Will it help?......Doubt it

[huntswnm]

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/publications/press_releases/documents/2008/012508dontfeeddeer.html

Just saw this posted. Some people just don't get it.
Jamaro....This wouldn't be about you would it? :7
Just kidding!

Jeff

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, weapon in one hand, calls in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

 

[junior]

I wonder how much truth there is to this? The guys in CO are feeding the deer because of all the snow. Wyoming has a feeding ground for elk, never heard of a deer/elk not being able to digest hay and grain.

 

[jamaro]

no joke... they are running all over my yard... The other day we had a 30 inch buck in the backyard.... The other night I saw a buck with Christmas tree lights in his rack... The kids don't understand why I go to the mountains to hunt...

Take Care
www.thenewmexicosportsman.com

 

[Bigbuck9]

Junior, deer and elk can digest hay and grain. However, the microbial community in their rumen changes depending on what they eat (ie. there are many spp of microbes in the rumen and certain ones are able to digest different things better and thus become more dominant deppending on the foods eaten). Durring the winter natural forage is typically very low quality and the microbail community is adapted to breaking down these foods. Thus they cannot redilly digest high quality foods such as hay and grain. It takes time for the microbial community to shift so that these foods can be broken down.

To succesfully feed deer you need to either make up feeds that match the natural feed available such as Colorado does or start feeding early in the winter so that the rumen can adjust to the feed.