![]() Don’t Leave Your Scent On Deer Foodĭeer have a keen sense of smell that allows them to smell human scent farther than bloodhounds can, and can smell up to six different scents at once.ĭeer won’t eat food like sweet potatoes if they have a strong human scent on them, so you should take care to minimize your trace. Sweet potatoes are high in fiber which can be tough for deer to digest in large quantities. If possible, cube or slice the sweet potatoes into 1” – 2” pieces to make it easier for the deer to eat sweet potatoes. Should I Cut Up Sweet Potatoes For Deer To Eat? ![]() This will lead to the deer relying on you as their food source and can result in starvation. If deer are not normally around your area in winter, don’t feed them leading up to winter as they will not migrate where and when they should. Make sure to place the sweet potatoes on the ground where they’re visible and can be easily reached by deer. There are a few things to keep in mind when feeding deer sweet potatoes: the size of the portion, your scent, and how many deer you’re feeding. If you are trying to feed deer sweet potatoes in your backyard and attract them, then this next section of our guide is for you. Most people ask if deer-like sweet potatoes are concerned with keeping deer away from them. So a deer that eats sweet potatoes for the vitamin C content must continue to consume foods that contain these necessary vitamins to stay healthy. Vitamin C and potassium are water-soluble, which means they cannot be stored, so they must be replaced continually. Water-Soluble Vitamins In Sweet Potatoes For Deer This means that vitamin D content from deer-eating sweet potatoes can be “stored up” for later use, which is highly beneficial. Vitamin D is fat-soluble, so it can be stored in the deer’s fat and liver to be used later as needed. Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Sweet Potatoes For Deer Magnesium is great for antler growth, increasing body weight, and has immune system benefits for deer. These vitamins and minerals provide deer with many benefits.įor example, vitamin C will help protect deer against scurvy, and vitamin assists in deer immune system function. In addition to being a great source of carbs, deer eating sweet potatoes provide them with the following vitamins and minerals: Sweet potatoes are high in carbohydrates that provide deer the energy they need, so they attract deer easily. How Do You Keep Deer From Eating Sweet Potatoes? Will Sweet Potatoes Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?įortunately, sweet potatoes are mostly resilient, so a sweet potato vine will grow back after deer eat it. Yes, deer will eat the sweet potato vine and leaves along with the sweet potatoes if given the chance, so you must take steps to protect the entire plant from being eaten by deer. Some gardeners will ask whether or not deer eat sweet potato plants. When Do Deer Eat Sweet Potatoes?ĭeer will mostly eat sweet potatoes in late spring, summer, and early autumn, but they will not hesitate to eat them year-round if other food sources are depleted. The short answer is, yes, deer will eat all types of sweet potatoes including Beauregard, Jewel, Red Garnet, Covington, Centennial, Hernandez, O’Henry, Jersey, Japanese White, Murasaki, Hannah, Batata, Okinawa, and Stokes Purple sweet potatoes. We’ll have homeowners ask: do deer eat leaves of sweet potatoes or another specific type they have on their property. If you’re not convinced, leave some sweet potatoes out or plant some, and wait to see what happens! What Kinds Of Sweet Potatoes Do Deer Eat? ![]() This is because sweet potatoes are relatively easy to grow and attract deer so well. In fact, sweet potatoes are increasing in popularity for hunters who want a deer food plot but don’t have access to farming equipment. They’re planted in the ground and grow easily in many areas, so they’re easy for deer to access. Plants like sweet potatoes contain water, sugar, protein, and nutrients, which makes them an ideal food source for deer.Īnd don’t think that newer sweet potatoes are safe either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.Īdditionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like sweet potatoes based on opportunity. This was confirmed in a 1999 study on deer plant-eating habits by Cornell University. As we covered, deer will eat the entire sweet potato plant when they’ve got the chance.ĭeer like sweet foods and plants that are well-watered, fertilized, and packed with nutrients.ĭeer can do some serious damage to a large number of sweet potatoes in a single sitting if they’re hungry enough!
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