My deer friends

[Dean Romig]

They get it from buds, twigs and forbs. Their metabolism changes for the cold months when there is no greenery. In fact, I’ve read that feeding them the wrong kinds of supplemental foods at this time can actually be detrimental to their winter survival.





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[Wild Skies]

If their metabolism changes and they have a never ending supply of twigs, buds and forbs available to them here in the northwoods of Wisconsin, I wonder why then so many die of starvation? A 2014 study reported this: Winter kill rates of deer in the northern study area of Wisconsin: Of deer that died, 18% of female deer, 24% of yearling male and 11% of adult male deer died of starvation the previous year.

[Wild Skies]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

***...snip...*** In fact, I’ve read that feeding them the wrong kinds of supplemental foods at this time can actually be detrimental to their winter survival.

If either of these two products are detrimental to deer, I'd like to know about it.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Greg Baehman

If either of these two products are detrimental to deer, I'd like to know about it.

Greg, products like that are banned in Missouri counties where CWD has been found. The idea is that the disease is passed through saliva. The minerals are good for deer. CWD is not.

I will point out that in our county, which is a CWD county, you can buy mineral blocks intended for deer and WalMart, and you can buy mineral blocks for cattle at any farm store (ironically, not banned, but used by deer).

It's like so many other things in life it seems, there are few clear cut answers.