Corn and deer

[First-light]

So if acres of corn are left unharvested and the deer have this to feed on through the winter will acidosis not take place? I guess what I'm saying is if corn is available will they eat it through the winter until its gone and not get sick. 

 

 

The problem is that deer digestion is a finely tuned physiological process. Just the right combination of microorganisms, enzymes, and pH enable deer to digest a normal winter diet of woody vegetation. When offered a sudden supply of corn, a deer’s digestive system doesn’t have time to adjust to a high carbohydrate diet. The result can be acute acidosis followed by death within 72 hours.

[GreeneHunter]

And for whatever reason Cracked Corn sells like hot cakes at Tractor Supply all winter long !

[G-Man]

12 minutes ago, First-light said:

So if acres of corn are left unharvested and the deer have this to feed on through the winter will acidosis not take place? I guess what I'm saying is if corn is available will they eat it through the winter until its gone and not get sick. 

 

 

The problem is that deer digestion is a finely tuned physiological process. Just the right combination of microorganisms, enzymes, and pH enable deer to digest a normal winter diet of woody vegetation. When offered a sudden supply of corn, a deer’sstive system doesn’t have time to adjust to a high carbohydrate diet. The result can be acute acidosis followed by death within 72 hours.

Standing corn is not a sudden supply . They have been nipping tassels, silk, tips of ears, and kernals off it since it was growing .. 

This is another huge difference between a food plot / crop and baiting for those that insist there isnt a difference

Edited January 1, 2019 by G-Man

[Four Season Whitetail's]

Standing corn is not a sudden supply . They have been nipping tassels, silk, tips of ears, and kernals off it since it was growing .. 
This is another huge difference between a food plot / crop and baiting for those that insist there isnt a difference

Not Really. If a deer has been fed corn from Day 1 in a feeder or pile it would still be the same. The issue with corn and deer only happens in the dead of winter in heavy snow when corn has not been in the diet and then loaded up on them and they fill their bellies with corn and can't break it down.


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[stubborn1VT]

Like 4SW said, if it is new to their diet they won't have what they need in their gut to break the corn down.  The same thing can happen if you try to feed them bales of hay in the dead of winter.  It takes very different microbes to break down grass or corn vs. woody browse.  In places where it is legal to feed deer, it is important that they continue to feed them through the entire winter, not just during the coldest months.  

[G-Man]

1 hour ago, Four Season Whitetail's said:

Not Really. If a deer has been fed corn from Day 1 in a feeder or pile it would still be the same. The issue with corn and deer only happens in the dead of winter in heavy snow when corn has not been in the diet and then loaded up on them and they fill their bellies with corn and can't break it down.


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True but Not a legal possibility with wild deer in nys. Or many others as baiting is allowed only in season there..

[philoshop]

36 minutes ago, G-Man said:

True but Not a legal possibility with wild deer in nys. Or many others as baiting is allowed only in season there..

I believe the conversation was about potential problems from an unharvested cornfield being used as a food source. There are several cornfields around me that didn't get cut this year due to poor growth. It's not baiting; it's farming economics, and the deer will munch on that corn until it's gone. Until they change their basic diet for the winter they'll be fine eating corn.

[G-Man]

3 hours ago, philoshop said:

I believe the conversation was about potential problems from an unharvested cornfield being used as a food source. There are several cornfields around me that didn't get cut this year due to poor growth. It's not baiting; it's farming economics, and the deer will munch on that corn until it's gone. Until they change their basic diet for the winter they'll be fine eating corn.

Yes I was responding to 4 seasons if corn was fed year round microbes would be present for digestion. As baiting usually takes place in Hunting season they would not.. standing corn by farmers and by people who just wanted to feed the herd would be eaten on from planting till it was gone.. 

[LET EM GROW]

If a deer has fed on corn all year/season it should not harm them a bit.  It is only when its suddenly introduced during the harsh winter months. When they are only foraging on twigs and branches etc..

From what ive gathered. 

[Jamoke]

20 hours ago, Four Season Whitetail's said:

Not Really. If a deer has been fed corn from Day 1 in a feeder or pile it would still be the same. The issue with corn and deer only happens in the dead of winter in heavy snow when corn has not been in the diet and then loaded up on them and they fill their bellies with corn and can't break it down.


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Heck, I have a hard time "breaking down" corn! LoL

[tuckersdaddy]

Heck, I have a hard time "breaking down" corn! LoL

Please don't show proof...

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[dbHunterNY]

only thing i'll add is that despite the presence of corn or hay, deer will still transition to eating a lot of woody browse also and not just stick to just corn or hay.

[Rack Attack]

I think the points made about corn being bad for deer are valid in the Adirondack areas and southern Catskills, in central and western NY where it is primarily ag country it's a moot point as it's part of their regular diet.