#1977933 - 06/29/10 09:52 PM
Re: When do I go back !!!!!!!!
[Re: shouler mt]
|
Twitch
8 Point
Registered: 11/27/08
Posts: 2232
Loc: Knox
|
Offline
|
|
I would go with some kind of mineral lick. Corn will mold over time and not be good to eat by animals. Save your money and get a cheap $10-$15 mineral block. It will last alot longer. It keeps the deer in close for good pictures too. Once the block dissolves into the ground the deer will literally dig a hole after the minerals. Ask some guys on here for some pictures of holes that deer have dug up after mineral blocks. You will be surprised what they will do. I check my cams sometimes every week. No sooner than a week. As far as spooking deer, I have checked my cams before and seen that the deer was there 10 minutes before I walked in and then they was back 10 minutes after I left. If your land is near people or buildings they are use to the smell and less likely to spook off somewhere. Now if your out in Gods Country, miles and miles from civilization, that might be a different story.
Edited by Twitch (06/29/10 09:53 PM)
_________________________
AIM SMALL (( + )) MISS SMALL
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1978070 - 06/30/10 01:25 AM
Re: When do I go back !!!!!!!!
[Re: David1475]
|
CopperHead77
12 Point
Registered: 08/20/07
Posts: 6707
Loc: Hickman Co.
|
|
Offline
|
|
Hey guys ...Thanks for the advice
Whitetail Junkie...will you elaborate a little more on removing the feeder because of health risks ???
Im "green as a gourd" as they say, so any advice is much appreciated
What Twitch said, the corn could easily mold as hot and humid as it is and could get contaminated with a dangerous fungus known as aflatoxin which could be dangerous to any animal that ingest it. You're just much better off using the salt.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1978224 - 06/30/10 07:32 AM
Re: When do I go back !!!!!!!!
[Re: CopperHead77]
|
BigGameGuy
TWRA Biologist
12 Point
Registered: 05/14/04
Posts: 6354
Loc: Nashville
|
|
Offline
|
|
David,
As others have said, it's a better idea to just use the mineral salt. Corn may have potential health risks but probably the biggest reason not to put out a feeder right now is that more than likely it's a giant waste of money. Due to the availability of natural foods, the deer are probably not going to benefit at all from feeding them corn. In essence you are using the corn as an attractant to get pictures of them. With that being said, what would be better? A $10.00 salt block that is just as effective and will last all summer long, or a $10.00 bag of corn that you have to refill every two weeks?
By the way, I'm not downplaying the disease issue. There is definitely potential to hurt the wildlife, especially non-target species like turkeys. Many folks use corn and don't notice any negative affects. The best way to put it is...why take the risk when you don't have to? Especially when the alternative is so much cheaper, just as effect, and safer for the wildlife.
Good luck with your camera.
_________________________
If given the choice between education and regulation, I'll choose education every time.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1978264 - 06/30/10 08:10 AM
Re: When do I go back !!!!!!!!
[Re: BigGameGuy]
|
BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59555
Loc: Nashville, TN
|
|
Offline
|
|
David1475,
I photo-census local deer herds for a living, so I've had the opportunity to try many things. Like BigGameGuy mentioned, corn has potential downsides, not only with disease issues, but with cost as well as affectiveness. In some areas, I have seen older bucks refuse to utilize corn-piles or corn feeders. I don't know why this is, but I've seen it multiple times. When it comes to older bucks in TN, I get the best results in summer with salt licks. Now this isn't true in other areas, as it appears areas with very sandy soil, like in coastal areas and other parts of the Deep South, salt doesn't seem to draw as well as food (corn) does. But again, in TN, I get the best results with salt.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1978295 - 06/30/10 08:46 AM
Re: When do I go back !!!!!!!!
[Re: BigGameGuy]
|
Wes Parrish
16 Point
Registered: 06/12/02
Posts: 16993
Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
|
|
Offline
|
|
. . . . potential to hurt the wildlife, especially non-target species like turkeys. Many folks use corn and don't notice any negative affects.
