what kinds of food can deer eat?

Question

I want to feed the deer in my backyard. can anyone help me?

Answer 1

Be aware that most places discourage feeding wildlife because they may become dependant on people for food rather than foraging for thelmselves. It also makes them less fearful of people - and that's a bad thing during hunting season.

But, if you can't resist, the best way to attract deer is by planting white clover and alfalfa in your yard. If a feeder is what you have in mind, they will always come for corn, a salt lick or mineral block (comes in 50 pound blocks) and especially like molasses. You can get dry molasses at feed stores. Just sprinkle it on the corn. You can also drizzle regular molasses on a tree trunk or on a stump and the deer will come and lick the tree. Some feed stores often sell wet molasses in bulk - bring a jug or barrel. It's much more cost effective to buy wet molasses at a feed store - pennies on the dollar there.

One word of caution - make sure that you do not use chemical fertilizers or insecticides on your lawn if you plant clover or alfalfa.

I am giving you a link where you can send for the seeds to produce a healthy backyard feeding station

Answer 2

I have a deer. She likes apples, cantelope, pears, watermelon, deer protein, corn, alfalfa, granola bars for a treat. She also nibbles on dog food and grass. I have 2 feeders in my front yard. One has corn and the other deer protein. I also put a deer mineral block out there as well. I read an article yesterday that said by raising an orphaned ffawn, feeding it versus it surviving out in the wild causes many problems. One is that it can cause rapid growth and the fawn could go into season as early as 6 months. Well mine is amost 6 months and I noticed a few days ago a little blood from her parts . So, i guess there is my proof that the article has some truth. I feel so guilty now. First I thought I was doing a good thing by saving her now I feel like I could have harmed her. I think sometimes we need to let nature do its thing and not interfere.

Answer 3

What Do Deer Eat

Answer 4

RE:
what kinds of food can deer eat?
I want to feed the deer in my backyard. can anyone help me?

Answer 5

My boyfriend and I feed deer up north in Michigan. They will eat corn, beets, apples, hay mostly. Depending on where you live, you should be able to buy food in bulk which is cheaper. If they see you watching them while eating, they will take off! We put out a HUGE sugar block for them recently so they can lick it, it has something in it they need to survive during the winter months. But those are hard to find! They need alot of food, we will put on piles of it in different areas on his property. Enjoy!

Answer 6

We used to feed the deer in this park apples..whole apples and they ate right out of our hands. I think they also eat some kind of seeds that some sporting good stores sell. (you know because hunters try and use the food to :"trap" the poor deer.

Answer 7

One should be careful. Helping them can also kill them... 😭 I read where someone was feeding them corn and a number were found dead. Do a google I can t post someone else s link here...

Answer 8

I live behind a ravine at school, and miles and miles of wood. My room mate used to leave the back door open and hide behind the couch with a had of lettuce and sugar cbes on the floor. She says that attracted them and she actually got them to climb inside..so she could photograph them! She was crazy ..But I do bel;ieve the lettuce worked..I saw it with my own eyes.

Answer 9

They eat almost anything. I put out old bread and fruit.

Answer 10

In Vermont it is illegal to feed the deer and I think it should be everywhere. It can make deer much less afraid of humans and that is not a good thing come hunting season. It can also make them apt to depend on a handout when they would normally browse on their own. Many hunters here used to bait them to make for effortless hunting and that is not what hunting is about. I personally don't think hunting deer is okay unless you need the meat for survival.Last time I looked the stored still had plenty of meat available. I think for a lot of people it isn't the sport of it but the want to kill something. Just my opinion.