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Checking Stomach Contents???

Fletch

Senior Member
Supporting Member
6,078
118
Might sound like a dumb topic..... BUT... How many of you guys check whats in the stomach of the deer you just harvested?? Its the last thing I do before I put my knife away. I want to know what and where that deer was feeding on prior to my shooting him. I feel it plays an important role to make you a better hunter..
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Yup! And I can't remember the last time one wasn't full of fresh corn.

Makes me wonder if they can't digest it in the winter or is there that much corn being dumped.
 

Fletch

Senior Member
Supporting Member
6,078
118
Yup! And I can't remember the last time one wasn't full of fresh corn.

Makes me wonder if they can't digest it in the winter or is there that much corn being dumped.

Hard to say in states that allow baiting.. I know I was kinda puzzled this year out in Illinois (where baiting is illegal).. The farm I shot my buck on this year was planted in soy beans, as were all the neighboring farms. I usually do a drive around and check what was planted where an if anyting is still standing. No corn to be found cut or standing. Yet my buck had corn in its stomach... So where was he?? Did he travel that far in search of a hot doe?? Maybe one of the neighbors had a small secluded food plot of corn. Don't know..
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I've read stories of deer starving to death with full bellies during the winter. Because they couldn't process the food. I've heard both corn and hay being problematic if the deer is t used to it. I don't see this being a problem in "farm land", but maybe I'm wrong.
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
I've read stories of deer starving to death with full bellies during the winter. Because they couldn't process the food. I've heard both corn and hay being problematic if the deer is t used to it. I don't see this being a problem in "farm land", but maybe I'm wrong.
If the deer are accustomed to eating woody browse during the winter, then get a pile of corn dumped on them they could possibly starve due to not being able to digest the corn. I don't see it being a problem in farm country either.
 

Maxxis31

Junior Member
738
53
Deer wood's
Here in VT it is strictly against the law to feed deer in the winter time because they cant digest the corn or other feed that people put out for them, a deer's stomach does a flip sort of, its like a 2 week process for their rumen to switch over so they can digest the woody hard brows they feed on in the winter time, so dumping corn and other feed is a no no, deer will die on a full stomach if being fed this in the winter time.
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,743
274
North Carolina
Not me, I usually check it when field dressing.... Seems the majority of the time it's corn or beans....


 

Bobcat

Junior Member
16
13
I accidentally checked the stomach contents of the Doe I harvested yesterday! It's a pretty miserable feeling when you're opening up the belly to start gutting and hear a sudden whoosh and start to smell something. :smiley_depressive: I've always been extra careful, but I guess it's just one of those things that happens sometimes! Fortunately was just a small hole and nothing spilled out into the cavity!
 

at1010

*Supporting Member*
4,944
139
I hear this every year.."if you feed corn and deer aint use to it they can die". I know SO many guys who dump corn and I am not finding a bunch of dead deer. Also in Texas (no corn fields), they feed more corn then you could shake a stick at, they have extremely high deer numbers.

In the wild you have some apple trees (Arkansa Black I believe) that hold apples very late into the season. So your telling me that the deer, who are survivalist would die because of a late dropping apple tree if they ate to much?

I truly believe this topic is brought up every year, and the best facts I can find is the outdoor life article. Atlas in Ohio, I don't believe deer eating corn, apples, alfalfa or anything else people put out will hurt the deer in anyway.

Just had to share!

PS: I always check stomach contents- i find it too helps you learn about the deer, where they have been, etc. I also do this for turkeys.
 

MoonLab

Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.
Supporting Member
10,371
145
Tooville
Good thread. Interesting. Never really thought of doing that. Had been hunting on small farm here and there. Never really thought about that. The smell of guts doesnt bother me. I love it, lol.