I agree 100%. The freaking Protestants and Catholics all hate each other's guts in Ireland and they're on the same team, biblically speaking!

THAT'S OK! = Food Plot raked out in the middle of the woods, not much bigger than a car or garage, designed to make a deer stop, eat and then die by my hands.

THAT'S OK! = Gigantic food plot made with tractor, fertilizer, special blend of seeds, mowing (OR throw 'n grow!), designed to make a deer stop, eat and then die by my hands

THAT'S OK! = Fertilizing a specific area of honeysuckle or vegetation to make a deer stop, eat and then die by my hands.


WHOA, YOU'RE EVIL AND HORRIBLE AND AREN'T A REAL HUNTER! = Bucket or two of GiantRackEater MolassesCorn in the middle of the woods, poured along a spot not much bigger the size of a car or garage, designed to make a deer stop, eat and then die by my hands

No, hunting isn't nonbeneficial to deer. We shoot the surplus, it's a renewable resource. I NEVER said shooting a deer in front of corn would make deer disappear. A dead deer is a dead deer. I'm talking about beyond what hunters will kill at a feeder. The negatives like, alphatoxins, increased predation of poults, habitat degradation in and around feed sites, ect are what I am talking about.

divisive subject for sure.

Yote, could you point us in the direction of any reports of problems with aflatoxins in wild deer or turkey populations? Or is it one of those things that is potentially bad and kills animals but no one ever finds the carcasses, like a chupacabra?

I've heard about the potential horrors of feeding for 25 years. It's seems far more "potential" than anything, since with all the feeding going on throughout the country legal and non-legal, we haven't heard about disastrous, repeated and widespread outbreaks of aflatoxin problems. Or are there some?

wouldnt this still be the case in a supplemental feeding area as well?

Clem,

I have had 4 cases of "unknown" causes of deer deaths around my hog traps over the past 3 years. Three died in the traps with the gates open and one died just outside the trap with the gate open.

All 4 were during the summer time and I can say with great confidence that they were not shot by hunters. Nor did I get any pictures of them being attacked by yotes within the trap.

I have no idea what killed them.

Isn't it funny hunter that some folks are fine when it comes to feeding animals, but when it comes to hunting animals near or around feed/bait it becomes super toxic too all living creatures

You just nailed it. Some other "sites" have some famous ALDEER biologists saying the same thing.

It's not like people just started using corn.

I'd guess that hunting is non-beneficial to the deer that gets shot...or so he'd say.

Guess the biologist in florida have a different opinion.

Chupacabra.

Single gunshot to the eyeball.

Souls of the Evil.

Hey, if you're going to lick up corn kernels in muddy pig chit around a feeder, maybe you deserve to die? (Kidding.)


Does the aflatoxin work that quickly?

There is no such study in a wild population that I am aware of. However, it should be noted that a study like that would be difficult to conduct. What we do know is that alphatoxins DO pose a health threat to wildlife. You can't possibly believe that concentrating deer and turkey(especially their young) around a feeder will not lead to increased predation. If I was a coyote or bobcat I know where I would hang out....

Something to ponder... When did "deer corn"(higher in alphatoxins than livestock feed corn) become really popular? And when did turkey populations take a downturn? I really don't know the answer, but it's interesting to ponder and piddle around that idea...

Great question about "deer corn" and gobble birds. The downturn started in the early 2000s, didn't it? Pretty sure I saw 2001 or so on the report about the multi-state/agency turkey research going on right now.

Putting feed in front of game cams is basically the same thing. Not saying it's right or wrong, just pointing that out.

Two observations:

1). Legalized baiting has the potential to discourage agricultural food plots. Agricultural plots have been proven to yield several tons of forage per acre depending upon crops planted and preparation. These plots continue to provide food sources long after hunting season is gone. This could negatively effect the deer population depending upon the severity at which agricultural plots are abandoned.

2). A readily available food source such as corn seems to promote nocturnal activity in the deer. Don't ask me why, I can't explain it. Maybe it has something to do with the human scent left behind when filling feeders. I think a biologist that used to participate here even cited a study done in South Carolina that drew the same conclusions. I have tried to use corn to conduct a camera census when hunting season ends. Typical pictures probably show 80% of pictures taken after nightfall. Once corn is put in front of the cameras, the pictures are probably closer to 90 or 95% nighttime activity.

In my opinion to many people are lazy and prefer to throw out some corn, rice bran etc and "hunt" over it instead of actually hunting. To many people either don`t know how to hunt or are unwilling to put in the time and do what it takes to actually hunt. It should not only be illegal but the punishment should be severe if you are caught using it. Just my opinion.

Bird feeders also help spread avian pox.

The neighborhood cats hated that I shut down my bird feeder. They had a great kill spot for squirrels and birds.

Corn is tested for alfotoxins at distilleries, probably everywhere they buy it. I know the "deer" corn like Wal Mart sells is high alfotoxins, it's the last possible place to sell it.

Have you ever hunted in Texas or Kansas?