Beginning with the 2013, baiting for deer became legal on private lands across the state. Many hunters put out corn, both in feeders and in piles, but they are quick to point out they rarely see trophy deer eating there during daylight hours. Most hunters still tout natural food sources and planted food plots as the best strategy for pin-pointing trophy deer.
“I think the new baiting law is great but I don’t think hunters can rely on it to kill the big deer,” said C.J. Brown of Edgefield, who operates Remington Country Outfitters, an internet-based hunting travel agency. “I think you certainly need to put out corn where you can, but I think food plots are pivotal, especially at that time of the year to get the does congregating to have a shot a killing that buck.”
“When corn came into the picture, it changed the game because now we have a really rich food, and they really like it. I think the problem is, it’s too easy to get,” said Richard Morton, an SCDNR biologist. “In fact, I think it can drive deer to be more nocturnal. Why go eat it in the daytime when you might get shot at when you can get it easier at night.”
Morton said one successful strategy with corn might be to put out timed feeders that only deposit small amounts of bait. The competition between deer, hogs, raccoons and other wildlife might make the deer move right away to get to the bait.
“A timed feeder would only put a limited amount out there at a certain times that would, in a sense, kind of train those deer to come right away,” Morton said. “Dang it, I heard that thing go off, I better get my butt over there because there’s only so much to go around. If I don’t get there, the coons and hogs and everything are going to get it.”
Morton said even with timed feeding, a trophy hunter still has to manipulate does to make the bucks move. Most success will be dictated by stand placement and where a hunter might intercept a bigger deer in a place where it wouldn’t have to expose itself in the open.
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