Deer's sour stomach
 

Had an old timer tell me that a deer's stomach goes thru a transformation in early October (here in Michigan) from being a grazer (grasses and other greens) to a browser (acorns and other browse). He said that during (about 2 weeks) that time they have a "sour" stomach, and also during this time they won't eat as much as they normally do. Anyone else ever heard this? Maybe I'm hunting too early in October.

RE: Deer's sour stomach
 

I have never heard this, but would believe that they would not slow their eating habits with crops in the field. Also, the bucks will be fattening up the coming weeks for the rut. I am not saying it isn't true, just that I would think otherwise of it.

RE: Deer's sour stomach
 

Deer especially the bucks tend to eat more coming into rut. They need the extra weight to maintain through rut and into the coming winter.

" Anyone can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a Dad"

RE: Deer's sour stomach
 

I doubt very much that a deer's stomach goes thru any significant changes during this time. This may have been brought about by those who noticed that deer tend to change over somewhat as acorns and other woods browse become available and crops were being harvested. However, the notion that they eat less at this time is incorrect since this is when they're attempting to gain weight before winter and the beginning of the rut.

Today's small bucks are tomorrow's trophies.

RE: Deer's sour stomach
 

I'm doubting it too. Deer will eat just about anything and everthing. They've adapted to enviroments unbelievably. Deer do three things, they eat, they poop, and they breed.

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RE: Deer's sour stomach
 

That explains all the tums wrappers I've seen in the woods. Darn littering deer.
Sorry just had to do that lol.

RE: Deer's sour stomach
 

DEER ARE RUMINANTS. WHAT I THINK THE OLD TRIMER MENT WAS THAT BECAUSE THE QUALITY OF FEED GETS BETTER IN SEPTEMBER(CORN RIPE, BEANS ARE RIPENING, ETC)THEY FEED MORE HEAVILY ON THESE FEED SOURCES AND THEIR STOMACHS ARE NOT READY FOR THIS RICH FEED THEREFORE THEY NEED TO FEED ON LESSER QUALITY FEEDS TO CORRECT THE SOUR STOMACH. PRIMARILY GRASS, HAY ETC.

I HAVE FOUND THAT DURING THESE TIMES A BAIL OF STRAW WITH A BOZ OF KOSHER SALT POURED OVER IT IS A TASTY SNACK.

HUNT ON HUNT HARD EAT WELL

RE: Deer's sour stomach
 

I've never heard of such.