The other side ……..

[NH Hunter]

I worry this year with the lack of food how many people are going to try “helping the deer” by feeding. Every time I see, hear or think about feeding , this is what comes to mind.

 

[NH Hunter]

Acidosis- Deer Death (This is what it looks like)

Hind end of a deer-severe diarrhea. Black stomach lining. More stomach. Two fawns. White Fatty Bone Marrow.

huntingchat.net

 

[NorthMaine]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I feel like the folks here in Maine that do it, generally do it right, and it's an overall positive for the herd in places like Jackman and The Forks.

 

[JJM6]

I fed for years. Trick is use real deer and elk feed. Start early, feed consistently without interruption and don’t stop until April. Otherwise you do more damage than good.

 

[802-603hunter]

I know the lack of acorns this year will likely mean less deer will be filing into our woods for the winter. I plan to cut some hemlock this winter so I have some timbers ready to build a new wood shed in the spring. I'm also planning to cut some birch and other hardwood we have marked to thin out the sugar woods. I have been cutting standing dead wood for the last few years worth of firewood, and have enough marked again for this year. Instead I'll get some buds on the ground to do my part.

 

[mowbizz]

I know the lack of acorns this year will likely mean less deer will be filing into our woods for the winter. I plan to cut some hemlock this winter so I have some timbers ready to build a new wood shed in the spring. I'm also planning to cut some birch and other hardwood we have marked to thin out the sugar woods. I have been cutting standing dead wood for the last few years worth of firewood, and have enough marked again for this year. Instead I'll get some buds on the ground to do my part.

I was planning to do the same. Maybe a small food plot as well. When is the best time to cut maples for browse? I know you have to leave part of the trunk attached when you fall it.

 

[802-603hunter]

On a related note, the two bucks we killed in early December had extremely low levels of fat. Some of the leanest I have ever seen.

 

[802-603hunter]

I was planning to do the same. Maybe a small food plot as well. When is the best time to cut maples for browse? I know you have to leave part of the trunk attached when you fall it.

Any time now is fine for the maples, but it may be wise to wait until the snow is a bit deeper so they can get whatever else is out there now and hit the buds later when buried forage is harder to access. I believe what you are thinking of is referred to as hinge cutting, where the tree is left to live and brush out once laid down. I don't have an experience with that sort of practice but understand it can be beneficial long-term to create regenerating feed and also provide cover.

 

[NH Mountains]

Mow, what size trees are you going to be cutting? For hinge cutting, I’d recommend trees under 4” dbh. Anything larger they can snap off and be dangerous. I know some people love hinge cutting because it provides browse and shelter but, you can provide as much food and cover by cutting trees waste high and leaving the tops on the ground. The stumps will provide a lot of browse and the opening will allow other plants and trees to start growing. Eventually the tops will rot back into the soil and provide nutrients. The hinge cuts can grow well for 4 years and then they’ll need to be cut again or they’ll block all the light and the browse will be out of reach. Cutting the larger trees will give you fire wood and help the deer. I would drop some in December and follow up in late January or early February. I cut trees all winter for next year’s firewood. If you have poplars you can provide a ton more browse by cutting enough of them to get sunlight on the ground where their roots are. They’ll send up hundreds of young sprouts and buds per tree from the existing roots that deer and partridge will love for 4-5 years.

 

[NH Mountains]

I always try to flag tape any young oaks I find and clear around them to give their crowns more sunlight. It’s amazing how much they respond to the extra light by gaining girth and crown size. The tops I leave will provide cover for young oak seedlings to give them more of a chance against browse.

 

[mowbizz]

Any time now is fine for the maples, but it may be wise to wait until the snow is a bit deeper so they can get whatever else is out there now and hit the buds later when buried forage is harder to access. I believe what you are thinking of is referred to as hinge cutting, where the tree is left to live and brush out once laid down. I don't have an experience with that sort of practice but understand it can be beneficial long-term to create regenerating feed and also provide cover.

Yes, hinge cutting…I couldn’t remember what it was called. Thanks!

