How many give back

[TheScottRanch]

How many of yougive back on these HARD winters













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[gasman]

I would not call it "Give Back" but when ever i visist the Oak Creek feeding station , i donate at least $30 to the cause.

[EastWaViking]

 It's just like feeding birds, they become dependent on it, and do not move to their natural wintering grounds. I Think it's great if a person decides to feed some deer on their property, but, only if they can continue feeding well into March.  I you can't it will do more harm than good.

[dbllunger]

Have a hard time showing all the apple buds and small leaders eaten off, but they also eat old apples and left over horse and cow hay. 

[DeerHarvester]

It's just like feeding birds, they become dependent on it, and do not move to their natural wintering grounds. I Think it's great if a person decides to feed some deer on their property, but, only if they can continue feeding well into March.  I you can't it will do more harm than good.

  They always say don't feed the bears!  I agree, you shouldn't feed them unless you are going to maintain food plots year round.

[Bigshooter]

I remember last year when Colorado was feeding there deer, they told people not to feed them hay or alfalfa.  Because it was not good for them, but I don't remember why.  They feed the deer pellets and the elk hay.

[boneaddict]

They don't have the bacteria and the particular enzymes in their stomachs to digest the hay. (elk are different)  It fills them up but they don't get the energy from the digestion they need to survive.  Their bellys are full but they start starving.    Sort of like when they fill up on cheat in the spring then end up starving to death on it, or *censored*ting themselves to death.  The alfalfa peelets give them enrgy and so does corn I understand.  

[big_bucks]

They don't have the bacteria and the particular enzymes in their stomachs to digest the hay. (elk are different)  It fills them up but they don't get the energy from the digestion they need to survive.  Their bellys are full but they start starving.    Sort of like when they fill up on cheat in the spring then end up starving to death on it, or *censored*ting themselves to death.  The alfalfa peelets give them enrgy and so does corn I understand.  

I believe I read something similar to that.  Nice to see that someone's heart is in the right place though.

[skybusterbo]

They don't have the bacteria and the particular enzymes in their stomachs to digest the hay. (elk are different)  It fills them up but they don't get the energy from the digestion they need to survive.  Their bellys are full but they start starving.    Sort of like when they fill up on cheat in the spring then end up starving to death on it, or *censored*ting themselves to death.  The alfalfa peelets give them enrgy and so does corn I understand.  

I've been a volenter up to Oak Creek for years. Bone is right. Alfalfa hay goes right threw them, they waist alot of energy *censored*ing it out too. Regular grass hay is better if thats all you have. Feed peelets or cracked corn.

[big_bucks]

What about carrots and sugar cubes?  Maybe some oats and a vanilla late?  Soy milk though as they might be lactose intolerant.

[yelp]

I give back in the way of time and money.  Join a conservaiton group like Mule Deer Foundation, RMEF, Pheasants Forever, NWTF, etc...plant that habitat.  That is what is important.  Fund conservation easements to curtail development in wintering grounds.  Look at the Chelan Area, bitterbrush being dozed for houses.  We need to support conservation of habitat.  Through easements or land purchases. There are conservation districts in every county...get involved.  Go out this spring and plant some winter habitat for pheasants.  This is one way I help give back.  Call county commissioners and WDFW representatives and volunteer.  Master hunters use your 40 hours planting habitat.  Habitat still is the key to wildlife! 

[Slider]

+1 what Yelp said!!!

[boneaddict]

+2

[WAPITIHUNTER]

It's just like feeding birds, they become dependent on it, and do not move to their natural wintering grounds. I Think it's great if a person decides to feed some deer on their property, but, only if they can continue feeding well into March.  I you can't it will do more harm than good.

Only if you live in an area where the Deer and Elk migrate to their wintering grounds. Where I live the deer and Elk are year round residents. They don't go anywhere. On top of that the local hay farms and beef ranches feed the elk and deer vigorously year round,at the disdain of the farmers.

[Big10gauge]

It was my understanding that if deer ate alfalfa out of the field green that they could/would also have the enzymes necessary to eat alfalfa hay. As they have already obtained it while eating the green stuff.  I know that they pick out the leaves and leave the stems.

[dbllunger]

Bone and 10guage are correct.  The pellets have corn and other additives.  If you want to buy feed about the cheapest is something called Pea Pellets.  They are a mixture and the deer love them and get total energy out of them.  You can buy them bulk, and just have them dumped into what ever tubs, apple bins, etc. you want to store them in. 

