Horn Growth

[grizzald]

Just wondering if horn growth for this next year will be affected by this pretty harsh winter we are having with the pretty cold temps and deep snow on the level? With bucks not being able to get as much food and nutrients as normal, one would think it would play a role?

[goblueM]

i think you may be referencing antler growth, and yes, if a buck is not super healthy at the start of antler growth season, then it may be negatively effected

[grizzald]

yeah thats what i was thinking. my dad and i have been putting round bales out and the dnr is bringing corn out to help try to keep these deer healthy. we are placing it all on our land along the pomme de terre river where the deer are all hearded up right now. sad to see but we have already found a few dead ones...

[hockeybc69]

DNR is bringing corn out?????????

Where is that in the budget??

[pureinsanity]

DNR is bringing corn out?????????

Where is that in the budget??

Who cares. They are saving deer. I am sure they would take an donation from you to help pay for it. Maybe the corn is donated by organizations?

I get my corn for the pheasants for free, and I put a fence up to keep the deer out.

[grizzald]

DNR is bringing corn out?????????

Where is that in the budget??

pure insanity nailed it! who cares! the dnr has worked hard on getting the heard back to where it is in our area and i'm sure they don't want to see it get wiped out again!

[pureinsanity]

Budget this budget that, who cares let them do what they need to do. Make your voice heard if need be. but as far as the DNR goes. let them make all the rules and regulations they want! As long as I can keep fishing and hunting I will support their decisions.

I have some german friends that came to Minnesota and I took them out fishing. I took them to my back yard to go shooting. It was one of their most memorable things they have ever done. In German there are such strict rules and regulations not to mention long courses you have to take just to hunt, fish, or own a gun. And its rather expensive as well. not many do these activities because of its cost, strict rules and long courses.

so for me, DNR do what you want just let us fish and hunt!

[hockeybc69]

Okie dokie.

I guess my point was that I dont believe for a second that the DNR is feeding deer in MN.

[DanOmite19]

I guess my point was that I dont believe for a second that the DNR is feeding deer in MN.

Agreed. If you are refering to leaving standing corn or beans on WMAs, then I know they do that on certain properties and I guess you could say they "feed the deer". To think that they have a "welfare" system in place for the harsh winter is unrealistic.

[Powerstroke]

Actually if you read recent articles in outdoors news you will see that the DNR does have plans to supplementally feed in the case of extreme winters. Its been done in the past. I wasn't aware of them doing it yet this year.

I think someone else hit it on the head that it may not be the DNR but rather sportsmans groups doing the feeding.

[hockeybc69]

Quote:

may not be the DNR but rather sportsmans groups doing the feeding.

That I buy.

My 4 acres of corn is gone already. Can someone go feed my deer too!

[grizzald]

wow fellas... i guess we know who has high thought's on the dnr... i'm referring to what i know, and that is the dnr has been putting corn, still on cob, on my land. for about two weeks now. this is private land and not wma's, or is it neighboring state land. figured especially on here that a there wouldnt be negative feed back on helping deer out, rather thumbs up to the dnr... that's not too unrealistic...

[hockeybc69]

Well, I had to find out for myself about this claim of the DNR feedng deer. So I took the liberty to email the DNR to ask them. Here is what I sent them:

Someone is trying to tell me they have the DNR putting corn on their land in western MN to feed deer.

I find it very hard to believe the DNR would go to lengths to artificially concentrate deer. Especially with the finding of CWD in MN.

Any truth to this?

Here is the DNR's response:

No it is not. We don’t encourage feeding and we are certainly not paying or putting any out anywhere.

[pureinsanity]

I know they don't encourage feeding. but that doesn't mean someone might not do it. for all we know the a person that works for the DNR is doing this in their own time and money?