Developing a Feeding Program

By Morgan Richardson

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Many landowners and hunters are interested in providing food plots of supplemental foods for white-tailed deer. To see improvements in your deer herd you must provide a sufficient amount of high quality forage to improve the diet of a deer herd.

Planting a small opening or placing grain to attract deer for viewing or hunting should not be confused with a supplemental feeding program to improve body weights, antler development and fawn production.

While small food plots and shelled corn are excellent for attracting deer, they will not significantly improve deer quality. For a program to be successful, deer must be fed all year, not just during the hunting season, and enough food must be available to significantly improve the diet of the majority of deer.

Supplemental feeding is an expensive proposition. Before beginning a program it is essential that you realize that if you are to succeed, the deer population must be kept within the habitat carrying capacity. That means shooting does and possible taking even more does after you begin your supplemental feeding program.

Clear cuts and other forest openings naturally produce an abundance of browse. Don't overlook these natural foods. Fertilizing and liming preferred browse such as green briar and blackberry can be a cost effective method of increasing deer foods.

Forest management such as prescribed burning and thinning of timber can increase both timber production and deer forage. Burning can double or even triple natural forage. Removing some timber allows the remaining trees to grow faster and the key to deer forage production is getting more sunlight to the ground.

Developing a Program

Before considering a supplemental feeding program, landowners and hunters should examine the present management of the deer herd on their land and the influence of adjoining properties. For example, if your goal was to improve the antler development of bucks in your area, a supplemental feeding program would be of little benefit is few bucks reach maturity. Many healthy, young 4 and 6 point bucks might be harvested, but if bucks did not reach the 3.5 year and older age-class few trophy deer would be taken even with an extensive feeding program.

Factors which should be evaluated include: is the deer herd above, within, or below the habitat's carrying capacity; is the annual harvest adequate; are livestock and wildlife competing for available forage; can habitat improvements be made; and what are the effects of land use practices and hunting on adjoining lands.

Objectives for your deer herd should be established and a management plan developed before a feeding program is initiated.

Types of Feed and Their Costs

One of the most important considerations for a feeding program is the type and amount of feed to use. Supplemental foods range from fertilized seasonal plantings to commercial feeds in the form of pellets and cubes. Both commercial rations and seasonal plantings can provide nutritious forage for deer.

The best type of supplemental feed for a particular area will depend on the location of the area, the landowner objectives and the compatibility with other land uses. Supplemental rations and food plots can be utilized together, and this may provide the best results.

The amount of feed needed depends on the area's habitat and deer density. The following information is a general guideline based on a moderately dense deer herd 20 to 30 deer per square mile. The cost figures presented are conservative estimates, and often it may cost significantly more to implement a successful supplemental feeding program.

The most popular supplemental feed is probably shelled corn. Although corn is excellent for attracting deer, at approximately 7 percent it is low in protein. This is about the level of maintenance requirements for deer and does not provide proper nutrition for body growth and antler development. Optimum nutrition is provided by forage that has at least 16 percent crude protein.

There are several balanced commercial deer rations available. When selecting a supplemental feed, it is important that it contain at least 16 percent crude protein and at least 3kcal per gram of digestible energy. It should also contain a vitamin and mineral supplement.

Deer must learn to eat deer pellets. Initially a small amount of pellets should be mixed with shelled corn and placed on the ground. After deer start utilizing deer pellets, corn should be minimized. Feeders should be placed about ½ mile apart throughout the area. Pellets can be dispensed from either a gravity fed trough feeder or a timed automatic feeder. Large pellets (3/16th inches in size) should be used to prevent clogging in automatic feeders. A shelled corn and pellet mixture will also assist in preventing feeder clogging.

Deer should be provided an unlimited, free-choice supply of pellets throughout the year. Adult deer generally will consume on to two pounds of pellets on a daily basis requiring from 300 to 900 pounds of feed per month at each feeder.

Annual program cost using a commercial ration would be about $2 to $4 per acre of land that you own or lease. This figure does not include the cost of purchasing or maintaining feeders. For example, if you had 5,000 acres it would cost between $10,000 and $20,000 per acre to purchase deer pellets.

Planting green plots of wheat and oats during the fall is also a popular means of supplemental deer diets. While fertilized green patches can provide a source of nutritious feed for deer, benefits would be negligible unless deer diets are supplemented throughout the year.

Ideally two to five acre plots should be dispersed throughout the area. About 3 percent of the area should be planted seasonally.

Before planting a food plot the soil should be tested and fields should be limed and fertilized accordingly. This will improve crop yields, nutritive value and deer utilization. There are a variety of different plantings that benefit deer. For winter plantings, Elbon Rye, Buck Forage Oats and several varieties of wheat all produce dependable yields, and are adapted to a variety of soil types. Osceola Ladino Clover and Redland Red Clover also provide excellent winter forage on moderately drained sites. Yucci Arrowleaf Clover is a good bet on dry sites.

For summer plantings, Cow Peas (Iron and Clay), soybeans (Quail haven) and Aeschynomene (Deer Vetch) are good choices. Aeschynomene should not be planted in sandy, well drained soils. If you have too many deer it will be difficult to establish successful summer plots.

Annual costs for a food plot program average from $50 to $100 per acre of food plot. This figure does not include the cost of land clearing, the loss of revenue from other land used, labor and equipment such as tractor and implements. The total cost for a farm or lease may range from $1.50 to $3 per acre. For example, if you had a 5,000 acre area you need to plant 150 acres. The annual cost for seed, fertilizer, lime and fuel for equipment could be as much $15,000 per year.

Summary

Supplemental feeding programs can benefit deer. Before a supplemental feeding is initiated, a deer management program should be developed for your land. Planting small food plots and feeding shelled corn is an excellent way to attract deer for viewing or hunting, and can be very helping in achieving deer harvest goals. However, unless an extensive program of year-round feeding is implemented, benefits to the deer population will be negligible.

Morgan Richardson is a wildlife biologist for International Paper.