[wilsongideon]

pea pellets are awesome ...pretty cheap and deer will come into your barn to get em so dont leave any open bags laying around. . . couldnt find any local we go to a feed store in spokane to get em

[boneaddict]

Never heard of them.  Good info.

[runamuk]

I give back in the way of time and money.  Join a conservaiton group like Mule Deer Foundation, RMEF, Pheasants Forever, NWTF, etc...plant that habitat.  That is what is important.  Fund conservation easements to curtail development in wintering grounds.  Look at the Chelan Area, bitterbrush being dozed for houses.  We need to support conservation of habitat.  Through easements or land purchases. There are conservation districts in every county...get involved.  Go out this spring and plant some winter habitat for pheasants.  This is one way I help give back.  Call county commissioners and WDFW representatives and volunteer.  Master hunters use your 40 hours planting habitat.  Habitat still is the key to wildlife! 

Yelp, could you PM me with who to contact, I've called around a bit and gotten the run around.  I'd love to volunteer to help with habitat restoration, planting, etc.

We only have 2+ acres here but as I plant and landscape I keep the wildlife in mind and plant for them.  In 2 years we have now had deer show up, and I saw a nice covey of mountain quail.  So next spring I think I will designate some food plots for both.  I prefer to not feed the birds, but I do plant lots of seed bearing flowers and grasses and I leave them for winter feed.  My gardens look a bit messy that way but I love the variety of birds I am getting.

[bowhunterforever]

Never heard of pea pellets! How much is it for a bag?

[NWTFhunter]

I give back in the way of time and money.  Join a conservaiton group like Mule Deer Foundation, RMEF, Pheasants Forever, NWTF, etc...plant that habitat.  That is what is important.  Fund conservation easements to curtail development in wintering grounds.  Look at the Chelan Area, bitterbrush being dozed for houses.  We need to support conservation of habitat.  Through easements or land purchases. There are conservation districts in every county...get involved.  Go out this spring and plant some winter habitat for pheasants.  This is one way I help give back.  Call county commissioners and WDFW representatives and volunteer.  Master hunters use your 40 hours planting habitat.  Habitat still is the key to wildlife! 

 
Could not have said it better !  I like the way you think Yelp

[NWTFhunter]

I give back in the way of time and money.  Join a conservaiton group like Mule Deer Foundation, RMEF, Pheasants Forever, NWTF, etc...plant that habitat.  That is what is important.  Fund conservation easements to curtail development in wintering grounds.  Look at the Chelan Area, bitterbrush being dozed for houses.  We need to support conservation of habitat.  Through easements or land purchases. There are conservation districts in every county...get involved.  Go out this spring and plant some winter habitat for pheasants.  This is one way I help give back.  Call county commissioners and WDFW representatives and volunteer.  Master hunters use your 40 hours planting habitat.  Habitat still is the key to wildlife! 

Yelp, could you PM me with who to contact, I've called around a bit and gotten the run around.  I'd love to volunteer to help with habitat restoration, planting, etc.

We only have 2+ acres here but as I plant and landscape I keep the wildlife in mind and plant for them.  In 2 years we have now had deer show up, and I saw a nice covey of mountain quail.  So next spring I think I will designate some food plots for both.  I prefer to not feed the birds, but I do plant lots of seed bearing flowers and grasses and I leave them for winter feed.  My gardens look a bit messy that way but I love the variety of birds I am getting.

Runamuk you can contact any local chapter of the NWTF, where do you live and I can give you the name of the person to talk to in your chapter.  If there isnt a chapter local to you I can get you Daves number.
We love to do restoration work !  I just dont know what Dave has on the aggenda for this year, maybe you can get something going.  We always have monies for this kind of work.
Cameron

[yelp]

Runamuk I will try and locate some contacts in that area..Porter Right westside of the Capital Forest, right.  Been there several times.  That is cool about the mountain quail...I used to see them up on Capital Peak as a kid.  I just wanted to reply.  I have some WDFW contacts and some Sportsmans groups that maybe looking for volunteers.  Later.

[runamuk]

Yelp and NWTF yes I am in Porter right by the capital forest grays harbor county.  I'd love to do some field work especially in the summer when the kid is out of school