We've covered nutrition from February through August with regard to protein and minerals. Now it's early autumn and the deer have different needs. Bucks are putting on weight and gaining condition for the rigors of rut and winter. Does are trying to re-gain condition following the reproductive process and fawns are eating all they can to prepare for their first winter. These reasons dictate a change in the deer's diet to a lowered protein, increased carbohydrate menu.
Carbohydrates are good sources of energy and assist in putting on needed weight.
Corn and oats are good carbohydrate sources but not so good for protein. Fall is a good time to supplement your protein pellet program with a mix of corn and oats. This will carry the deer through the rut and into the winter at which time the cycle repeats itself. This is a somewhat simplified version of the annual deer nutrition cycle that you can use to grow bigger bucks sooner and support a healthier herd overall. Next time we'll discuss specific products you can use and how to use them to meet these nutritional demands.