Deer yarding up this past winter

[Goosepond Monster]

I have thrown out a lot of different things over the winter/spring for the deer to eat...

Orscheln Apple-Flavored Deer Corn

Record Rack Deer Corn

Golden Deer Nuggets

Record Rack Professional

Record Rack Sportsmen

Antler Attak Deer Feed

Purina Antler Max

Purina Antler Max Watershield

I also had a bag of corn covered in molasses from a local feed company.

I have to say that outside of the corn the deer seemed to like the Golden Deer Nuggets over all of the other products. I usually feed once every two or three weeks. I did a test once with the Record Rack Professional, Antler Attak, Golden Deer Nuggets and Record Rack Deer Corn. I dumped each bag in a different spot and when I went back the next week to check the trail cam, the nuggets and the corn were gone, but the other stuff was still there. I also tried dumping out a couple bags of alfalfa cubes, but the deer didn't really seem to like that. It could have been a bad time of year to dump that out for them. I found it interesting that they didn't really like the Record Rack Professional and Record Rack Sportsmen. This led me to believe that those products are best when they are mixed with corn.

I have also tried a few different mineral blocks/mineral supplements...

Record Rack Deer Block

Antler Max Deer Block (I actually think it was a different block, but the same company)

Orscheln Apple Flavored Deer Block

Antler Max Deer and Elk Mineral

Manna Pro Goat Mineral

The goat mineral seemed to have most of the same minerals that the deer minerals did and I figured deer and goats were similar in their nutritional requirements.

I haven't really been able to determine how heavily the deer are using the mineral blocks/supplements, but I think now is the time of year when they seek out those things. I figure it can't hurt to dump them out even if I can't tell how often the deer are using them.

I figure it is kind of silly to test out all of the different products, but I though it was a good idea to see what the deer like the most. I'd hate to be spending my money on something the deer don't really like. I also want to make sure I am providing them something that will keep them hanging around the property outside of the hunting season.

I know a lot of folks like to put out salt blocks and the various Deer Cane/C'mere Deer-type products. Those are good at attracting deer, but I want to put out something that provides them minerals and nutrients, not just salt. A lot of folks want to see the bucks grow a bigger rack, but I also want to make sure the does are healthy so that they can raise their fawns to be healthy as well.

I also planted my first food plot this year, so I hope that takes off and gives them even more reason to hang around.

Sorry for the long-winded post, but this is just something that I am very interested in and I like to share my findings with others.

[Canadian Black Bears]

Thanks for sharing...great tips on attractants and food sources. Greatly appreciate your input here. Most likely deer there don't have to change their feeding habits due to seasonal changes and year round feeding will not hurt them at all. Thanks again