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What Do Deer Eat in Fall And Early Winter?

November 28, 2018/0 Comments/in GYT 90 Blog /by GYT90

What Do Deer Eat? | Deer Food and Nutritional Requirements for Fall

White-tailed deer are wrapping up one of the most physically demanding time periods of the year; the fall rut and breeding season. This is a time when bucks run themselves ragged in search of does. In fact, a buck can lose up to 30% of his body weight during the rut from all of that chasing and not replenishing his nutritional requirements by taking time to eat. What makes things even more difficult for bucks after losing all of that body weight is they are about to enter into the winter season. Winter is one of the most stressful periods a buck can go through, particularly in the north where winters can be severe. So how can you ensure that bucks on your hunting property have everything they need to survive the winter? What do deer eat in the fall and early winter to build reserves? What is the ideal deer food that can you provide through supplements or habitat changes? This article will discuss some of the natural forages deer rely on during this time of year and why GYT90 supplements tend to work so well for your deer herd.

What’s for Dinner?

Deer eat a lot. On average, a deer can eat anywhere from 6 to 8% of its body weight every day. That means that a 150-pound deer can eat up to 12 pounds of food per day! To put that in perspective, that’s like you eating 48 quarter-pound hamburgers a day just to survive…Now think about how much forage it would actually take to weigh up to 12 pounds. That’s a lot of forage!

So what does a deer eat? Deer will primarily eat browse (woody portion of leaves and stems), forbs (broad-leaved plants), mast (acorns, apples, etc), and grass. Although these are the main foods deer like to eat, the quantity of these different foods differ throughout the year and the region you are hunting.

Deer Food in Your Region

For example, deer in the Midwest will have a larger portion of their diet comprised of agricultural crops then deer from a non-agricultural area like the northeast. Although a deer’s diet will vary throughout the year, woody browse tends to make up the majority of a deer’s diet throughout the winter, regardless of where they are found. Woody browse is usually more abundant throughout the winter months after crops are harvested and is high in fiber, but also nutritious, especially new stems and shoots from species like black berry, greenbrier, and understory saplings like ash. Think about how much a deer has to eat to survive. Finding up to 12 pounds of waste grain to eat is hard work and if you don’t have standing crops available for deer, then they are going to have to find food elsewhere.

Standing crops like corn and soybeans are a great source of energy during the early winter months like November and December and also throughout the rest of the winter. Specifically corn lacks a high level of protein, but has a high fat and carbohydrate content, around 4% fat and 75% carbohydrates. On the other hand, soybeans contain a high protein content (around 40%), and around 20% fat content but are lower in carbohydrates than corn. These high quality sources of energy are just what bucks need to help them recover after an intense breeding season and will help them survive the winter months. Remember, a buck can’t start growing his antlers in the spring until after he has replenished all of his fat reserves that he lost in the fall and winter. That means that the better the body condition a buck is in during winter, the sooner he can start growing his antlers in the spring. The sooner he can start growing his antlers means more time he has to grow them during the summer!

Why GYT90 Supplements Work

So what can you do to help ensure bucks on your property go into and come out of winter in the best possible shape? That’s simple; make sure they have foods with high-quality fats and a high energy content available to them. This is where GYT90 shines. GYT90 uses a natural crude soybean oil to deliver its 90+ minerals. This crude soybean oil is high in natural fats (95%) and is full of calories meaning plenty of energy for deer consuming it. Both fats and calories are needed by whitetails during and after the rut. Now to really ramp up the effects of GYT90, you simply need to pour it over corn, another food item high in energy. This combination of GYT90 and corn is a quality combination. Deer are not only getting all of the quality fats and energy they need to help them survive the winter, but they are also getting all of the minerals they need to stay healthy. The potent combination delivers carbs, calories, and a very high fat content, enough to pull deer into the site whether you are feeding, hunting over bait, or just enhancing the deer herd health.

