feeding corn year round?

[312InchMagnum]

so what do you guys do?...in your opinion, whats the advantages/disadvantages of feeding corn year round?...is it really that nutritional for the deer?...do you think it keeps the deer around?...or whatever else you have to say about it

[Encinal]

Disadvantage, it costs a lot...

Advantage... having a hard time finding one

[crittergitter]

we feed protein but i still throw a little corn to keep them in a pattern to come by my stand

[Browning2008]

Disadvantage: Costs alot.

Advantage: Keeps the deer around and gives me hogs to shoot AT

[mitchbcs]

Keeps the deer aquainted with my feeder and stands without the "new" look!

[Fightinaggies]

nutritional value is minimal. Protien content in corn is 6% or so. As far as keeping them in the area I think it does to a certain extint. IMO if you are gonna feed during the offseason feed protien which is much higher in protien content, but if you arnt gonna feed free choice then don't waste your money on protien. It really all depends on what your intentions are. If you are looking to improve your herds nutritional intake then protien is the only way to go, if you are looking to keep deer in the area only and be cost effective, then turn the feeder times way down in the off season and feed corn. Corn is more like candy to deer then a mandatory part of the diet so even feeding corn your deer are gonna roam to fill their nutritional needs.

[oktx]

I try to feed nearly year around. Maybe about 2 seconds per throw just to let them know it's there.

[Raleigh]

nutritional value is minimal. Protien content in corn is 6% or so. As far as keeping them in the area I think it does to a certain extint. IMO if you are gonna feed during the offseason feed protien which is much higher in protien content, but if you arnt gonna feed free choice then don't waste your money on protien. It really all depends on what your intentions are. If you are looking to improve your herds nutritional intake then protien is the only way to go, if you are looking to keep deer in the area only and be cost effective, then turn the feeder times way down in the off season and feed corn. Corn is more like candy to deer then a mandatory part of the diet so even feeding corn your deer are gonna roam to fill their nutritional needs.

X2
what he said

[Hillary]

We feed year round, but we slow the spin cycle, and we only throw on half (or less than half) of our blinds. We start throwing on all of our blinds at the end of August.

We feed protein year round

[WCB]

I also throw all year. Don't throw much during the off season but I figure they will at least know where the feeders are and won't have to "look" for them...
Going out this weekend to check on things, swap cam cards, look at battery level and shoot a few rounds out of the new Taurus.

[Breezy]

i have mine going off for 2 seconds @ 6:30 am & 6:00 pm. just to keep them used to that noise. Also in my feeder pen where my protein feeder is it gives them something to eat when 6 or 8 or even more jump in together. I have a four port protein tube but have noticed that usually only 2 maybe 3 will eat at the same time. The corn allows the others to grab a bite or two while some eat protein then they switch or once some are done eating then they move in to the protein.

[DFWPI]

Throw about 2 secs, twice a day, but mostly trying to keep the hogs around so I can get down in the off season to practice.....

[Kdog]

If you don't have a pen, and you have a lot of hogs you might just end up feeding hogs instead of deer. Without a pen, they hammer my feeder Feb. March. somewhat less in the spring.

[TexaswBOWhunter]

I run corn from August-January and then will put a tri mix in (protein/split peas/corn) from January-August on my spin feeders and do turn down the spin time quite a bit... We also keep our free choice full of protein from January-August, so, yes we feed your round just not staright corn.... As for throwing corn only, it will help keep deer used to the noise and coming to your area, there just isn't much of a nutritional factor to corn IMO.... That's why I run the tri mix in the "antler growing season", this may not be the right way of thinking but it makes me think I am doing something beneficial for the health of the deer herd!!!!

[Codie]

I posted a completely seperate thread before seeing this one, BUT here is my question. Does slinging corn during the offseason somewhat defeat the purpose of feeding protien during the offseason? If you want your deer to eat the protien then why would you sling corn. I want to sling corn just to try to keep deer on the place, but I also want them to rely on the protien and not the corn feeder during the off season.