When I was a young boy, I remember feeding deer at the ranch with my older brother Joe. We would set up a bucket with a hole in the bottom and a wire hanging down to act like a wind vane.  The deer would nudge the bucket, or the wind would blow the wire, and the corn would fall out. It was a thrill to check it the next day, find it empty, and refill it. The work was no bother to me – what mattered was that I was having a heck of a good time with my brother.

The nutrition and management of deer has changed a lot since then. Corn was by far the top seller for deer in the 1970s and 80s. Later, things evolved to include protein feeds, high-quality blinds, and automatic feeders; folks are willing to invest much more to help ensure the deer are healthy and the population is thriving.

Deer Supplements

This month I want to focus on supplementation (remembering I am not a professional wildlife nutritionist). Why should we take the time and incur the expense to supplement deer with a mineral product? Antler growth is influenced more by protein intake, but minerals also contribute to antler and bone density, improved breed back in older does, and overall herd health.

One thing I’ve observed is that deer don’t seek out salt nearly as much as cattle. Typically, they won’t return to a livestock mineral supplement as readily as they will a mineral product engineered specifically for them. Deer need higher levels of calcium and phosphorus than what you’ll find in a mineral block designed for livestock. They also need copper, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, and selenium in an absorbable form. You can just set a little mineral product out where you’ve noticed your deer feeding, and they’ll consume what they need.

Here at Odiorne Feed & Ranch Supply, you have several options for supplementing your deer. We carry Antlermax Mineral and Double Down Mineral, which are both excellent loose mineral choices. If you prefer a solid form, you can try a Record Rack deer block or a Trophy Rock. If you’ve heard of another mineral brand or type, let us know!

I will always have those good memories of my brother Joe showing me how to feed deer, set up a blind with cedar bushes and old blankets, and teaching me how to stay still while hunting; and I wish you all the best in making hunting memories of your own in the future.