But how many supplemental feed and mineral sites do you need to really help your herd out? That tends to depend on how many acres you are hunting. A good rule of thumb is to have one supplemental site for every 100 acres of property. You can place a 50-pound sack of corn mixed with GYT90 at each site. This should be enough to help supplement the deer herd. Remember, that this combination should only be used as a supplement because you don’t want to, and probably can’t afford, to totally feed your deer herd with corn. Another thing to keep in mind is that, although corn is high in energy, it is difficult for deer to digest. If deer eat too much corn too fast, they can actually die from what’s called acidosis. To avoid this, be sure you place your supplemental sites near woody browse so deer can browse on both food items. This will ensure they can balance the pH levels in their rumen while consuming corn. Or start the corn and GYT90 mixture off slowly, feeding small amounts gradually every week to allow the deer’s rumen to adjust for digestion.

If your goal is to grow as big of deer as you possibly can, then deer management is a year-round thing that doesn’t end after you put up your bow or gun for the year. It requires you to think about what deer need throughout the year. Remember, if nutrition is lacking at any point in time throughout the year, then that reduces a bucks chances of reaching his maximum potential. Hopefully this article has opened your eyes to the importance of winter nutrition. Be sure to give GYT90 a shot this fall, it may just help your herd reach its potential.

Attracting Deer to Your Hunting Setup

November 28, 2018/0 Comments/in GYT 90 Blog /by GYT90

Tactics to Make Your Deer Set Up the Spot on the Spot

The pursuit of whitetail deer has hunters nationwide working to create opportunities and increase the odds of a whitetail encounter for the hunt. Whether you love hunting deer for the camaraderie and fellowship, for the challenge that the pursuit of a trophy provides, or to provide meat for your family; one thing remains the same, you need deer in your area to hunt. When it comes to influencing deer, their habits, and the area they live in; there are multiple strategies that can be effective at attracting deer to your hunting area and increasing hunting opportunities. Utilizing deer attractants in your hunting strategy will increase your odds of success, and your enjoyment of the hunt.

The term “deer attractant” is a generic term, and it can encompass a wide variety of tools and methods that are proven to attract deer into a certain area. Some of the means to attracting deer to a specific spot include the use of: food plots, baiting, mineral sites, and deer scents. Hunters can utilize one or many of these methods in combination to attract deer into their hunting area depending on factors like state and local laws, available resources, and terrain. Attracting deer to your spot on the spot, and providing a hunting opportunity is critical to your hunts success. With a little strategic planning, and the right tools put to work, you can increase your number of whitetail encounters and shooting opportunities.

Food Plots

The use of food plots as a deer hunting attractant is as old as deer hunting itself. Natural food plots such as acorn mass and large crop fields continue to be an effective draw for deer. The use of food plot crops planted specifically with deer hunting in mind is becoming more and more common. From larger plots of forage soybeans covering 10 or more acres, to small parcels of broken tree canopy planted to brassica; various crops including corn, milo, turnips, peas, clover, and alfalfa will attract and keep deer.

One of the surest ways to attract deer is through their stomach. Whitetail deer are ruminant animals and require both quality protein and fiber forage to survive. Supplying quality groceries to the deer herd you are hunting is the perfect way to increase the frequency of deer in your area, and the amount of time they spend in your core hunting zone.

Baiting

For the same reason that food plots are so effective, bait as a deer attractant can also be extremely effective. An easy meal provided by a corn pile, a gravity feeder filled with a grain mix, or a prepared liquid deer bait is impossible for deer to resist. The nutritional demands of the breeding season, surviving through harsh winter conditions, and regaining lost nourishment expended during the rut drive deer to seek the most nutrient dense feed supply possible.

Keep it Legal

Using bait to attract deer is extremely effective, and a proven tactic for all seasons; including summer feeding programs, pre rut, peak rut, and post rut recovery. However, laws vary widely from state to state, from public to private, and even by date. Make sure you know and abide by the state and local regulations when it comes to baiting deer, hunting over bait, and when you bait. You may find your state allows hunting deer directly over a bait pile, a late season tactic that is sure to produce results. On the other hand, some states allow baiting, but restrict the distance to the bait. Still other states allow baiting, but all bait must be removed or consumed 10 days prior to season.

In states that only allow baiting out of sight of the hunter, or a certain distance away from the hunter; bait is a fantastic tool for manipulating deer movement. Bait stations between bedding and feeding areas can draw deer within range of your stand. Utilizing pinch points and travel corridors, and strategically placing stands for prevailing winds, using bait in a state that does not allow hunting over bait can produce amazing opportunities while staying well within the law.

