Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

able weight loss at the conclusion of the study. They also found no
measurable improvements in antler size from the beginning to the end
of the project.
A risk associated with feeding is the potential spread of
diseases and/or parasites. Troughs, or even spin feeders, bring
many deer in close contact with each other. In these situations,
diseases or parasites can be easily transmitted from sick deer
to healthy deer. If supplemental feeding is utilized, hunters need to
be aware in Alabama it is illegal to hunt deer with the aid of bait. To
avoid any problems, feeding should be suspended during hunting season.
Just as planting agricultural crops will not make up for poor
herd and habitat management, supplemental feeding is not a cure all
for poor management. Proper herd management, as well as management
of the natural habitats, should take priority over supplemental
feeding. This practice should only be viewed as a management tool to
be used in conjunction with other, more important, deer management
practices.
MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS
Like all animals, white-tailed deer require a certain amount of
a wide array of minerals in their daily diet. In most situations deer are
able to get their required doses of these minerals in their normal daily
diet (Griffin and Jacobson 1994). Regardless, many deer hunters and
managers provide mineral supplements, in block or granular form, to
deer on their property. Many do so to try to improve antler size on
bucks using their property. Yet, no research shows a positive effect of
131