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What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
#8620228
06/14/22 05:50 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 475
Hunter Daddy
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Bird Dog
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We have our ranch located in southern Atascosa County in Texas. We have had very little rain this year and we are not feeding anything (too expensive for corn/pellets and too expensive to drive out there.) The grass is like straw and there are no weeds. Just a bunch of wilted leaves on the brush in the "low" spots of our place. The only thing green is the mesquite and cactus. Will the deer survive the hotter summer months of June/July and August? They will have water in our larger stock tanks throughout the rest of this year. I suppose they will eat the twigs and cactus. I am assuming that the antlers will be way below par come hunting season.
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8620296
06/14/22 08:06 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 490
fishbait
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I think a biologist can fill you in on what could happen if the drought continues. I don't know myself but would expect disease could play a part. In the 1970's we had a drought and wild blue flowers bloomed and the deer fed on them and caused deer to catch a disease...best that I remember. We lost many deer during those years. For me, I can't afford to feed very many deer with my bank account. I still feed my area with two feeders and water. Getting many guests.
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: fishbait]
#8620301
06/14/22 08:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 475
Hunter Daddy
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That's what I'm afraid of. I would be spending alot of $$ to feed racoons, rabbits, birds, etc. Throwing corn and feeding deer pellets attracts EVERYONE in our animal kingdom and not just deer.
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8620350
06/14/22 09:42 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,138
Creekrunner
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At some point, you have to quit worrying about it and let nature take its course. Don't stop praying for rain though! I've worried so much about the pasture that I've given up. I got to that same point regarding Oak Wilt in the central Hill Country. You can throw a bunch of money at it, but, in the end, the Wilt wins. I keep a couple of corn feeders going and feed protein once a month, but it's gone in just a few days.
And things are so bad, the coons and deer are triggering the triggers on my pig traps, including diesel-soaked corn, before the pigs can get to it at night. I'm close to the quitin' stage on that too for a while. I do have coon traps set tonight though.
I've seen pictures from the 7-year drought in the '50s. It ain't pretty.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8620425
06/14/22 11:27 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,221
QMC SW/EXW
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Deer have been surviving the heat and the cold for millions of years. Why would you think they would not be able to adapt and survive in their natural habitat? Corn and protein are not natural food for them in the first place.
Retired Navy Chief NJROTC Instructor for Tascosa High School
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: QMC SW/EXW]
#8620449
06/14/22 11:57 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,267
freerange
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Deer have been surviving the heat and the cold for millions of years. Why would you think they would not be able to adapt and survive in their natural habitat? Corn and protein are not natural food for them in the first place. ^^^^These are basically my thoughts as well.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8620456
06/15/22 12:06 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919
maximum
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That's what I'm afraid of. I would be spending alot of $$ to feed racoons, rabbits, birds, etc. Throwing corn and feeding deer pellets attracts EVERYONE in our animal kingdom and not just deer. That's why you should have multiple traps out and carry your 22 when you check them.
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8620645
06/15/22 03:33 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
redchevy
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I’ll second the they are tuff critters and are use to dealing with the climate. That said I’m sure weights and inches will be down and some or many will die.
The deer have been a little standoffish of the house since we built it, but the past few days I’ve had them within arms reach of the house eating from what is growing here I have been watering. They ate all the leaves off two but oaks I planted too.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8620832
06/15/22 01:46 PM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 3,393
JimBridger
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Call your regional TPW office and speak to the biologist that covers your area. They will be able to answer your questions and give you great advise. The TPW biologist in my area came out to my property and walked it with me pointing out a number of forbes and preferred deer browse. She made suggestions on habitat improvement and assisted me with getting a grant to convert my wheat field into native grasses. That field is now a year round magnet for deer and other wildlife.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Edmund Burke
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8621837
06/16/22 06:08 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 16,545
68rustbucket
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The deer will go the neighbors place and eat their feed.
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8621890
06/16/22 07:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,687
BOLT GUY
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The Mesquite and cactus will help them to survive, although not very nutritional. Often there are weeds growing that we don't pay attention to that they will seek out and feed on.
