For that reason, we generally prefer free-choice feeders. However, they often limit consumption and discourage 24-hour use by deer. Timed feeders that dispense a set amount of feed at preprogrammed intervals are especially popular where used for hunting. The next important attribute is the type of delivery device. We generally use polypropylene feeders, but steel is acceptable when properly placed. However, they do have the problem of being susceptible to squirrel damage if placed near trees. Polypropylene feeders tend to have lower internal temperatures. Heat degrades protein, and any feed that remains in a feeder over 45 days in warm to hot weather begins to degrade. are easily achieved in steel feeders exposed to the sun. Steel feeders should be placed in shady locations, as our research has shown that temperatures exceeding 140 degrees F. So that leaves us with only two good options: steel and polypropylene or similar material. Galvanized materials are great for longevity, but the galvanizing material can introduce toxins into the feed. Chances are, if you can’t afford a quality feeder, you probably won’t be able to afford adequate feed, either.Īluminum construction or thin metal isn’t acceptable, as such feeders are easily damaged. A good one should last you the rest of your life. Most commercial deer feeders are constructed from metal: steel, aluminum or galvanized. I’ll try to be generic in my recommendations on what a “good” deer feeder is.First, what the feeder is made from is very important. Now we move into the complicated and often controversial topic of feeder construction. Remember: There’s a difference between feeding and baiting. These areas should be part of a designated sanctuary for your deer. That means we never hunt over them, even where it’s legal to feed during the season. We place our feeders where deer feel comfortable coming to eat. Where legal, there will be one free-choice feeder (two is a better strategy, at 25-yard spacing), a water source (natural or artificial) and a food plot (where climate permits). So I prefer to create a “nutrition station,” near the center of every 100 acres. The reason we don’t see it more often is inadequate habitat diversity. Early research on movements and behavior taught me whitetails would like to live within a home range of under 100 acres. We’ve long recommended a “one-stop shopping” approach to deer nutrition. There’s no substitute for good record-keeping or good, growing forage. Today, there are hundreds of national and local brands, many of which are anything but good for deer! A “good” feed is usually a pelleted ration and has the following characteristics: Interestingly, back in those days people often asked why anyone would want to feed deer. Here at the Institute for White-tailed Deer Management & Research, we developed the first feed constructed specifically for deer. Let’s examine the what, when, where and how of proper feeding. What constitutes an effective, ecologically sound feeding program is the focus of this column. True feeding is supplementing the native nutrition with what deer need, when they need it. This practice is temporary, and unfortunately, more often a feel-good approach than an effective strategy. Feedstuffs are carried in on a regular basis in an attempt to save the lives of affected deer.
Rescue feeding takes place when local deer are starving due to some terrible climatic event, such as a blizzard, drought or flood. There are two types of feeding: rescue and nutritional supplementation.
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