Ok, so at some point we have all used corn piles for deer. Corn can be a great attraction for deer and other wildlife. I honestly haven’t used corn for roughly 3 years now. But for everyone still using corn i will give you some much needed tips.
When i started using corn over 15 years ago i dumped it out just like everyone else, in a pile! dumping corn in a pile isn’t natural to deer. This is a artificial food source that we put there and hunt over. So typically when deer eat from a corn pile what do they see and hear? They hear us! They hear arrows slinging there way. Tree stands squeaking and all kinds of different noises.
We educate them without even realizing it. We hunt that stand over and over and over. We leave all kinds of scent around as well. Bait piles can be very tricky. When hunting over bait piles its best to maybe do it a couple times and then let it rest. A lot of times to in the evening they are going to be on it and you will most likely bump them off when trying to get down.
You have probably noticed it but haven’t really cared enough to make sense of it. Typically when deer approach a bait pile they are very nervous. They come in on edge taking single steps and looking all around. This is from the noises they hear as mentioned above.
What can help when using bait piles is to not dump it in a pile. Spread it out all over. Just take handfuls and throw it. Sling that corn in every direction you can think off ha ha. This does 2 things. It will be more natural to the deer and it will last a lot longer. when you sling it it falls under all the leaves and the deer actually have to browse around for it kinda like they are looking for acorns.
Even with this method you still cant pressure the baiting site but at least it will be more natural for the deer and will last a lot longer.
Corn really doesn’t provide any nutrition to deer at all other then some carbs for energy. If you are looking to benefit the deer and attract at the same time a food plot would be more beneficial. Planting things such as beans, cow peas, buck wheat, Clovers and a mix of cereal grains would be way more nutritious.
Some could even argue that corn does more harm then good and i tend to lean toward that as well.
Hope these little tips help you in your hunting adventures. I am all for baiting and hunting how you want as long as its legal!
See ya on the next one!!!!
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