I personally find it more rewarding to find natural food and set stands according to the land and how deer move through it. I have and still do at times use feeders,but its a more rewarding experience to figure out how the deer move set up a stand and then see deer doing what you thought they would do even if I dont kill one, I still feel like I have accomplished something.
I guess you could try raising 3 sons,they keep you busy. They are my excuse for building feeders though,I have one I can't leave home anymore.I'm hoping to have at least 2 feeders going in the next 2 weeks.
I have passed on alot of realy big sized swamp area cotton tails in the last few months,cuz the month didn't have an r in it and were told they are tough as leather and need to pressure cook em to get them tender enough to be edible, and didn't want to spook other game. but that one pic sure looked good. maybe next time I'm out with my 22mag I'll give one a try.
from what I have seen is this. plots or feeders mean food and always available food unless you have a highly dense population. that being said a deer can go to a feeder a night as it pleases. therefore more food is available causing deer to go straight to said source and back to bed. we keep plots for nutrition purposes and to keep deer within lease. corn is known to make deer nocturnal. if it gets cold enough and there is no corn then the deer begin roaming more leading to a better chance to catch them off their normal routes. Just my 2c. Anyone agree?
I agree feeders do effect feeding habits of game to an extent,I do know from puting dogs on hog tracks that a hog will travel miles hopping from feeder to feeder making big loops. I try to put just a little feed out just to slow them down on their travel routes. I do know feeding does in late winter help their little ones grow and stay healthy.
