Kinda Corny Question

Don't know a lot about corn and it's effects on deer harvest. I don't have any on my hunting lease and this is not a debate on whether it's right or wrong, good or bad etc.My question is do you think corn was the deciding factor in my Cuz's big old buck he killed a few days ago. And I know none of us can never give an absolute answer but chime in with your opinion or experience if you would. So Cuz pulls out his phone and starts to show me his good fortune and he has killed a Bona-fide Stud. I said tell me the story. Well he says: Me and my hunting buddy went out the night before to a good area on the club and just poured corn all over the ground. Headed out the next morning and boom it's lights out for big boy @ 7:00 AM. Cuz says all the corn was gone. Not a kernel. But upon examination Stud Buck had corn in his belly. This may be a "Results not Typical" case . I have heard that if you have a per say "Bait Station" deer quickly become nocturnal . I even know a guy who puts out 6 tons of corn a season and says it holds deer but it is no magic formula . I just thought Cuz's story kinda odd.

My opinion would result around if it was during rut or not. If during rut it might have attracted a hot doe hours before and he was checking the area. Also they had no time to go nocturnal as the corn was out less than 24 hrs. I am in the crowd that thinks a constant food source makes them move a lot less in daylight hours. If you were competing for a pile of goodies with a bear and you knew the bear was there during daylight hours the most, wouldnt you go more at night?

I would say the corn was the deciding factor. Its the deciding factor for alot of folks big bucks, if they admit to it or not. Its not rocket science. Stores sell the crap out of it, people buy the crap out of it. But the corn hunters will tell you it doesnt help, but they want it legal so badly. They knowingly put out 6 tons of corn, only to make the deer go nocturnal? I know a guy that puts out tons of corn a year too, he kills huge bucks while eating it every year...even groups of bucks, during the rut.

I am torn on this to some degree. I have put it out for years and lots of it. one part of me agrees that if deer know where its at then they don't have to search for it and can hit it up all night. having said that I have gotten many pictures this year with dear eating it during daylight hours. I will say it has not directly led to me killing a big one standing there eating it. on the flip side to that had I been there on the days at the times they were eating that might be a different story. I guess my .02 is that it definitely keeps them in the area and frequenting that spot, just have to be in the right spot when they decide to come by. I hunted one all year long and it seemed like he was there the day before/day after or sometimes even hours before I got there or hours after I left. they pattern us better than we could ever pattern them. the biggest one I have on camera was there all week all throughout the day...........2/1 through 2/5 just after it ended where I am. go figure

"Asking for a friend"

I have pondered the idea of setting up corn feeding stations on my lease. I figure if I did who knows what the results might be. Whitetails always keep me guessing. And they are unique from area to area. I have been told that in a particular area deer don't like electronic feeders. Been told it scares them. And then in another area they love them. I do know they really like the corn on our place in Illinois. Because when we are there and they are combining in the field, as soon as he shuts the tractor off the deer are in the field.

Yep, them deer are all different. Some hate trail cams, others dont worry about them at all. Fields of corn in Illinois is not the same as a feeder in the Alabama woods.

Where we are, corn will draw small deer, mostly at night, and the occasional big buck about as often as they usually appear in the same place when no corn is used. It is fantastic for gathering swine in one area, and when that happens, running the deer out of that area.

About the only thing corn is consistently good for is drawing does.

We have 2 feed stations on a property that I hunt and I don't believe there is any evidence that it makes them nocturnal or doesn't draw bucks. We have 1000s of pics and I would say it's pretty much an even split on night versus daytime pics. I would say it's also close to 50/50 on bucks and does at the feeder. Some of the best bucks we had came consistently during the day. it's not some magic potion but I do think it has a place. I think hunting pressure has way more to do with them being more nocturnal than anything. Also when we had that long warm spell in gun season almost all of our pics were at night but as soon as it cooled back off they were back on the feeders during the daytime. We had pics at all times of the day too but we do not pressure this place and it's mostly just bow hunted.