How to Feed Corn to Starving Deer

During the winter, a deer's natural forage might be scarce.

A deer's food sources can be scarce during the winter months. To help alleviate their hunger, you can feed them whole-shelled corn from a deer feeder. Whole-shelled corn has been stripped off the cob. The corn should only be a supplement to the foliage that deer feed on, so limit the amount you give them. Also, keep in mind that a deer's digestive tract cannot handle large amounts of corn at a single time.

Things You'll Need

• Whole-shelled corn
• Deer feeder

Instructions

1. Purchase whole shelled corn from your local feed store.

2. Place a deer feeder in a secluded area, away from human traffic. Hang it from a tree or place it on the ground.

3. Fill the feeder with corn.

4. Watch the feeder to see whether deer are feeding from it. If rodents and other pests are eating the corn, remove it from ground level.

5. Refill the feeder as needed but do feed the deer more than 10 pounds of corn per week.

Tips & Warnings

• If you will be feeding deer throughout the winter, it's a good idea to mix the corn with another form of deer feed.

• If you want to feed the deer year-round, plant some foliage for them to eat in the summer and fall months.

References

• Whitetail Deer Management: Whitetail Deer Feed
• "Farm and Dairy"; Feeding Deer Corn Is Not the Best Thing to Do; Scott Shalaway; February 2010