Mineral

Just like all other animals, deer require certain essential minerals to remain healthy and to best utilize the nutrients they digest from feed. Essential minerals like calcium and sodium are natural attractants to deer, and in many states offering these minerals to deer is not classified as baiting. Be careful however when offering mineral as a bait station, some states classify mineral as bait if it is incorporated into the soil from rains. This can be tricky if the state you’re hunting doesn’t allow hunting over, or near a leached mineral site. There are ways to still offer the minerals deer crave, and remain on the right side of the law.

Whether your state allows hunting over bait, or not; or classifies mineral as bait, or not; make sure and consider using essential minerals as an attractant in accordance with regulations. Mineral sites and offerings are perfectly paired with other types of deer attractants to make your hunting area truly dynamic for whitetails.

Deer Scents

According to research conducted at Mississippi State University, deer can smell somewhere between 500 and 1000 times better than humans. It has been said that whitetail deer see the world through their noses. We have all been there, watching a deer that has no idea we are nearby, then the wind switches. One little gust of scent carrying wind and that deer is off, no questions asked. Harnessing scents that attract deer has been tested for decades, and year after year, hunters fill their tag and swear by a scent product that helped them do it.

By coupling a deer’s amazing sense of smell with their biological phases, the wind currents, and a strategically placed stand; deer scents can be used to bring that old wary buck into range. There are numerous deer scent products on the market, but a couple of the most popular include doe in estrus urine, and rutting buck scent. By tricking a buck’s nose into thinking there is an estrus doe nearby, or a competing buck in the area, you can play on a deer’s most advanced defense to create an opportunity to fill your tag.

Build an Arsenal and Develop a Strategy

Food plots, baits, mineral, and scents are all effective tools that you can put to work in the deer woods this season. By coupling multiple tools into an effective arsenal you will be able to influence where the deer travel and find an opportunity to fill your tag. Make no mistake, whitetail deer are elusive, wary, and always on their guard; but by working a strategy to make your stand the spot on the spot, it is possible to even the odds.

How to Maximize Your Trail Camera Pictures This Summer

June 29, 2018/0 Comments/in GYT 90 Blog /by GYT90

Trail Camera and Mineral Strategies for Summer Bucks

Trail cameras are widely used by most hunters during two times of the year, summer and fall. Trail cameras are a great way to keep track of new bucks, buck movement, and hunt-able patterns during fall. Fall more or less relates to making observations for hunting but summer is when a lot of critical information beyond just hunting can be generated. This summer data includes fawn recruitment, deer density, and making that all so coveted hit list for the fall. Given the importance of obtaining this type of information, how do you maximize your effectiveness of using trail cameras during the summer? Using supplemental minerals and deer feed to draw deer into your camera sites is a great way to maximize effectiveness. This article will discuss where you should put mineral sites and how many mineral sites you need to increase your effectiveness of using trail cameras.

Mineral and Trail Camera Site Locations

The location of your mineral sites is important to maximize the number of pictures you’ll get. When picking locations it’s important to not overthink it. If your goal is to increase the number of pictures you’re getting, then there’s no need to think about placing mineral sites in high-risk areas such as bedding sites. You don’t need to potentially risk pushing deer out of cover to check your cameras during the summer. Instead, place your mineral sites in areas that are low-risk and are already being frequented by deer. These high-use areas are also particularly important when you are first establishing a mineral site. For example, if you don’t already have an established mineral site for deer on your property, then deer have to learn what supplemental mineral is and where it is located before they will use it consistently. Consistent use of mineral sites translates into more pictures for you. Establishing a mineral site close to a food plot or agricultural field can decrease the amount of time it takes for deer to find these sites. Another location to consider is to establish a site along with a travel corridor so deer can use it on their way from bedding to feeding.

One of the great things about establishing these sites is that deer will continue to use them even after the mineral appears to be gone. This is because rainfall will cause minerals to leach into the soil. This doesn’t mean that you should freshen your mineral sites up because you should. Having a fresh supply of minerals will promote consistent use by deer. But having these established sites means you will have consistent areas to place your cameras year after year.

Mineral Site Density on a Property

Choosing an appropriate number of mineral sites for your property is important when trying to increase the efficiency of running your trail cameras. This may seem counterintuitive, but you can actually have too many mineral sites on a property. But how can that be? More is better, isn’t it? Not necessarily.

