Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Wildlife Management Does Corn Hurt Deer

In the Fall and Winter, deer eat carbs. It's the best food to keep them "fueled" so to speak. Deer are typically grazers, eating a bit of this, a bit of that. Their digestion works by having bacteria break down their food. So, a deer needs to build up a bacteria colony to break down the food that it's eating. Different types of food need different bacteria.

A deer or elk could starve with a full stomach if it's running out of food, starving, and a new food source is introduced by man. They'll stuff themselves on that food, and not have enough bacteria build up in their system to actually digest that new food.

If you've been feeding corn all along, I wouldn't worry about it. The deer probably has a large percentage of corn in it's stomach because not much else out there at this time of the year will provide as much energy as corn. I'll go thru 50# of corn in a week or so at my place during this time of the year. From now until the first green stuff starts to grow is the lean time of year for the deer.

I wouldn't worry about it. I'd be interested in reading the things that he sent you. My e-mail is listed in my profile if that makes it any easier for you to send the articles.

You could tell him that you'd love to feed commercial deer feed to the deer if he'd help foot the bill. After all, you are also feeding the deer that he's eating, and helping their antlers grow too.