Cracked corn and cotton seed?

[Telemark]

I've been seeing a lot of people recommending these for deer lately. Anyone try them? Are they better than ordinary corn?

 

[gjs4]

Why was it being recommended (nutrition, attraction, cost)? IN the great state of OH....corn is the only accepted deer food. Your choices are kernel or on the cob. Thats it. lol

 

[Telemark]

A few guys were saying cracked corn attracts better.

Cotton seed was recommended for the protein content and because raccoons and bears don't eat it, so the deer were able to get the majority of it.

 

[SwampCat]

Cottonseed can be hard to get in many places. I see it being used more in texas than anywhere. Cracked corn tends to jam a spinfeeder. I dont see a lot of difference in attractiveness. Better things than corn for attractiveness.

 

[Telemark]

There's a bag of cotton seed at TSC in Cincinnati. It's 18$ so maybe I'll just buy more corn instead. I think most of the guys recommending it are southern guys. The comments on the cotton seed products are mostly from Texas.

 

[buckdeer1]

Alot of places down south use cotton hulls and seed.If I was going to spend that much per bag I would use roasted soybeans and berry flavored deer chow.That would be close to 40% protein I bet.And they really like both

 

[Catscratch]

Cottonseed can be hard to get in many places. I see it being used more in texas than anywhere. Cracked corn tends to jam a spinfeeder. I dont see a lot of difference in attractiveness. Better things than corn for attractiveness.

What's better than corn for attraction?

 

[SwampCat]

What's better than corn for attraction?

I would rather not post that here

 

[Telemark]

Alot of places down south use cotton hulls and seed.If I was going to spend that much per bag I would use roasted soybeans and berry flavored deer chow.That would be close to 40% protein I bet.And they really like both

I can't find soybeans near me. I do use acorn Rage mixed with corn, and the Ohio deer love it.

 

[Telemark]

What's better than corn for attraction?

The place where I hunt in Ontario has no corn around. When I did put some out, the deer didn't eat it, the bears and raccoons loved it, and recently I'm worried about acidosis. I have been sprinkling acorn Rage on top of alfalfa, but I would like another alternative if I can find something economical.

 

[Electrodigical]

I have to wonder if cracked corn is not better for them. Easier to digest and absorb nutrition from.

I put corn out once an a bear cleaned it up. Then pooped it out in pretty much the same condition that he ate it.

 

[Angus 1895]

Cotton seed is toxic to cattle.

 

[SD51555]

Cotton seed is toxic to cattle.

We fed cottonseed to dairy cattle for a long time in the 90's.

 

[Angus 1895]

Above 7 lbs per day u will have problems

It’s used as a “ by pass protein) it settles outta the rumen and gets into the duodenum un fermented. But it has a toxic principle

 

[Telemark]

Above 7 lbs per day u will have problems

It’s used as a “ by pass protein) it settles outta the rumen and gets into the duodenum un fermented. But it has a toxic principle

Only planning on setting out about 2 lbs at a time, mixed with acorn Rage and corn.

 

[Angus 1895]

Remember dairy cattle are a wee bit larger than what u B feeding I believe

 

[Catscratch]

Pretty good summary a couple of posts down.

Gossypol and cottonseed meal

Will gossypol effect a whitetail deers ability to reproduce? We feed cottonseed meal in our preserve to boost protein levels during peak growing months which in Alabama is June-August. I have read studies from Texas in which they say this does not effect whitetail. Does anyone have any knowledge...

deerfarmer.com

 

[Angus 1895]

I wasn’t aware of lingering reproductive problems.

Need to invent a Dink gossypol delivery diner!

 

[Telemark]

Well I went ahead and bought a bag of cottonseed. Turns out cotton seed has a little bit of cotton on it, so I put a couple pounds in a bucket and sprayed it with water, then added Acorn Rage and stirred it around. The Acorn Rage powder stuck to the cotton seeds, and the mi was set out in a pile with some cracked corn on top. The deer ate most of it, but they did leave some cotton seed lying on the ground. It's clear that they will eat it in Ohio, even if they were slightly duped into doing so.

In the mean time, I found a place in Ohio that sells soybean meal for about 15$ for a 50lb bag. Since Acorn Rage is mostly soybean meal, and the deer love it, I will be using soybean meal from now on instead of cotton seed for the deer. I will simply have to trap the raccoons that come and eat it. I'll leave the cotton seed to the southern guys.

The deer devoured the cracked corn. I can't say for sure that they preferred it to the whole kernel corn, and I didn't have time to test that before I left. I'll set up a camera next fall and test the cracked corn preference. Safe to say they eat both in Ohio.

I recently came across a product called defatted soybean meal. I haven't confirmed prices or a location to purchase it yet, but it seems promising as a supplemental spring/summer feed for deer.

 

[gjs4]

Telemark- I have a few questions for you since I am in seOH with my feeding efforts

if you don't mind sharing the resource I would love to try some. I hate to admit it, but i am supplemental feeding kernel corn only. Think a mix may be the ticket? Does this stuff mold?

Do you have much Ag in your area? Oaks? Soft mast?

Ever try a Buck Muffin (Shade River Ag, and others, sell them) https://www.deernecessity.com/ ? I am thinking theyre some kind of meal as well. Know multiple guys running them....and they get pounded. I grabbed one and put it out this Fall.....no action at all. In 3-4months I could count on one hand the number of critters that touched it. Point in being, I wonder if the "meal" stuff is a time of year or nutritionally dependent draw.

Have you tried any peanut or nut based feed?

Sorry for all the questions.... new to feeding-baiting-etc and want to have max draw but also provide some value with this stuff.