RE: What bait is best?
First off they can find food in only 10 inch of snow or there would be any deer left north of IL.
If you want to feed the deer, once you start you can't stop until spring or spring like conditions are here to stay.
Corn, pumpkins and sunflower seeds are good but if you have any live trees that need cutting this would be the time to do it. If you use seed I believe for at least northern deer the amount is about 3 lbs of seed a day. I believe your deer run a little smaller so you might adjust that amount. They will flock to those freshly downed tree tops and it is natural food. If you had a live Christmas tree put that where they can eat it. It also creates good cover for birds and smaller critters.
You might want to check with your state wildlife people for the best info.