If you live in the country, especially in the northeastern United States, you are no doubt familiar with the whitetail deer and have possibly thought about deer feeders as much as bird feeders.  This beautiful creature is even the state animal for Pennsylvania, where they are a familiar feature in the landscape.  Some consider them a pest as they love to forage on gardens and crops and can cause automobile accidents as they cross rural roads and highways, but few fail to appreciate their natural grace in an age when so much natural wildlife has become extinct with modern development.

Whitetail deer, in particular, seem to be making a comeback due to successful wildlife management.  Strict licensing regulations have protected them from overhunting.  To those who oppose hunting, we would say that overpopulation poses a danger to the species as well, allowing for undesirable inbreeding, devastating disease infestation in too close populations and even starvation from lack of feed throughout particularly harsh winters.  It is important to realize that whitetail deer are indigenous to eastern America and that man has moved into his habitat.  Since we are not likely to tear down our houses and move away, we must respect the fact that we have actually invaded the deer’s home and not vice versa.  We have upset the balance of nature that existed before humans invaded.  As conscientious stewards of the environment, we should and do seek ways to help undo the damage we have done and minimize our footprints.

With civilization and the shrinking of wildlife areas that deer depended upon for centuries, the carefully managed deer feeder might allow us to help.  There is no doubt that if it is properly set up and  maintained, a deer feeder can give its owner many hours of pleasurable wildlife observation and education.  Not to mention, attracting these lovely animals allows for some great opportunities for photography buffs, much the same as common bird feeders do.  The important thing to remember, as with feeding winter birds, is that this is a commitment.  Deer search out feeding areas and establish their trails and bedding areas accordingly, thus becoming dependent upon a nearby source of sustenance to survive through the winter.  It is only fair that if you are going to set up a feeding station that you are prepared to follow through and not leave vulnerable animals high and dry in the middle of a two week blizzard.

Like any wildlife, it is unwise to try and turn deer into pets.  This is for their own protection as well as yours. An animal that lives in the wild needs to have an instinctual fear of man and other predators in order to survive.  Also, most wildlife that will allow for close human contact are unwell and may not be safe to be around.  While it is possible for experts with the proper permits to raise deer (and even establish petting zoos for children), these animals are not ever meant to be released to the wild to fend for themselves. A deer feeder is meant to attract deer for distance observation, not to turn them into domestic animals.

There are many brands of deer feeders on the market, as well as numerous plans available for do it yourself versions.  Perhaps the most important thing to do before investing money, time and heart is to check local laws.  Deer feeders are illegal in many areas.  This may only pertain to hunters using them to gain an unsporting advantage or it may be to protect the deer themselves by discouraging large groups of them from congregating and spreading illnesses. Prior to making a commitment, it’s vital to check the regulations – not only may you be doing more harm than good, you may also find yourself facing some stiff fines.  If everything is good to go, then you can select or build your deer feeder, place it a suitable distance from your house and determine what to keep it filled with.

For almost all deer (whitetail and western mule deer), corn is a safe bet.  Its high carbohydrate content helps the animal to keep warm and energized in cold weather.  There are a multitude of brands of commercial mixtures, some of them fairly high protein, including Purina Deer Chow.  Deer also like apples, acorns and many types of grain.  It is important to realize that they are browsers by nature and do not naturally eat hay and other grass and alfalfa based feed suitable for cattle and horses.  And be careful – anything that attracts deer will likely bring on other critters as well, ranging from squirrels to bears.

Deer feeders can hold from five to two hundred pounds of foodstuff.  Some are self-filling, even with timers, while simpler ones will require your attention and frequent refilling.  It’s up to your level of interest and budget to choose a small treat feeder for the deer you see in your backyard each winter or to commit to a larger operation.