How do you feel about this?
01-29-2002, 09:01 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ste. Agathe des monts Quebec Canada
Posts: 130
How do you feel about this?
A few days ago I posted "Do all deer herd".
Around here(upper Laurentians)people feed the deer in the winter.They set up feeders in their backyards and feed.Some do it all winter long.Others strictly on weekends when the come up to cottage country.
The problem with this is if you are going to feed them, you MUST keep feeding them because they stop foraging.The young deer become accostomed to this and are not learning the natural way to feed themselves adequately.Often you will see 30 or 40 deer crossing huge lakes to reach "feeding zones" on the opposing shore.In the spring some deer that are still depending on the free meal will go through the ice and die.I don't personnally think we should be allowed to do this as humans, for we are messing with nature.
More deer in populated areas attracts more frequent deer car mishaps, endangering human and animal life.The deer become dependant on these free meals thus losing their natural fear of humans.
All in all it ends up being a lose-lose situation for the deer.
Edited by - Canadahunter on 01/29/2002 22:02:19
Around here(upper Laurentians)people feed the deer in the winter.They set up feeders in their backyards and feed.Some do it all winter long.Others strictly on weekends when the come up to cottage country.
The problem with this is if you are going to feed them, you MUST keep feeding them because they stop foraging.The young deer become accostomed to this and are not learning the natural way to feed themselves adequately.Often you will see 30 or 40 deer crossing huge lakes to reach "feeding zones" on the opposing shore.In the spring some deer that are still depending on the free meal will go through the ice and die.I don't personnally think we should be allowed to do this as humans, for we are messing with nature.
More deer in populated areas attracts more frequent deer car mishaps, endangering human and animal life.The deer become dependant on these free meals thus losing their natural fear of humans.
All in all it ends up being a lose-lose situation for the deer.
Edited by - Canadahunter on 01/29/2002 22:02:19
01-29-2002, 09:29 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Spokane, WA & King George Va & Andrews AFB, MD
Posts: 2,238
RE: How do you feel about this?
ITS SAD WHEN SOME PEOPLE KEEP FEEDING THE DEER AND THEY BECOME PETS AND THEN WHEN A HUNTER SHOOTS THE DEER THE PEOPLE WHO FED THE DEER ARE OUTRAGED AND CALL US MURDERS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH BUT THEY ARE THE ONES AT FAULT FOR DISRUPTING THE NATURAL CYCLE OF LIFE.
Edited by - robb92 on 01/29/2002 22:31:43
Edited by - robb92 on 01/29/2002 22:31:43
01-29-2002, 09:34 PM
#3
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ste. Agathe des monts Quebec Canada
Posts: 130
RE: How do you feel about this?
"DISRUPTING THE NATURAL CYCLE OF LIFE."...those are the exact words I was looking for Robb92.Thank's.Brain is tired tonight.LOL.
01-29-2002, 09:40 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Toronto Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,796
RE: How do you feel about this?
I agree, in fact, I argued with my mom to stop feeding the cottage ducks in the fall so they would fly south.
But, we can't take the position of naturalists who argue that nature will take care of itself, because humans have already altered nature so drastically.
I think there can be a balance.
But, we can't take the position of naturalists who argue that nature will take care of itself, because humans have already altered nature so drastically.
I think there can be a balance.
01-29-2002, 09:53 PM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Rural Kansas... Where Life is Good
Posts: 4,139
RE: How do you feel about this?
01-30-2002, 01:50 AM
#6
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 15,452
RE: How do you feel about this?
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.
01-30-2002, 06:00 AM
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: erie pa USA
Posts: 509
RE: How do you feel about this?
I see nothing wrong with feeding deer in the off season.It lets some deer
survive and come out of the winter in good shape.I would call it a "Win-Win"
situation.If the feeding is stopped in May as cardeer does, they will go back to their normal routine as a wild deer.I would be careful on any feeding or using salt licks.If they are found within 30 days prior to hunting season, and I mean any amount on the ground, No one can hunt in that area.I have seen this happen before.
survive and come out of the winter in good shape.I would call it a "Win-Win"
situation.If the feeding is stopped in May as cardeer does, they will go back to their normal routine as a wild deer.I would be careful on any feeding or using salt licks.If they are found within 30 days prior to hunting season, and I mean any amount on the ground, No one can hunt in that area.I have seen this happen before.
01-30-2002, 06:03 AM
#8
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fredericksburg Virginia USA
Posts: 13,672
RE: How do you feel about this?
Well I feed birds year round and plan on trying to get deer to feed in my back yard, I have never seen the situation you are describing where the deer form up into herds in Va., unless you are calling 4-6 deer a herd.
The Tazman
The Tazman
01-30-2002, 10:37 AM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: North Bay Ontario Canada
Posts: 22
RE: How do you feel about this?
In our area, once the snow level gets to be a certain depth, most of the local conservation clubs commence a feeding program that continues until the deer either move out of the yard area or the winter breaks and ground is showing and the deer can forage on their own.
01-30-2002, 01:56 PM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: chiefland Florida USA
Posts: 5,417
RE: How do you feel about this?
I'm in the minority with ya Cardeer,I feed also.last year I put out about 6,000 lbs of feed.I have yet to see a deer that yuo can get near.
get upwind three hundred yrds. and they leave just the same as any other.
the are fat and most have two and some three fawns.
befor I started to feed I never saw does with two fawns.
to me that is a win win situation.
thats my two cents,there are 98 more.
I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest
remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.
get upwind three hundred yrds. and they leave just the same as any other.
the are fat and most have two and some three fawns.
befor I started to feed I never saw does with two fawns.
to me that is a win win situation.
thats my two cents,there are 98 more.
I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest
remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.