How to Feed Wild Deer Inexpensively

Deer are beautful and gentle creatures.

If you live in a rural area in deer country, one of your greatest pleasures might be feeding the deer. They will show up early every morning while keeping their distance, waiting for you to come out to feed them. They are magnificent creatures, but rather shy. It is a real thrill to see a herd of a dozen deer, standing and waiting patiently for their breakfast. Usually the bucks will not reveal themselves, but occasionally you will see a deer with a rack of antlers.

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Step 1

Place pans filled with dried kernels of corn out for the deer to eat in the same place every morning. Corn is readily available at feed stores and at large stores that have many departments. You can buy it in 50 lb. or 100 lb. sacks. It is especially important to put corn out for the deer in winter when snow cover on the ground makes it difficult for the deer to find food. They have a hard time trying to survive by nibbling on tree branches.

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Step 2

This is a healthy, well-fed faun.

In addition to placing out pans of food for the deer, you should also provide them with a salt block which can be purchased at farms stores. If you have a stream on your property, the deer will drink there. If not, you should provide them with a pail of water. In hunting season, the deer will congregate on your hilltop where the hunters can not enter if you have your land posted. They will remain there until the end of hunting season when it is safe for them to leave.

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Step 3

When spring arrives, pick up the pans and stop feeding the deer. They are able to browse in the meadows and forests for ample food. They will return again in the fall when the green vegetation is frozen by the frosty weather. If you have a cornfield, they will search out any ears that have been left in the field and eat them.

Tip

If you have an apple tree on your land, the deer will enjoy eating the apples that fall on the ground.

Things You'll Need

  • Corn

  • Salt block

  • Pans

  • Water supply

Warning

When spring comes, watch out for large black bear and their cubs that might discover the corn you have placed out for the deer. If you see bear, you will have to stop feeding the deer, because you do not want bear hanging around your home. The bear come out of hibernation fairly late, but be on the watch for them, if they are indigenous to your area.

Make yourself aware of laws and regulations in your area regarding the feeding of wildlife.

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