Anyone use packaged Deer feed

I put out apples and then carrots at first and then cracked corn when it got cold and the deer went to the corn first every time. Found it was a waste of time to pour the apples out of the bucket because the deer just went behind the blind when I was gone and helped them selves instead of waiting for me to pour them out in front.
 
Swamp donkey and primo red spot block
they fight over this combo swamp donkey to bring them in and the salt to hold them in
 
The ones at my place sure gobble up the corn-oats-molasses mix. And empty the birds' sunflower seed feeder.
 
Too much corn in the winter is bad, the MNR here has some guidelines. http://www.gigglesn####z.com/downloads/deer_winterFeeding.pdf
Pure corn can also cause problems since it is very high in starch (likewise for pure barley and wheat). The sudden intake of corn causes a starch overload. This creates ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria (e.g., clostridium). Associated with this are over-feeding diseases. Deer suddenly presented with an abundant food supply such as cereal grains can develop acidosis (excess acid buildup) which can lead to rumenitis (bacterial infections in lesions developed from acidosis). The
development of scours (diarrhea) is another serious problem.
 
qtip said:
Are deer able to digest whole corn properly ?
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Our camp took 4 deer this year. I put peanut butter on a stump mostly for squirrels and birds for something to look at, however, deer also seem to love it. As well as fox, coyote and wolves. Anywho, the deer we took this year all had whole kernel corn in their stomachs. Never found out which other camp actually didnthe feeding.
 
They bring the whole corn back up with the fibre in their diet and rechew it so that it gets broken down so they can digest it. That is why if they get to much grain at one time they can get sick as it dosn't get brought back up to be rechewed and passes to the other stomachs instead.
 
I don't know where you're located but I am guessing since you go to BPS you are in T.O or Calgary? If you are near T.O just call Valley Fresh Farms, they are on the west side of the 400 Hwy at the Holland Marsh. You can pick up 1100 - 1200 lb. crates of #2 carrots and parsnips for $20. The deer love them both. There is nothing wrong with them they are just too large or too deformed that the supermarkets don't accept them. Last time I was there I was lucky enough to be going by with a dump truck so I picked up 6000 pounds for $100.
 
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We have a carrot place like that here also, my buddies and I filled up a trailer for $20, but the deer would not touch them until it started snowing and food was harder to find, most our carrots went mouldy before that happened so back to whole corn we went.
 
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