Whether you are a small or large landowner or belong to a club looking for a way to make a significant difference in your local deer herd, understanding the changing nutritional needs of deer throughout the year and their life cycle is a great place to start. Adopting the right feeding strategy can make a significant difference, whether your goal is to improve your deer’s overall health, antler development, or numbers. In this article, we’ll explore the best feeding options for deer at various times of the year, focusing on products like Antler Magnet, Ultra Rack, Rack Builder pellets, and Triple-Cleaned Corn.
I had an in-depth discussion with Caleb Weaver about whitetail management goals. Caleb has extensive experience managing hunting properties and works for a company that creates innovative products for farms and wildlife. Southern Feed & Seed is a family-owned Mississippi business specializing in developing supplemental feeds designed to provide optimal year-round nutrition that can improve the health and growth of your local deer population.
Weaver said deciding what and when to feed your deer becomes easier once you understand their seasonal and biological needs. This knowledge can help you achieve several goals, such as improving herd health, enhancing antler growth, or supporting does during pregnancy and lactation.
The Importance of Year-Round Nutrition
Weaver explained how good nutrition is the fuel that drives antler development and overall health. Even deer with superior genetics cannot achieve their full potential without proper nourishment.
Whitetails’ have different nutritional needs throughout the year, influenced by sex, age, and seasonal changes. Their natural diets shift significantly between the pre-rut and post-rut periods as they prepare for winter. He explained that providing supplemental feed promotes deer health and ensures they have the energy needed for breeding, growth, and recovery.
Spring: Supporting Early Antler Development
During the springtime, deer emerge from the harsh winter months with depleted fat reserves and a heightened need for extra nutrients. Spring is a crucial time to aid their recovery and help prepare them for the summer months when antler growth and fawn development occur. Weaver said that amending your soil and habitat should always be your first priority; however, offering the right supplemental feed during this period can enhance their overall health and contribute to optimal antler development in bucks. Weaver recommended the following combination for their springtime needs:
Antler Magnet pellets (Corn, shelled peanuts, roasted soybeans, peanut flavoring) are especially beneficial in the spring. These feeds are rich in protein, essential for both bucks and does. Weaver explained that deer cannot effectively digest feeds with protein levels above 20%, and providing this specific combination during spring ensures deer receive the right balance of protein, fats, and minerals needed for muscle repair, body conditioning, and bone growth after the challenges of finding adequate natural forage during the winter. No special feeder is needed.
Another good springtime choice is Rack Builder, formulated to meet the nutritional needs of antler development, gestation, fawning, and lactation. It is water resistant and provides the nutrients to keep your herd healthy. By incorporating these feed options during spring, land managers and hunters can support the herd’s overall health, boost antler development, and enhance reproductive success, setting their local deer population up to thrive in the year ahead.
Summer: Maintaining Health During High Temperatures
During the summer, deer endure different nutritional challenges, as the higher temperatures and increased activity place additional stress on their bodies. Weaver explained that bucks are at the peak of antler growth, and nursing fawns require a steady supply of nutrients. During this period, the focus should be on ensuring the deer have access to high-quality feed that supports growth and recovery.
Weaver recommends Rack Builder pellets (Crude Protein 20% min.— Crude Fat 3% min.—Crude Fiber 14% max.- Calcium 1.2% min.— Phosphorus 1.0%— Salt 5% min.— Vitamin A 10,000 IU/LB) as an ideal feed option to support these demands. Rich in high-quality protein and packed with vitamins and minerals, this product promotes antler growth, enhances muscle development, and aids tissue repair. This mixture draws deer and provides the essential nutrients that bucks need to build strong antlers and overall good health.
The benefits don’t stop there. These feeds contain essential vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, vital for strong bones and fast antler growth. For does, the added nutrition supports overall health during fawn-rearing.
By supplying a balanced diet of protein pellets and other forage sources, hunters and land managers can ensure that deer populations remain healthy throughout the hot summer months, leading to better antler development and healthier fawns. Feed in covered or spin feeders, or free choice to deer in their natural habitat.
Fall: Preparing for the Rut
Weaver described Fall as the bulking season. During the pre-rut, bucks require lots of energy to prepare for the physically demanding rutting period. They expend substantial amounts of energy fighting, chasing does and defending their territory. It’s essential they have high-energy food that supports endurance and recovery during this intense period.
Antler Magnet pellets (Whole Corn, Shelled Peanuts, Roasted Soybeans, Added Peanut Flavoring) provide a nutrient-dense formula during this stage that helps deer maintain their stamina and muscle mass while supporting antler growth and overall deer health with the correct mix of protein, fats, and fiber. By introducing this feed in late summer to early fall, landowners can ensure that bucks develop strong antlers while also providing essential nutrients to does.
As cooler weather approaches, many landowners fill a few feeders with Triple-Cleaned Corn to provide added carbohydrates to help deer with their energy levels, particularly as they travel for food and water.
Winter: Recovery After the Rut
Winter can be the most challenging time for deer, as food sources become scarce, temperatures drop, and they play hide-and-seek with hunters. Providing high-energy feeds is essential to ensure deer survive through the colder months. Triple-cleaned corn remains a staple during this time, offering a reliable source of energy that helps deer keep their body temperature and fat reserves.
Ultra Rack is a rice bran-based feed that also contains corn, distiller grains, and dry molasses. This is a nutrient-rich food source and has a healthy mix minerals and vitamins for strong, healthy deer. Its molasses scent enhances palatability, making it highly attractive to deer. Covered or rice bran feeders are needed for this feed.
Whitetails need time to recover from the physical strains of their rutting activity. Most bucks have lost weight and depleted their energy stores, and many does are pregnant and can benefit from additional nutrients to support their growing fawns. Antler Magnet is another option that provides the protein, fat, and minerals necessary for recovery. Including these feeds in late fall and early winter will help bucks regain body mass and does with the demands of fawn rearing.
Weaver cautioned against suddenly stopping your feeding program and suggested a gradual reduction in supplemental feed. He stressed that keeping a regular feeding routine throughout the winter can prevent weight loss and help deer emerge from the cold months in better condition.
Conclusion
Landowners and managers should consider a year-round feeding plan that adjusts to the seasonal needs of their deer populations. Using the right feeds throughout the year can improve herd health, support optimal antler growth, and provide does with the nutrition needed for successful fawn-rearing. A well-balanced feeding strategy not only enhances the overall condition of the deer but also contributes to sustainable population management, long-term wildlife success, and more successful hunting seasons.
