Better feed those deer--the drought has been tough

The ones I've seen on camera look like this as well.

Looks like a Christmas ham

The Doe I killed this year in SW Louisiana piney woods had more fat than what I normally see on deer in this area. Like most of the state, this area is very dry and very little water for the deer to drink.

I remember reading that deer get something like 80% of their water from the browse that they eat. But in this drought, I would think the plants don't have the normal amount of water in them.

I just put out two bags of corn and two bags rice bran yesterday.

$45.00 - they gonna be on diet at those prices

It's got to be a stress on the herd, no doubt. If you put corn out they will hammer it. I'm also seeing more deer crossing the roads than usual. My theory is that they need to travel more for resources. At least in our piney woods. No mast on the ground, poor browse, and dry creeks. Find water and put out corn. It'll be an interesting year.

I run 4 free choice feeders that are hog proof and haven't been hit by a bear yet. Seem to be pretty raccoon proof too. Have cameras on them as well. I've put over a ton of corn through them in less than 3 weeks. Deer are stacked up on them.

Im also seeing many more deer moving in the middle of the day than I’m used to.

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Evidently briars and privet (the only thing green with the drought) weren’t very nutritious.

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Yes and no, neither one is likely their first choice but can be good browse and a big component of their diet, especially briar on typical pine landscape. Like anything else it’s just gonna depend on rainfall, everything grows when it gets water. If given the option deer will browse the new end growth on anything first, which is the most palatable and nutritious to them. If forced to they work down to the older leaves and stems, which becomes harder and less nutritious the drier it gets. When feeding over the summer it’s a night and day difference in camera traffic, have a good rain and they won’t touch the feeder for a week. It gets dry enough, they’ll empty it in three days.