A homemade deer food block is easy to make and will attract deer to your backyard for deer-watching, to your acreage for photography purposes or to a hunting stand. Observing deer activity also can be a great science project for the kids. Using inexpensive nutritious ingredients that deer enjoy, you can create a food block that is especially appealing to these animals in the fall and winter when food can be scarce.
- 2 to 3 loaves stale dry bread
- 12 oz. jar molasses
- 12 oz. jar honey
- Large spoon
- Dry corn kernels
- Dry soybeans
- Commercial dry deer feed
- Large square or rectangular metal pan
Break the stale bread into small pieces and crumbs in the pan. Mix the molasses and honey in a large bowl and pour it over the bread. Stir the mixture with a large spoon until it is well-mixed.
Add 1-1/2 cups of either dry corn kernels for carbohydrates or dry soybeans for protein, or a mix of both. Stir these items into the molasses mixture.
Add commercial dry deer feed in place of some of the corn or soybeans if you want to provide extra nutrients in your deer food block.
Set the pan in the sun for the mixture to dry into a hard block, or if you want faster results, bake it in the oven at 200 degrees.
Allow the deer food block and the pan to cool, then take it to your preferred location and pry the block from the pan so the deer have easy access.
Things You'll Need
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About the Author
Shelley Moore is a journalist and award-winning short-story writer. She specializes in writing about personal development, health, careers and personal finance. Moore has been published in "Family Circle" magazine and the "Milwaukee Sentinel" newspaper, along with numerous other national and regional magazines, daily and weekly newspapers and corporate publications. She has a Bachelor of Science in psychology.