Depending on the latitude and winter conditions where you manage deer, late February and March are usually crunch time for deer.  Quality native food resources are usually depleted and new growth hasn’t started yet.  If your management goal is to allow deer to express their full genetic potential, it is critical to ensure deer (and other critters) have access to quality forage and grain.

Standing corn is a great crop this time of year!!  The ear of many modern varieties of corn tips down when it’s ripe.  The husk then sheds moisture from the grain and prevents mold from developing.  There’s not many less expensive ways to provide energy-rich corn for deer than growing it and leaving it standing.  The same is true for Eagle Seed forage soybeans.  The actual grain is protected from moisture by a pod.

Throughout most of the whitetails’ range there is no forage growing during late winter.  Standing corn and soybeans provide high quality food during a critical stress period!  One reason why deer in the Midwest express more of their antler growth potential than in most areas is the availability of spilled grain in the production corn and bean fields.  Although not much grain is left standing, a small percent of spilled grain adds up given the vast acreage of harvested grain.

Would you like to have Midwest quality deer at your hunting area?  Then make sure the deer at your hunting area have access to standing corn or soybeans during crunch time!

Growing Deer together,

Grant