It is no longer legal to feed deer in our area because of chronic wasting disease (CWD). The fear is that the deer will be feeding intensively from a very small area, and the saliva apparently is one way of transferring CWD.
Before the CWD issue the DNR also strongly recommended not feeding the deer in the winter because it apparently really messes up their digestive system. The reasoning for that is that in the winter, in colder climates like here, they become conditioned to living on very low nutrient levels and significant amounts of roughage. When corn is consumed, it replaces the roughage, plus it is much higher in nutrient value, both of which are apparently very detrimental their digestive systems.
As for Alabama, I just don't know. Assuming it is legal to feed in your area, it may be worth a call to the local fish and game people.
