RE: Alternative "bait" for deer
during the winter months its hard to beat alfalfa hay, you should be able to buy a bail for a buck or two, it will last for weeks and the deer love it, almost as much as corn. Otherwise during the early season see if you can pick up some deadfall apples from an orchard, they usually sell the dead/bruised apples for pretty cheap, cheaper than corn would cost anyway, and deer will gobble them up.