I have found that deer favor pumpkins, which can be bought cheaply after Halloween, taken to the field or known feeding areas and smashed open. They will eat them, and if there is a farmers market near you, ask for the culled produce like sweet potatoes to put out for the deer. After the season is over is when the does and bucks are the most challenged for food. Corn offers very little in the way of sustaining nutrition. I have gone to local “dollar” stores and purchased the cheapest peanut butter available in plastic jars, take the lids off…..screw the lid to a tree…..put the jar back onto the cap and cut the bottom off with a knife. The bred does will love ya for this. The bucks have really pushed temselves during the rut and peanut butter is high in protien.

I have done this and I saw the overall deer numbers and quality improve on my property.

Any other ideas out there?

Supplemental feeding is they way to go. There are several types of food out there, depending on your deer this may take as little as a day for them to hit it or several weeks for them to learn to eat it.  Search for supplements that do not deteriate when it rains or snows.

I must also caution that some states do not allow supplental feeding. Other states have a maximum amount you can put out and still others have dates that supplements can be put out.

And there is new information that the puting of food into piles “may” contribute to the spread of disease. If you are going to supplement make sure you spread it out so as not to get the deer to congrigate and allow contact from one to another directly.

Beau is absolutely correct about the spread of disease. I like to drive the truck and “bust” the punkins( yes I know how it are spelled up North), or do some punkin chunkin as it were. The peanut butter can be achieved by using a back pack, a battery drill or a nut driver, 5/16” hex head sheet metal screws, and some footwork. I like to do this after the seasons are closed and when you start looking for “sheds” or sign that you may have missed or after a good snowfall to pattern travel corridors/funnels.

Cases of sweet taters are cheap and easily dropped while walking the woods too. The wife will love you for getting out of the house too.

We have an issue up here in CT with coyotes stalking food piles.  My only suggestion is to rotate several locations with some distance between to give you more options.