Does Corn Help Grow Antlers?
Filed under: Ask Grant, Deer Biology, Deer Management
During a show you mentioned that corn does not facilitate growth of large antlers in states like Iowa. Rather, the other plants that those rich soils produce aid in that growth. To what other plants were you referring? Dennis
Dennis,
I think we miscommunicated. Food high in protein like soybeans is critical for antler growth. However, so is food that is high in energy. Corn is a great source of energy for deer!! The combination of corn and soybeans grown in the same area creates a much better diet than simply a diet of only corn or only soybeans. Deer will consume primarily the soybean foliage during the growing season, and then consume the carbohydrate rich corn grain during the winter. These carbohydrates help deer maintain body heat, weight, etc, through the winter stress period! In fact, most of the record book bucks come from agricultural areas that produce both corn and soybeans annually. I commonly prescribe corn and forage soybeans for food plots even in non-agricultural areas.
Growing Deer together,
Grant
