We sell a lot of deer and wildlife feed on a regular basis. But some customers have a tendency to feed our furry friends some odd ball items. Some of those items are infact harmful to them and we really shouldn't be offering them the "kitchen sink" as they say. There are many that will feed seasonally, mainly because they feel the natural resources are unavailable. Then there are just as many folks that will feed them all year long. I guess it all depends on how badly you want to see our furry neighbors in our back or front yards?
✔️ Safer Options
- Whole Corn
- Deer Feed (mix of grain, minerals and molasses)
- Deer‑specific mineral licks
- Sunflower Seeds (Oil or the hearts without the shells)
- Raw Peanuts (Both with or without the shells)
- Pears and Apples
- Blueberries, Carrots and Pumpkin
❌ Never Feed
- Bread (Sourdough and Rye is a no no)
- Cake and Pastries (it might taste good to us but it's really bad for them)
- Raw potatoes
- Processed foods (last night's leftovers)
- Chocolate (Milk or Dark, they're both bad for them)
- Pet food (Not all pet food is created equal)
- Quiche (Just kidding)
Best Practices If You Do Feed
- Offer in small piles and disperse food widely.
- Keep feeding areas clean to avoid disease.
- You can reduce feeding in the Spring when natural forage returns. (Don't be surprised if they eat most of your flowers though)
- Place food far from the roads if possible. (Just don't feed them in public parks, as the local authorities don't like that too much)
- Consider planting native shrubs instead of feeding directly. (This can save you $$ down the road)