Just because most folks don't "notice" the negative effects doesn't mean they're not there, and far reaching.
I few years ago I was using certified aflatoxin-free corn from the County Co-Op. But it "developed" aflatoxin from the high humidity following a rain. Killed all my local turkey population that was utilizing that feeder.
Beside the disease issues, and other reasons mentions above for not using corn, there is another largely overlooked:
Predatory issues.
Predators from coyotes and bobcats to household pets can quickly figure out that deer (and turkeys) are regularly coming and going from a feeder, and that wildlife can be extremely vulnerable in these "feeding" areas.
Guess which particular deer may be the MOST vulnerable?
Button bucks.
This is due in large part to young bucks generally being more curious and first to approach more open or feeding areas.
And speaking of not "noticing" some of these negative effects, this is in part due to predators being able to totally clean up the remains of young deer --- there can simply be nothing left to see, not to mention they may be carried a considerable distance from the feeder before being consumed.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1978296 - 06/30/10 08:47 AM
Re: When do I go back !!!!!!!!
[Re: Wes Parrish]
|
Wes Parrish
16 Point
Registered: 06/12/02
Posts: 16993
Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
|
|
Offline
|
|
If the above isn't enough for not using corn, in the spring & summer when antlers are growing, what is it that bucks need most to help grow larger antlers?
It's protein.
Natural food sources (such as most forbs and clovers) are high in protein. Corn is low in protein.
And the more low-protein corn a deer eats, the less high-protein other food sources that deer eats. Kinda ironic, we think we're helping, but may actually be hurting in so many more ways than ever imagined, much less "noticed". I mean, who would notice that 120-class buck they're so happy in taking isn't the 130-class buck he might have been had he not filled his gut on corn instead of forbs?
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1978330 - 06/30/10 09:10 AM
Re: When do I go back !!!!!!!!
[Re: BSK]
|
BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59555
Loc: Nashville, TN
|
|
Offline
|
|
As for "when to go back" and check cameras, that depends on how long you can stand waiting!
Just remember that the more frequently you check the cam, the more human scent you are leaving around the camera set-up.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1978373 - 06/30/10 10:01 AM
Re: When do I go back !!!!!!!!
[Re: BSK]
|
CopperHead77
12 Point
Registered: 08/20/07
Posts: 6707
Loc: Hickman Co.
|
|
Offline
|
|
How old will that top one be this yr BSK?
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#1978436 - 06/30/10 10:51 AM
Re: When do I go back !!!!!!!!
[Re: CopperHead77]
|
BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59555
Loc: Nashville, TN
|
|
Offline
|
|
How old will that top one be this yr BSK?
1st, 3rd and 4th picture are all the same buck. 1st and 4th picture are when he was 4 1/2 in '08. 3rd picture is when he was 5 1/2 last year. If he's still alive (and I know he survived last hunting season), he will be 6 1/2 this year. But we experience a strange "disappearance" of bucks after 5 1/2. We rarely, RARELY get pictures of bucks after 5 1/2. I'm beginning to believe that is a natural mortality window for most bucks in my area. I have a hard time believing that bucks can suddenly become impossible to photograph just by getting one year older (I can get numerous pictures of them--at night--at 5 1/2). Then again, anything is possible...
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: RUGER, Tennessee Todd, Unicam, Cuttin Caller, CBU93, stretch, Bobby G, Outdoor Lady, TurkeyBurd
|
12113 Members
38 Forums
116031 Topics
1412919 Posts
Max Online: 756 @ 11/20/12 09:10 AM
|
|
|
The TnDeer.Com Deer Talk Forum is for Tennessee Deer Hunters by Tennessee Deer Hunters. If you enjoy using our Talk Forum and would like to contribute to help in it's up-keep. Just submit your contribution by clicking on the DONATE button below and paying with PayPal or a major credit card. Any amount is much appreciated. Thanks for your support!
|
|
|
