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Browsers glean leaves, bark, and green stems from plants, while grazers clip vegetation at or near ground level. Deer, such as this white-tailed deer in the Rocky Mountains, are browsers, a distinct advantage when grasses and other ground-level vegetation are covered by deep, wet, snow.
They did not do much browsing on the lot. My two lots are like an infield of a race track that totals about 3/4 of an acre. I see deer eating all around us by the road. I put some corn out one time that attracted two huge bucks. I want to give them more options where we can watch them.
Deer like areas that are open, like the road, where they can see threats coming and run. That's why you see them eating there, at the edges. They don't like crashing through heavy brush any more than we do. But they do like to disappear in to it to hide.
By opening up your lot you may encourage them to come in off the road, which is good... but they will seek to eat the bushes and berries and low branches, more than just grass.
Good idea to offer a big trough of water, if water is hard to find, and a salt lick.
A few people have mentioned salt blocks. Just be aware that salt blocks are not allowed in some areas--especially in areas with Chronic Wasting Disease.
A few people have mentioned salt blocks. Just be aware that salt blocks are not allowed in some areas--especially in areas with Chronic Wasting Disease.
Whoa Nellie !! That slipped my mind.
That's an excellent point, thanks for mentioning that contagious disease. The CWD prions are shed in the saliva, urine and feces from infected deer who come to the salt blocks and then the prions can be contracted by otherwise healthy, unrelated deer who also come to lick the same salt blocks. So perhaps salt blocks are NOT such a good idea for wild deer after all because it's something that can be all too easily contaminated with them ALL licking on it and getting saliva on it and spreading the disease.
I was already thinking of a salt block or two. All of the local farm supply stores sell them. Some are labeled for deer. Right now it needs to rain to settle the dust/dirt some. My local Tractor Supply has several types of blocks, feed and food plot options. I am looking at getting some of this to start off with.
I am also looking for some wildflowers to plant also. Most of this along with the clover mix will be in the ditches since the years of leaves/limbs were cleaned out.
I am also looking for some wildflowers to plant also. Most of this along with the clover mix will be in the ditches since the years of leaves/limbs were cleaned out.
Just keep in mind that those rats with antlers you wish to attract will eat anything green down to the dirt.
We have a USN installation near me that had an overabundance of deer. It wasn't helped any by having one of the neighbors throwing literally tons of corn over the back security fence every year (she ended up being cited for illegally feeding wildlife to make her stop). The deer were not only eating everything she fed them but were so overpopulated that there wasn't anything growing within eight feet of the ground anywhere aboard the facility.
Well, the Navy finally had some snake eaters come in to thin the herd over the course of several years. The area is now the way it should be with forbs and other plants growing and the deer herd being a manageable size.
I was already thinking of a salt block or two. All of the local farm supply stores sell them. Some are labeled for deer. Right now it needs to rain to settle the dust/dirt some. My local Tractor Supply has several types of blocks, feed and food plot options. I am looking at getting some of this to start off with.
Check your regional F&G web information to see whether CWD or other contagious diseases occur in your area first. Also check to see whether putting out licks is even appropriate for your area. Encouraging deer to congregate at licks may be ILLEGAL! Even if there are no diseases to be concerned about, there may also be restrictions on putting licks out in certain times of year due to hunting regulations. Ignorance is no excuse. You could be fined severely. You could also be creating an attractive nuisance for your neighbors. The deer your lick attracts may browse on their landscaping or gardens.
Last edited by Parnassia; 08-12-2021 at 01:56 PM..
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That slipped my mind. 
