TXhighrack; in your climate that may be the case. In the northern parts winter survival due to starvation is a major factor in determining deer population in an area. If you feed them year round the deer population increases to the point that they'll starve if you stop giving them food near the end of winter. At that time they've used up the easy to reach food as well as their body fat. They are at the mercy of nature if there's deep snow or a late spring.

Dan O.