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8621954
06/16/22 08:31 PM
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Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 191
roadkill54
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Woodsman
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I spent over an hour on the phone this morning with our new biologist regarding the ranch we are closing on at the end of this month. She compared this drought to the episode of 2011 that lasted almost 18 months. She has seen very few fawns and typically they should be showing by now.Her first priority was/is get your numbers in line with what the habitat can support. Right now mother nature is punishing the fauna and there is little forbs or weeds for the deer to eat. Fawn recruitment will be low this year so it would be a good time to get the extra mouths off the pasture so when the drought does break the other animal units can come back stronger and faster. Nature can be cruel and this its way of resetting itself whether we like it or not!
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: redchevy]
#8621979
06/16/22 08:54 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,794
ILUVBIGBUCKS
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I’ll second the they are tuff critters and are use to dealing with the climate. That said I’m sure weights and inches will be down and some or many will die.
The deer have been a little standoffish of the house since we built it, but the past few days I’ve had them within arms reach of the house eating from what is growing here I have been watering. They ate all the leaves off two but oaks I planted too. Yup They are hungry for sure. Saw two yesterday evening about 3/4 mile apart on a county road before sundown and that never happens by us this time of year! The bottom line is that if the drought continues, the old, weak, and sick will die horrible deaths and make the herd that is left that much stronger.
High fence, low fence, no fence, it really doesn't matter as long as you're hunting!
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8622028
06/16/22 09:57 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 452
MWTX270
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I have two protein feeders, and 3 corn feeders on my place. I have the corn feeders turned down, but they are really using the protein feeders. Usually average about 200 lbs a month, the past 3 months, it has jumped up to about 600 lbs a month.
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8622058
06/16/22 10:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,948
don k
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Do what we used to do in a drought when I was a youth for the goats. Cut lower limbs off the oaks and other trees that goats and deer eat the leaves. Amazing how it worked and improved the pasture.
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: don k]
#8622061
06/16/22 10:37 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,138
Creekrunner
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Do what we used to do in a drought when I was a youth for the goats. Cut lower limbs off the oaks and other trees that goats and deer eat the leaves. Amazing how it worked and improved the pasture. I've heard stories of deer coming to the sound of a chainsaw.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8622112
06/16/22 11:29 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 15,108
Tbar
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When we had our biologist out he showed us the things they look for to determine deer populations. One was how hard the Hackberry bushes are getting hit as they are a staple in the deer's diet. Eventually, the plant stops growing vegetation within the deer's reach and takes on more of tree shape.
Make America Great Again
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8622591
06/17/22 05:29 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,938
Stompy
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Pretty good crop of mesquite beans here.
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: don k]
#8622708
06/17/22 09:34 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,158
Texas Dan
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Do what we used to do in a drought when I was a youth for the goats. Cut lower limbs off the oaks and other trees that goats and deer eat the leaves. Amazing how it worked and improved the pasture. That's a great idea that also reduces clutter so you can see better once the season rolls around.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Stompy]
#8622720
06/17/22 09:53 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,138
Creekrunner
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Pretty good crop of mesquite beans here. I read where they produce more in a drought.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8622762
06/17/22 10:50 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,938
Stompy
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Pretty good crop of mesquite beans here. I read where they produce more in a drought. I've read the same.
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8623491
06/19/22 03:22 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,741
txtrophy85
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To be honest probably too many mouths in the pasture.
Still, I am continuing to feed them.
I will be shooting my limit of does come opening day of bow season however
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Stompy]
#8623876
06/19/22 08:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,044
Old Shakie
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Pretty good crop of mesquite beans here. Yup...same here but they don't seem too interested in those. I still have plenty of brush and briars for them to eat. Cut down a mesquite loaded with mistletoe and they ate every speck of the mistletoe. I hand feed corn and protein every evening and they are there waiting for me..... eat every kernel before anything else gets a chance.
Last edited by Old Shakie; 06/19/22 08:23 PM.
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: txtrophy85]
#8623889
06/19/22 08:39 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,138
Creekrunner
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To be honest probably too many mouths in the pasture.
Still, I am continuing to feed them.
I will be shooting my limit of does come opening day of bow season however I too will be knocking down does come Oct. 1 (if that's the day MLD starts). One in the morning, one in the evening. Axis does have showed back up at the feeder, which means the grass is gone again. Pray. For. Rain.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: What will deer eat? So hot and dry!
[Re: Hunter Daddy]
#8624931
06/21/22 01:02 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 475
Hunter Daddy
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I was out at our ranch in Southern Atascosa County and the mesquite beans are plentiful. Dug out the dried up pond and are now waiting for rain.
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