Supplemental Feeding
Supplemental Feeding and Carrying Capacity
Deer densities supported primarily by supplemental feeding often reflect a false carrying capacity for a property.
Supplemental feeding and food plots are not the same. Many landowners believe that if they choose not to use supplemental feed, they also do not need to plant food plots. That is not true.
Nutrition is extremely important to deer herd health, and many biologists recommend supplemental feeding to help bridge nutritional gaps when necessary.
Habitat Should Determine Carrying Capacity
The true carrying capacity of a hunting property should be built through forest management and maintained or improved with food plots.
Supplemental feeding should never be used in a way that creates an inflated population that the habitat cannot naturally support.
When feeding programs push deer numbers beyond what the land can sustain, long term herd health and habitat quality can suffer.
Using Feed Sites for Predator Monitoring
Feed sites can also be useful for monitoring mesopredators.
Observations at feeding locations can help identify predator activity and guide targeted removal efforts. In this way, deer management practices can also support population success for turkey and quail.
Property Specific Feeding Programs
When supplemental feeding is used, it should be applied at a property specific scale.
Feed sites should be located a considerable distance from property lines. This helps protect the true carrying capacity of the property.
Supplemental feeding example photo
Discuss Supplemental Feeding for Your Property
Every property is different. Habitat conditions, deer density, and surrounding land use all influence whether supplemental feeding is appropriate.
Contact Matt to discuss supplemental feeding strategies for your property.