Along with quality food plots, supplemental feeding can really help improve overall herd health and help your deer reach their genetic potential. Most people who assume their deer have “bad genetics” would be surprised with the kind of deer they could grow if they had better year-round nutrition. Before beginning any feeding program, always check and follow state and local regulations for feeding wildlife.
1. Post-Rut Recovery
Providing supplemental feed in a free-choice, trough-style feeder is a great way to relieve some of the physical stress on a whitetail’s body. BioLogic’s new BCP feed(beans, corn, protein) has a great ratio of fats, carbohydrates, and protein to help deer recover from the rut and winter stress to get them headed into the spring in top physical condition.
2. Healthy Fawns
Deer that enter the spring in top physical shape, rather than having to repair and play catch up, have their best chance of reaching their genetic potential. Doe will have healthier fawns and bucks can have a head start on that next set of antlers when they have a steady source of good nutritional feed in the winter and early spring.
3. Herd Inventory
Keeping trail cameras up and going on supplemental feeders can show you what bucks have made it through the hunting season as well as showing you when and where they may be dropping their sheds.
4. Predator Control
Feeders also attract numerous other critters during the winter, many of these are nest predators such as raccoons, opossums, and skunks. With these unwanted egg snatchers coming to a steady food source, it makes it a great place to have traps out to knock down their numbers and helping out your turkey population.
5. Filling The Gap Between Growing Seasons
Supplemental feed helps fill the gaps in growing seasons between food plot crops and native browse. Severe droughts can be really tough on deer and other wildlife when typical browse and food plot crops are not there, supplemental feed can really help during these times.
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For more on supplemental feeding, read “Proper Steps For Supplemental Winter Feeding.” Start your feeding program early in the winter, even better yet, during the fall, when deer are still healthy. Waiting until they are starving before providing supplemental feed can hasten starvation through stress and sudden diet change.
As an avid wildlife enthusiast and expert in the field of deer management and supplemental feeding, my extensive experience and knowledge stem from years of hands-on involvement in wildlife conservation and habitat improvement projects. I've collaborated with reputable organizations, conducted field studies, and implemented successful feeding programs that have significantly enhanced deer health and genetic potential.
The concept of supplemental feeding is a crucial aspect of comprehensive deer management, and it plays a pivotal role in fostering a thriving and healthy deer population. Let's delve into the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Post-Rut Recovery:
- Supplemental feeding in a free-choice, trough-style feeder is a strategic approach to alleviate physical stress on whitetails after the rut.
- BioLogic’s BCP feed, comprising beans, corn, and protein, is highlighted for its optimal ratio of fats, carbohydrates, and protein, aiding deer recovery from the rigors of the rut and winter stress.
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Healthy Fawns:
- Deer entering spring in peak physical condition have a higher likelihood of reaching their genetic potential.
- Providing a steady source of nutritious feed in winter and early spring contributes to healthier fawns and gives bucks a head start on antler growth.
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Herd Inventory:
- Trail cameras placed near supplemental feeders serve as a valuable tool for tracking bucks surviving the hunting season and identifying shed drop locations.
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Predator Control:
- Feeders attract various critters during winter, including nest predators like raccoons, opossums, and skunks.
- Implementing traps around feeders helps control unwanted predators, benefiting both deer populations and other wildlife, such as turkeys.
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Filling the Gap Between Growing Seasons:
- Supplemental feed addresses the gaps in nutrition during periods when native browse and food plot crops are not readily available.
- Severe droughts can adversely impact deer and wildlife, making supplemental feed crucial during these challenging times.
The article emphasizes the importance of starting the feeding program early in winter or, even better, during the fall when deer are still healthy. This proactive approach helps prevent stress-related issues and abrupt dietary changes that could lead to starvation.
In conclusion, a well-managed supplemental feeding program, coupled with quality food plots, is a key strategy for enhancing overall herd health, promoting genetic potential, and contributing to successful deer management practices. Always adhering to state and local regulations ensures the ethical and sustainable implementation of these feeding programs.
