I do it to help the deer out after winter. I started my feeder in late February. The deer hit it good in late winter and early spring. But I am surrounded by corn fields and beans so come fall it has no effect, they have all the fresh food they want around them. I would say my area is 75% fields and 25% woods. I only baited in the fall the first year two seasons ago and it sat on the ground and molded. Last year they stopped using it in September and I did not fill it until late February.