Having too many mineral sites on a property will give your deer herd more options which will ultimately spread their use out among the sites and potentially decrease consistency. Decreased consistency translates into decreasing the number of pictures you will get from trail cameras and decrease your ability to pattern deer for the upcoming fall.
So how many mineral sites do you need on your property? A good rule of thumb is generally one mineral site per 100 acres. Depending on what part of the country you live in, an average home range of a buck is about 1000 acres and the average home range of a doe is about 600 acres. That means if you have a property smaller than that, deer are also using your neighbor’s properties. Although mineral sites can help you hold deer on your property, the odds that an individual deer is exclusively using your property is slim and putting multiple mineral sites within a 100-acre property is overkill. However, there are always exceptions. For example, let’s say you hunt 100 acres and have two food plots on opposite ends of the property. Establishing mineral sites in each food plot would allow you to draw in deer from neighboring properties while allowing for enough sites to reduce competition among deer. Each property is unique so you may have to adjust the number of mineral sites you are establishing.

How GYT 90 Increases Your Efficiency

Using a product like GYT 90 can help increase your efficiency when placing mineral sites and maximize the number of pictures you will get during the summer. GYT 90 contains 90 essential minerals so you know your deer herd will be getting the nutritional supplements they need to be healthy. But what makes GYT 90 different from other mineral products is the way it is carried. GYT 90 is carried in crude soybean oil which acts as an additional attractant. Soybean oil produces a superior scent and taste that will help draw deer into your mineral site. What does using GYT 90 mean for you? Using GYT 90 will increase your efficiency meaning that deer will find your mineral sites faster and you will need fewer sites on your property because you will be attracting more deer to each site. This ultimately translates into decreased costs for you as a consumer. GYT 90 is a versatile product and can be used by itself by simply pouring it onto the ground or on a tree stump, or can be mixed with grain to provide additional nutrition to your deer herd.

How to use GYT 90: Corn

How to use GYT 90: Corn

Posted by GYT 90 on Friday, June 1, 2018

If you are actively feeding deer on your property, the use of GYT90 in the feed could double a site for both minerals and feed, lowering site density but increasing site usage and data potential.

Other Considerations

Although using mineral sites may be entirely illegal in some areas, in other areas they are only considered as bait and can still be used and the area can still be hunted if properly handled. Generally speaking, you will need to eliminate leaching of minerals into the soil so when you remove the supplemental mineral, deer stop seeking out any leftover mineral located in the soil. One of the best ways to do this is to use an oil pan or a large bucket to place the mineral in. If you choose to use a bucket, make sure to take the handle off so deer don’t get tangled up in it. It’s also important to make sure whatever you use can hold enough water without overflowing which will ultimately lead to mineral leaching into the soil. You can also use a decaying wood stump, which absorbs the nutrients and allows deer to still consume GYT90. Once you are done with using your trail cameras in that area to inventory bucks or collect data, you simply remove the mineral and you are ready to hunt. About this time, replacing a mineral site with a mock scrape site in the same area could produce a similar attraction to the site even after the mineral is gone for the fall.
Using trail cameras during the summer is just the beginning of building the excitement for the fall hunt. Try some of these tips this summer to help you maximize the number of photos you get with mineral and deer attracting supplements.

What Minerals are Important to Bucks When Growing Antlers?

What Minerals are Important to Bucks When Growing Antlers?

June 20, 2018/0 Comments/in GYT 90 Blog /by GYT90

Best Minerals for Deer and Antler Growth

Supplemental minerals have become a staple in deer management. Although most hunters probably use supplemental minerals for several reasons, one of the main reasons is promoting increased herd health, and specifically, to increase antler size. So what minerals are actually used by bucks when growing their antlers? Minerals are categorized as macro- (minerals found in larger quantities in a deer’s body) or micro- (minerals found in lesser quantities in a deer’s body). Unfortunately, deer research describing which macro and microminerals are most used by bucks during antler growth is lacking, but this article will discuss what research has shown this far in terms of what the best minerals for deer and antler growth are.

