Feeding Deer in Winter

Feeding deer in winter may seem like a “no-brainer,” yet deer digestion in winter is much different than early and late fall.  This biological fact was made evident when Colorado’s burgeoning mule deer population was hit with a brutal winter.  Fish & Game dropped hay for the deer to eat, yet they still starved to death because their digestion required woody stems and browse, and the rich alfalfa hay could not be digested.  Motivated by this deer disaster, winter food in pelletized form was developed so that deer could digest it.

Birds, Bucks, and Turkeys

Whether you feed your birds in the backyard or game species like deer and wild turkeys, winter feeding requires commitment.  Winter feed is expensive, so be sure you can afford the project before committing to feeding continually.  Feeding wildlife forces them to depend on that food source, which will concentrate their numbers in a specific location, which may over-browse an area or quickly deplete natural food sources.  If you suddenly stop feeding, animals may starve because their area is overpopulated.  Additionally, concentrated populations are more vulnerable to predation.

Bob Humphrey, Certified Deer Biologist and Maine Guide

Bob Humphrey is a biologist who has written about conservation topics for decades.  This short video provides important points to anyone considering wildlife feeding.