 

[mowbizz]

Mow, what size trees are you going to be cutting? For hinge cutting, I’d recommend trees under 4” dbh. Anything larger they can snap off and be dangerous. I know some people love hinge cutting because it provides browse and shelter but, you can provide as much food and cover by cutting trees waste high and leaving the tops on the ground. The stumps will provide a lot of browse and the opening will allow other plants and trees to start growing. Eventually the tops will rot back into the soil and provide nutrients. The hinge cuts can grow well for 4 years and then they’ll need to be cut again or they’ll block all the light and the browse will be out of reach. Cutting the larger trees will give you fire wood and help the deer. I would drop some in December and follow up in late January or early February. I cut trees all winter for next year’s firewood. If you have poplars you can provide a ton more browse by cutting enough of them to get sunlight on the ground where their roots are. They’ll send up hundreds of young sprouts and buds per tree from the existing roots that deer and partridge will love for 4-5 years.

Thanks for the advice! I was thinking of cutting larger trees but I have a million 4” and under maples. Stopped burning firewood 3 years ago. Too much work for my old bones. Now we have a propane “wood stove” that does just fine!

 

[NH Mountains]

Thanks for the advice! I was thinking of cutting larger trees but I have a million 4” and under maples. Stopped burning firewood 3 years ago. Too much work for my old bones. Now we have a propane “wood stove” that does just fine!

Yeah then you could hinge those 3-4” trees. I wouldn’t attempt hinging the larger ones. Cut them down and leave them and hinge smaller ones over into the open areas.

 

[frontierrots]

I posted this on Robs Facebook page the other day

We suspect a lot of homeowners will be seeing deer looking for food this winter and be tempted to feed them

While NH FG has a solid “don’t feed deer” approach other states offer guidance in booklets

https://www.maine.gov/ifw/docs/deer_winter_feeding.pdf

Important takeaways

If feeding oats or deer pellets or blue seal wildlife grain type products you must start in December or early January NOT the middle or late January

If you start mid January or later the risk of death is very high (once deer stomachs convert to a straight winter browse diet mode they no longer have the bacteria to digest carbohydrate items)

Do not feed straight corn

Do not feed more than 1/2 mile from deer wintering areas

Do not feed if deer must cross roads

Nh Fg can (by nh law and rules) at any time require that you stop feeding if you are creating a danger to the deer or to humans

The most successful problem free deer feeding program in all of New England is Brownville's Food Pantry For Deer and they feed straight oats with some apples, acorns and deer blocks

Once you start you must continue til greenup and it’s VERY EXPENSIVE , do not take on this task if you won’t do it properly or til the end

Nh FG prefers you don’t at all

 

[NH Hunter]

if you choose to feed, and any deer is found dead due to cars , predators or any other unnatural cause of death the deer feeder will be fined 1500.00 per death of animal caused.

That’s just my pipe dream of future legislation.

 

[NH Mountains]

if you choose to feed, and any deer is found dead due to cars , predators or any other unnatural cause of death the deer feeder will be fined 1500.00 per death of animal caused.

That’s just my pipe dream of future legislation.

I think the reason they won’t go for that is the bird feeder people. Those same people feed the bear. They have feeders out all year when the birds don’t need their help. They end up causing lots of bear deaths by getting them closer to humans. They’ll say the were feeding birds rather than deer.

This storm brought down lots of trees in the woods. I saw a lot of old man’s beard cone down in softwood areas that normally wouldn’t provide feed.

I’m more worried about icy conditions now until the remaining snow can soften up.

 

[Flatlander]

Aren't deer killed by predators a natural occurance ?

 

[NH Mountains]

Aren't deer killed by predators a natural occurance ?

If they’re drawn to a specific area (by lots of un-natural grain and corn feeding) instead of being spread out more for browse then the predators don’t have to hunt as hard for them. Sort of like chumming for catching fish.

 

[NH Hunter]

Aren't deer killed by predators a natural occurance ?

yup, by why make it easier by dragging large numbers into areas that aren't natural, making a larger deer Buffett? Or if feeding is taking place on a main two lane road with a dozen road kill every winter. Obviously coyotes are smart enough to listen for the ravens feeding and come check it out right?

 

[longbow]

If they stopped all winter feeding, what would be the effect on the northern Maine deer herds?