GMMAT, we supplemental feed the deer all year long. I put it that way because we don't hunt over it. Basically, we just like seeing the deer from the house. Anyway, the deer do not come in skittish at all to ours, but that may be because it is there all the time and they are used to it. Of course, I don't know for sure, but I would suspect that is the reason. Now, I will say that we have gotten the picture of only one mature buck at either of our feeding sites. We have only had the cameras since Christmas, but still. It isn't because there aren't any good bucks around either. They don't avoid the areas completely (I have seen them "around" the feeding sites), but they don't seem to actually eat the feed. It really is an interesting subject. At least I think so.

I do the same thing huntingson (supplemental feeding.....don't hunt over it).

Do you think the reason your deer might not be skittish (thanks for the correct spelling, guys)....is the fact that no deer has been shot at, there? let 'em scatter one time from one of their sisters being shot at.....and see how they approach it the next time.

If you feed all year the deer don't come in very skiddish at all, where I hunt we feed them all year and the 1.5 year old bucks that ate at a feeder will eat at it at 3.5 because that is what they know. But you are definetly correct in saying that feeding every now and then they will surely be more wary.

I would certainly imagine that once old Betsy was shot in front of their eyes they would be a bit more cautious

Well, we have been feeding them for probably close to 10 years and like I said before, only one picture of a mature buck feeding. Plenty of 1 and 2 year olds though. It is interesting how different our experiences have been. It could be because people around me are shooting over bait??? I don't know.

There was a great funnel on my neighbor's property. I killed several deer there - until my neighbor gave permission to a co-worker's son and 2 others. They immediately placed a stand right on the funnel and had 6 "volcano's" of corn placed around the stand with-in 15 yards. They even baited the entire trail that ran directly under the tree - it looked like the yellow brick road! I avoided the area and figured they might screw it up by overhunting it and making the area "stick out." I was right and they only managed to take 2 fawns in 5 years of hunting there. I took close to 20 in the same time period and, at times, was with-in 50 yards of their set-up. The deer simply learned to avoid it. My neighbor told me he was gonna kick them out this year, but now he has fenced it all in and has cattle and horses in there so it's likely ruined for good.

I don't bait because I'm too darn cheap to throw away good corn.[8D]

I understand your reasoning, but I do bait, and here is why. I agree, if you throw down a feeder 2 weeks before deer season they will be cautious. However, if you feed them consistently throughout the year they won't be as cautious.

Deer can't resist an easy meal, and corn is their favorite. I have several different hunting tactics, one day I hunt the feeder and the next I hunt the deer super highways, bedding, water hole etc... I agree if you overhunt an area it can lead to them not coming back to that one particular area. Either way I respect your decision.

I set a spot up for the kids to hunt and they love it. Always see deer and when they want they take a doe or 2. I have never seen a mature buck come to bait,not saying they wont just never seen it myself.

From what i know about baiting all year long,

The deer come in very very good and not skittish, i would say they are on a higher alert than they are walking around the woods. I have found the bucks tend to come in the day during the summer and then when hunting season comes for the first few weeks, I have then noticed the bucks tend to come in at night. Then when the rut comes in they tend to be near the bait to look for does. Every once in a while a nice buck comes up to the food plots but they dont stay very long. I see many deer over bait, i have even shot deer with other deer on the food plots and they continue to come back. The corn is a good tool but i think it can be overhunted. I personally dont mind if people hunt over corn and my father does it with great success and has harvested alot of nice deer over corn. I have also taken nice deer near food plots. I feel the best way to use bait is to hunt the travel corridors to the bait pile, you dont have to worry about to many eyes, and they tend to be less cautious on there way to the bait. IMO