What Can I Feed Wild Deer In My Backyard?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Late Summer / Early Fall — Provide acorns, corn and soybeans . These are among deer’s favorite foods. Fall and Winter — Cereal grains including oats, triticale, and wheat. Cool season legumes such as clovers, alfalfa and winter peas attract deer and provide nutrition.

What can I feed wild deer in the winter?

Most brassicas are relished for the succulent, high protein, green forage they produce. BioLogic’s Winter Bulbs and Sugar Beets or Maximum are good choices for most late-season food plots and will provide forage that will improve the health of winter deer herds, particularly in times of stress.

Is it OK to feed deer in your yard?

Supplemental Feeding Can Harm Deer

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. result in over-browsing of local vegetation and ornamental plants.

Can you feed deer on your own property?

A bylaw passed July 19 prohibits the intentional or unintentional feeding of deer and other wildlife on private property . ... “It does cause issues throughout the town where people put out food to attract the deer to their private property.”

What do you feed outdoor deer?

A deer will rely on its fat reserves for most of their bodily functions and energy requirements, but they do still need to eat. Their diet consists mostly of woody browse this time of year, early successional species like blackberries and greenbriers, and saplings.

What do deer love to eat the most?

Food they absolutely love are: pecans, hickory nuts , beechnut acorns, as well as acorns. Fruits such as apples, blueberries, blackberries, and persimmons are also appealing to deer and satisfy their appetites.

What attracts deer to your yard?

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.

What is the best thing to feed wild deer?

Late Summer / Early Fall — Provide acorns, corn and soybeans . These are among deer’s favorite foods. Fall and Winter — Cereal grains including oats, triticale, and wheat. Cool season legumes such as clovers, alfalfa and winter peas attract deer and provide nutrition.

Will deer eat Quaker oats?

If formulated deer food mixtures are unavailable, oats are the next best supplemental food for deer. Oats provide deer with a healthy mixture of fiber and carbohydrates without disrupting their digestive system. ... Therefore, it is safe to feed deer these fruits . Acorns are another safe food source.

What is the cheapest thing to feed deer?

Making Your Own Inexpensive Deer Feed

Oats, corn, nuts, and dried fruits are a great combination. You can buy most of these items in bulk in supermarkets and online which will help reduce costs. Mix them up and bring them to the stockpile or the feeder.

Is it OK for deer to eat bird seed?

Unfortunately, deer eat bird seeds even if they are not the first or second food choices. They can quickly empty a bird feeder, which will cost you extra funds to purchase more seeds to feed the birds around you. Deer can also cause damage your feeders as they rip or knock them down while trying to gain access.

Can I put a salt lick in my yard?

Place corn feeders in several areas of your yard. Feeders should be placed far from the house to increase the chances of attracting the deer. ... Place a salt block , also called a salt lick, in your yard. Deer are attracted to the sodium in salt blocks and are drawn to an area where they are placed.

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.

Do deer like oats or corn better?

Oats are a preferred supplement . ... Corn is often used as a food supplement, but is low in protein and nutritional value. It may result in acidosis if introduced too quickly, so should be used sparingly as an energy supplement such as for does trying to feed new fawns.

Can deer eat carrots?

Carrots have proved to be among one of the best vegetables to feed these deer with. ... Carrots are root vegetables and can be found in a number of colours such as orange, purple, red and yellow. Once in a carrot garden, deer will dig up the carrots and eat them .

Does 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.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.