First-light Posted January 1, 2019 Share Posted January 1, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneHunter Posted January 1, 2019 Share Posted January 1, 2019 And for whatever reason Cracked Corn sells like hot cakes at Tractor Supply all winter long ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Man Posted January 1, 2019 Share Posted January 1, 2019 (edited) On 1/1/2019 at 6:08 PM, 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. Expand 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 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Four Season Whitetail's Posted January 1, 2019 Share Posted January 1, 2019 On 1/1/2019 at 6:21 PM, G-Man said: 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 differenceNot 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. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubborn1VT Posted January 1, 2019 Share Posted January 1, 2019 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Man Posted January 1, 2019 Share Posted January 1, 2019 On 1/1/2019 at 7:28 PM, 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. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Expand True but Not a legal possibility with wild deer in nys. Or many others as baiting is allowed only in season there.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philoshop Posted January 1, 2019 Share Posted January 1, 2019 On 1/1/2019 at 9:27 PM, 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.. Expand 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Man Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 On 1/1/2019 at 10:05 PM, 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. Expand 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.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LET EM GROW Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamoke Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 On 1/1/2019 at 7:28 PM, 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. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Expand Heck, I have a hard time "breaking down" corn! LoL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuckersdaddy Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 On 1/2/2019 at 4:01 PM, Jamoke said: Heck, I have a hard time "breaking down" corn! LoLPlease don't show proof...Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rack Attack Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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