Macrominerals

Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorous (P) are two macrominerals that are major components in a deer’s skeletal system. For example, 98% of Ca and 80% of P are found within a deer’s bones. Although this is an overwhelming majority, there is still enough Ca and P found in antlers to lead Scientists to do research on whether Ca and P are limiting antler growth. Daily requirements of Ca and P can increase four-fold during antler growth, so it would be logical to assume these macrominerals might be limiting in a deer’s diet. Generally speaking, Ca requirements for free-ranging deer herds can be met by deer simply consuming natural forage and although P may be deficient in some areas, deer tend to be able to meet their P requirements by consuming natural forage as well. Even if deficiencies do occur, deer will switch their diet to consume bones, shed antlers, or even snail or slug shells to meet their requirements. This means that when available through supplementation, deer will go out of their way to find the mineral they need. If switching their diet doesn’t help, then deer will reabsorb Ca and P found within their bones to meet their daily requirements, which is not ideal over offering supplemental minerals.

Although Ca and P don’t appear to be limiting to deer, the ratio of Ca to P that is consumed by deer can be a problem. Ratios of dietary Ca and P that dramatically deviate from 2 parts Ca to 1 part P (for example, more than 7:1 or less than 1:1) can reduce the absorption of the less abundant mineral within the body. This can lead to an imbalance of either Ca or P within the body, which could lead to negative impacts on antler growth.

One macromineral that is limiting in a deer’s diet is sodium (Na). Although Na doesn’t directly impact antler growth, it does influence nerve and muscle function and helps regulate a deer’s body fluid balance. Deer tend to have increased Na requirements during spring and summer when the water content in plants is greatest. This increased water content makes it difficult for a deer to maintain a balance between Na and water within its body. To compensate, deer will often times seek out left-over salt that was spread on the road during the winter or even increase their consumption of aquatic vegetation which has increased amounts of Na. One of the easiest ways you can help deer consume an adequate amount of Na in their diet is to provide them with mineral licks which both bucks and does will use.

Microminerals

Unlike macrominerals, there are no established requirements of microminerals for white-tailed deer, though there are some that appear to be important. Most estimates of microminerals comes from what we know about requirements needed by livestock, but using those requirements for deer can be dangerous because livestock haven’t been bred for efficient mineral use as humans provide them with whatever minerals they need. This may lead to overestimates of microminerals for deer. Regardless, one study conducted on red deer (think of the European version of the North American Elk), showed that copper supplementation helped to increase antler mass for adults. Although other studies have failed to show that relationship between copper and antler mass, they have reported that both copper and zinc can improve a deer’s immune system. Offering minerals with trace amounts of these micronutrients will most likely lead to better overall herd health.

Using GYT 90 Supplement to Improve Your Herd Health

While it may not be 100% clear on what the best minerals are for deer and for antler growth, it is generally understood that offering both micro and macronutrients gives deer the opportunity to achieve the level of minerals they instinctively need. There are also other supplements that can help build a healthier herd, not to mention attract deer.

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Posted by GYT 90 on Monday, November 13, 2017

Deer go through several stressful periods throughout the year. With obvious periods being the rut and winter for both bucks and does, antler growing season for bucks, and lactation for does. Providing deer with both the minerals and the nutrition they need at these crucial periods can help you reach your management goals. So how can using a supplement like GYT90 help you?

GYT90 offers 90+ minerals, covering all of both the macro and micronutrients known to the research that has been done that might be limiting factors in antler growth. Beyond that, GYT90 offers the minerals with crude soybean oil providing the additional nutritional benefits, calories, and fats to deer during these critical periods of nutritional needs.

GYT90 Uses

You can provide deer these minerals and supplemented nutrition a variety of ways. The first and most beneficial is to pour the GYT90 crude soybean oil and mineral mixture over supplemental feed. This can help attract deer to feed stations during these stressful periods. This can be beneficial for several reasons. First, deer have to learn to like new foods that they haven’t been exposed to before. If you live in an area where there is little to no agriculture or in an area that doesn’t have apple trees, how are deer supposed to know that they like those foods? It’s no different than when people try a new food for the first time or the common problem food plotters experience when offering deer brassicas. Pouring GYT90 over these supplemental feed stations can help draw deer to them faster than usual due to the soybean oil, distinct scent, and salt content. Once deer start to visit these stations, they will also benefit from the essential minerals and nutritional requirements found in GYT90.