The NJ Legislature has been writing a law to make it illegal to feed deer since about 2014 but it hasnt been made a law yet. In 1999 (I think 99) the specifically allow hunters to bait and hunt over bait. The new no feeding deer law if it is passed as currently written still allows hunters to bait.
When people who know nothing about hunting make laws there are always loopholes. If you read the proposed law as it is currently written you would LOL at how lame it is. It's aimed at homeowners not hunters. If you have a hunting license you can feed deer.
Deer need fat reserves to make it thru the winter. They usually get that fat from acorns. Even with a good acorn crop the deer where I hunt are scrawny in late winter early spring.
I read last night that deer are not harmed by oats and rice bran in the winter. Rice bran is high fat. Unless I get a better suggestion I'm going to use oats and rice bran.