and had a bunch of deer pictures on it, including a couple nice bucks.

[todd k]

Yeah I was throwing just corn down in the summer and had good results of deer coming in,but also had pictures of 8 coon at the same time.So I thought I would go to a feeder and control when and how much feed.Now I am not seeing anything.I suppose it could be a number of different factors.Feeder being new and gun season just over.

[fork horn]

Hi,

When I have clients that want to or need to do supplemental feeding.. I recommend they start off with shell cron and a bag of Buckgrub the deer can smell it and they will come most times it will only take one bag. Note: As the deer start using the feeder start mixing soybeans in with the corn till you get a 50/50 mix... corn / soybeans.. you can buy them in bulk at most elevators. Corn has very little nutrition value but it is high in carbs so it helps wildlife stay warm in the winter... but the soy beans are very high in protein and other minerals deer/wildlife need to rebuild for spring.. give this a try..

I hope this helps a little ;)

[So. Ohio Outfitters]

Todd K.....

It sounds as though what your feeding them is not the problem....the problem is, and this is only guessing, is that you probably have a spinner type feeder....not a gravity feeder.

I personally like the spinner, digital programmed feeders the best, that way you don't have does at your feeder eating up all the corn in 2 days. I think probably the problem facing you is getting the deer accustomed to the noise that the feeder makes. Sometimes it can take a long time for this to happen. Most of the time, when you see feeders and lots of bucks around them....the bucks have grown up around this environment. However, it seems from my experience, some deer on some properties get accustomed quicker than deer on other properties. The deer that seem to take the longest is those that are big woods deer. I think it takes them longer to get accustomed to the feeder for just that fact....a spinner going off is something that they are not use to hearing....the deer that get accustomed quicker...farm deer. Why? their use to hearing noises.

I'd try turning the feeder off completely, and pour corn all around the feeder. Let them get use to the feeder first and then turn the feeder on eventually...now, if your using a gravity feeder, disregard everything i've said...

and regular shelled corn is all you need....is good for them, puts the weight on, has some nutritional value, and is a good attractant

[So. Ohio Outfitters]

Let me add something to my comment...mostly because one of our members got tore up over it.....I said in my comment....corn has some, SOME, nutritional value..I never stated the composit breakdown of it, and I definitely never said it was high in protein, especially when it comes to comparing it with soy beans...the fact is, corn is not a very high protein material. Greens are high in protein....such as soy and alfalfa, and corn has more carbs or sugars....which is a more complex cellulose. Deer eat proteins and carbs. They also need minerals. If its going to help them put weight on, especially in the winter....it has nutritional value.

[guernseyja]

I bought a deer feeder from cabela's and have had it out for about a month and not much luck drawing in the deer.So far I have just ran straight corn through it.A guy I work with told me to mix a bag of sweet mix from T.S.C. in with the corn.It is basically ground up mollases in powder form.I was wandering what you guys have the best luck with?
I've had a digital spray feeder up since May. It is noisy, it usually scares me when I'm near it. The deer have visited regularly since July. I had it go off 2 times a day, but since the start of muzzleloader, it goes off 3 times. On Wed night, (the big snow), I also poured out a bucket of shelled corn, (I knew they'd be hungry). Last night 11 does put on a big show. The feeder goes off and the deer come running. In Oct and various times since, I've added acorn rage to the mix. I do use apples in the area and keep minerals constant. I had smart raccoons in August that opened the hopper, I just clipped the wire protector shut. I do plan to go in the morning.

[todd k]

It is in fact a spinner type feeder.Thanks for the suggestions.Sounds like I just need to give it some time.I am sure wants we get some good snow on the ground they will not pass up the corn.