The other side ……..

[longbow]

Feeding stations dramatically increase predation mortality.

Opinion or have you seen studies on this?

 

[Muzzleloader]

Opinion or have you seen studies on this?

Studies and videos from northern NH about it. The more in depth articles talk about it also. It makes a lot of sense when you dive into the details about it.

 

[tobydog]

found this one from 2012

Maine Asks Residents Not to Feed Deer

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is asking state residents to refrain from feeding white-tailed deer. DIFW takes a somewhat subdued position against suplemental feeding. Rather than banning the practice altogether, DIFW is trying to educate the public about problems that...

www.deeranddeerhunting.com

 

[ihunt]

Refrain from Feeding Deer

CONTACT:Becky Fuda: (603) 271- 1126Dan Bergeron: (603) 271-1439February 1, 2023 Concord, NH – As winter spreads more snow across the Granite State, deer have changed their activity patterns and mor…

nhfishgame.com

 

[ihunt]

I've had 15-20 deer in my yard the last couple weeks. They've eaten every bush and shrub I have. Rhododendrons, blueberry bushes, low hanging apple limbs, lilacs, roses, spruce and hemlock trees etc... Pretty much anything they can get to. I packed a trail around the yard a couple weeks ago with my snowmobile and they are using that pretty regularly to walk on. Had a 4 pointer missing half his rack, so now I have to scour my yard looking for it.

 

[longbow]

I think feeding depends on where you are and what the circumstances are. Where I live, very little snow, deer have plenty of food. I throw some corn out every evening to see them in the evening when I’m eating dinner. They get corn year around here whether it be the cornfields or other people putting it out for hunting so acidosis is not a problem.

Now if you’re talking northern Maine or New Hampshire where the deer can come to depend on feeding to survive, now that’s a different ball of wax.

 

[Muzzleloader]

It happens to Elk also.

Elk found dead from eating corn in northern Wisconsin

A rapid switch in diet can cause fatal rumen acidosis in elk and deer. The DNR has wildlife feeding guidelines designed to prevent such outcomes.

www.fdlreporter.com

 

[Muzzleloader]

I think feeding depends on where you are and what the circumstances are. Where I live, very little snow, deer have plenty of food. I throw some corn out every evening to see them in the evening when I’m eating dinner. They get corn year around here whether it be the cornfields or other people putting it out for hunting so acidosis is not a problem.

Now if you’re talking northern Maine or New Hampshire where the deer can come to depend on feeding to survive, now that’s a different ball of wax.

I have seen reports of it in Jersey, like in post number 4. https://www.newjerseyhunter.com/threads/deer-feeding-gone-bad.183863/

 

[NH Hunter]

They get corn year around here whether it be the cornfields or other people putting it out for hunting so acidosis is not a problem.

You make it sound like killing deer in NJ is equivalent to hunting a petting zoo. Put your quarters in the dispenser and toss the corn in the area you wish to kill your deer.

 

[longbow]

You make it sound like killing deer in NJ is equivalent to hunting a petting zoo. Put your quarters in the dispenser and toss the corn in the area you wish to kill your deer.

Baiting is certainly legal here. Some depend on it. I pretty much use it as a tool to see what's on the property, set up with a camera. The mature bucks rarely go to it until after dark if at all. My biggest this season was shot without any bait, but I'm sure there was bait on all the surrounding properties within a quarter/half of a mile of the thick brush/ bedding area I was hunting. Here is picture of him taken from the neighbors trail cam. Some guys in the area had him on camera for 3-5 years from what I am told. Starting to think I may be better off not putting any out since I am targeting the big ones. Pic of my buck this year and last year from other peoples trail cams. The guy is holding the sheds from last year.

 

[NH Hunter]

I’m just messing with you. I think it’s just as prevalent most every place during the season. I’ve stumbled across dozens of tent blinds or tree stands with cameras, blocks, apples, corn, shit one guy carried in acorns and put them in a hemlock grove. Most of the areas I hunt now are quite a ways off from easy access so it’s not nearly as common for me to see it now unless I’m hunting lower areas around some local ponds or swamps .

While I’m not a fan of it due to how the law can be interpreted in NH . I could get pinched for shooting a deer near a bait pile if I didn’t (or did know) it was placed there legally or illegally.

I absolutely disagree with winter feeding though. I’ve personally seen way more negative impacts from it. Whether it’s auto collisions, beating the piss out of the smaller deer or the long term affects of does bringing skippers to these feed stations rather than generational yards. These people feeding will either run out of money, sell the home or at some point pass away. Then what? I also question the nature in it. Is it really about “helping the deer” or is it self serving to either say you’re the place with all the deer leading to the “My deer” talk that always follows when the conversation comes up. Again….. it’s just my thoughts and opinions. Someone has the right to think I’m full of shit.

I do think you’d see less “helping” taking place if there was some accountability for careless feeding such as a predetermined value/fine of the deer by the state.