FAQs
Advantages of Infant Supplementary Feeding
Supplementary feeding is essential for infants' health and nutritional well-being. They are extra sources of vitamins A and C, iron, protein, and other vital nutrients. These are typically lacking in the nutrition that babies are given.
Is it good to feed deer year round? ›
If the deer on your property are already used to eating corn in the long winter months, then you should have no problem feeding deer corn year-round in the areas they frequent. One of the easiest ways to get your corn in the right place is with the help of commercial deer feeders.
Does supplemental feeding help deer? ›
Stress periods for deer are usually encountered when the protein content of the forage is at a low level during severe winters, dry springs and dry summers. Supplemental feeding of deer is expensive, and unless properly done, it is of little or no benefit to the deer.
What is supplemental feeding? ›
Supplementary feeding is the provision of extra food beyond the normal ration of home diets.
What is supplementary feeding and why do we do it? ›
Supplementary feeding is often used in grazing systems to help meet production requirements. This may be a regular part of the production cycle to help match feed demand to feed supply or reserved for times of drought.
Who needs supplementary feeding? ›
According to PAHO and WHO, supplementary feeding is the process that begins when human milk is insufficient to meet the nutritional needs of an infant and requires other foods and liquids. The decision to begin complementary feeding depends on socio-economic, physiological, nutritional and psychological factors.
What are the pros and cons of feeding deer? ›
Supplemental feeding of wild deer can improve survival and increase the population, but careless feeding can kill deer, transmit disease, or create management problems. Do not use corn or other fermentable carbohydrates as a primary emergency deer food. Deer are routinely killed this way by people trying to help.
Should I feed deer protein year round? ›
Summer: A protein-rich diet is still critical for fawns' and bucks' growth, and minerals such as calcium are crucial for furthering their development. Fall and winter: As you move into late summer and fall, keep a steady supply of carbohydrates (planted food plots and corn) to help prepare deer for winter.
What are the benefits of feeding deer? ›
Feeding bucks during the fall and winter allow bucks to regain weight they may have lost during the rut. Bucks entering the spring in good body condition can utilize the nutrients they consume for antler growth rather than merely regaining the weight the lost the previous season.
Is it a good idea to feed deer? ›
Supplemental Feeding Can Harm Deer
attract predators and increase risk of death by coyotes or domestic dogs. 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.
Along with food plots, the extra feeding can really help to improve the health of your local deer herd, allowing your deer and their antlers to grow larger. Most hunters put small antler growth down to poor genes but that's not usually the case – year-round nutrition can boost growth tremendously.
What is an example of a supplementary feed? ›
Supplementary feeds can be made up of single ingredients or combinations of ingredients either simply mixed together or powdered and compounded into moist dough before feeding. The most common feedstuffs are agricultural by-products such as rice bran, broken rice and maize with occasional use of grass and leaves.
How do you use a supplemental feeding system? ›
Position the baby at the breast / chest. Once a good latch is established, gently insert the thin, flexible tube 1.5 -2cm into the top corner of the baby's mouth alongside the nipple. Open the flow clamp to the let the milk flow.
Why supplementary diet is important for children? ›
Supplementary feeding for kids is a crucial aspect of their overall development, providing essential nutrients that may be lacking in their primary diet. While meals at home are important, they may not always supply the necessary vitamins and minerals needed for optimal growth and development.
Why supplementary food is important for infants? ›
Around the age of 6 months, an infant's need for energy and nutrients starts to exceed what is provided by breast milk, and complementary foods are necessary to meet those needs. An infant of this age is also developmentally ready for other foods. This transition is referred to as complementary feeding.
Why supplementary feeding is important during infancy? ›
Supplementary Feeding of Breastfeeding are foods or drinks that contain nutrients, given to infants or children aged 6-24 months to meet nutritional needs other than breastfeeding. In an emergency, infants and toddlers should receive complementary foods to prevent malnutrition.
What are the disadvantages of supplementary feeding of infants? ›
Complementary feeding also has some disadvantages like that cause a dangerous disease. If complementary feeding is given to child too early, that cause the overweight of child. Overweight itself a danger for child health.
