Well i quess Im in the minority on this subject.I feed the deer all winter as soon as hunting season is over.They feed 10 yards off my back yard.Yes once you start you should not stop,so it is a comitment.I will feed from January till May.I feed them the same food they would have available in the summer.Corn, Roasted soybeans,sorgum,a alfalpha grain mix with a molasses base.I buy a couple hundred apples at the local wholesale produce auction. Last year I went thru about 1200 lbs of feed. I can guarantee you these deer are not tame and can spot someone in the house when we walk by the window 60 yards away.I,ve tried sneaking up on them to get pictures and aint no way.These are the fattest deer in the area.One got hit up the road this fall a 181 lb doe.It had 1/2 inch of yellow fat lining the whole body.YUM YUM Yummy,I feed it I ate it.I have heard all the negatives over the years and just cant agree.