Food for Deer and Badgers

[Royalist]

I believe that Badgers like peanuts, but what to put down for Deer. I need to get really close for good pictures.
Any comments please?
Roy

[jennyb]

I get a lot of deer in my garden and they love to eat the windfall apples. Last year we had so many apples that some of the branches broke off the trees - they were so heavy. The deer were there on and off all day and all night for a couple of months!

Sadly this year we have no apples at all. I don't know what has happened to them. So, the deer don't come by so often either

Jenny

[Royalist]

Originally Posted by jennyb

I get a lot of deer in my garden and they love to eat the windfall apples. Last year we had so many apples that some of the branches broke off the trees - they were so heavy. The deer were there on and off all day and all night for a couple of months!

Sadly this year we have no apples at all. I don't know what has happened to them. So, the deer don't come by so often either

Jenny

Thanks for your comments Jenny.

Sorry to hear about the dirge of apples this year, but maybe next year the crop will be back to normal. What type of apples do you usually grow?

Your garden must be quite large and I suppose, unfenced?

Roy

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by jennyb

I get a lot of deer in my garden and they love to eat the windfall apples. Last year we had so many apples that some of the branches broke off the trees - they were so heavy. The deer were there on and off all day and all night for a couple of months!

Sadly this year we have no apples at all. I don't know what has happened to them. So, the deer don't come by so often either

Jenny

Some apple trees sort of run on a one good, one poor year cycle, I think.

[jennyb]

Originally Posted by Royalist

Thanks for your comments Jenny.

Sorry to hear about the dirge of apples this year, but maybe next year the crop will be back to normal. What type of apples do you usually grow?

Your garden must be quite large and I suppose, unfenced?

Roy

I have no idea what kind of apples they are, except they are eating apples. They were already in the garden when we bought the house.

The garden is quite large and is fenced, but mostly open fencing. In general fences do not deter deer unless they are very high. Sadly, the deer love to eat all the pretty plants so I cannot grow anything really colourful. I have now narrowed it down to a handful of plants that they do not usually eat and only plant those.

We get both Roe deer and muntjac. Here is a photo of one taken through my kitchen window!



Jenny

[jennyb]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

Some apple trees sort of run on a one good, one poor year cycle, I think.

Roll on next summer in that case. I bought a hide specially so that I could get closer to them to take photos under the apple trees, but have not been able to use it yet

Jenny

[shei111]

Originally Posted by jennyb

I have no idea what kind of apples they are, except they are eating apples. They were already in the garden when we bought the house.

The garden is quite large and is fenced, but mostly open fencing. In general fences do not deter deer unless they are very high. Sadly, the deer love to eat all the pretty plants so I cannot grow anything really colourful. I have now narrowed it down to a handful of plants that they do not usually eat and only plant those.

We get both Roe deer and muntjac. Here is a photo of one taken through my kitchen window!



Jenny

He looks a handsome chap dont he,? must be all the fruit he eats, my son got deer and muntjac in his garden they also like apples and raw veg they find in the compost bin. shei

[Royalist]

Originally Posted by jennyb

I have no idea what kind of apples they are, except they are eating apples. They were already in the garden when we bought the house.

The garden is quite large and is fenced, but mostly open fencing. In general fences do not deter deer unless they are very high. Sadly, the deer love to eat all the pretty plants so I cannot grow anything really colourful. I have now narrowed it down to a handful of plants that they do not usually eat and only plant those.

We get both Roe deer and muntjac. Here is a photo of one taken through my kitchen window!



Jenny

Isn't he a cheeky little chap?

Do you know if they eat anything other than apples and plants please? Possibly they are vegetarian.

I have heard that some fruit trees occasionally miss a year. I assume that your home is located in the country with wide open spaces?

Roy

[Tobyh]

Originally Posted by Royalist

I believe that Badgers like peanuts, but what to put down for Deer. I need to get really close for good pictures.
Any comments please?
Roy

Can't help with the deer but can confirm that Badgers do love peanuts. I put some out every night and both the foxes and the Badgers love them, often hoovering them up at the same time.


TobyH

[mh68]

In the States, lots of Deer Hunters set up mineral licks to attract Deer,and theyre also set up in wildlife reserves to attract deer to specific spots so people can observe them more easily. Type "deer mineral lick" into Google and you`ll find some good info.
I`ve not baited for Badgers, but i`m told Raisins can be good as they dont show up in pics as blatantly as other bait items.Small food items will keep the animals in an area longer as it takes them longer to mop them all up. Something else worth considering if you want a chance of photos.

Mark H

[derelict]

Hmmmm... I suppose it depends what you want to have photographs of doesn't it? - if you're happy with "easy" pictures of deer feeding on whatever delights you put down for them, all well & good, but isn't it better to take your time and get them habituated? Find out what they do... build a hide... It's harder work but it's much more satisfying. The more you put in, the more you get out of it. And once you start feeding you'll have to keep on doing it or they'll drift away, never to return. "Free food" has a tendency to promote aggressive behaviour - as happened with Jane Goodall's chimpanzees... so you may not be recording "natural" behaviour.


<rant>

I recently saw a woman much close to the deer at Kingston Gate in Richmond Park than you can usually get - especially in such a snazzy blue outfit - taking pictures with a lens so large she could have shot them from the other side of the meadow - and went over to take a closer look. She scuttled off towards Isabella Plantation with a large clear polythene bag of broken-up white sliced bread (you're not supposed to feed the deer on such comestibles and to be fair I didn't see her actually do it...). It was one of those times I wish I'd had my camera rather than the binoculars. I'm sure she got some great close up shots but to me it simply isn't wildlife photography (just as charging up to sleeping deer and snapping away isn't either... ) They're like the unfortunate tied-down bunnies who get shot in Monty Python's "Upper class Twit of the Year" sketch.
</rant>

If you want easy photographs of deer go to a deer park. They'll come right up to you at Knole... and the ones at Bushy Park are pretty shameless too...

[BruceP]

Originally Posted by derelict

If you want easy photographs of deer go to a deer park. They'll come right up to you at Knole... and the ones at Bushy Park are pretty shameless too...

If you ever get the chance try the park area around the temples in Nara (Japan). Buy some of the deer biscuits from the sellers and the deer mob you.

They are very polite though...They stand in front of you and bow when they know you have the biscuits.

[jennyb]

Originally Posted by Royalist

Isn't he a cheeky little chap?

Do you know if they eat anything other than apples and plants please? Possibly they are vegetarian.

I have heard that some fruit trees occasionally miss a year. I assume that your home is located in the country with wide open spaces?

Roy

Yes, they are vegetarian (or the correct word is herbivore). They are also ruminants and I see them standing for ages just chewing the cud.

They loves roses - leaves, flowers and buds, and most other garden annuals and shrubs. Prickly plants do not deter them. The little muntjac also loves to come and hoover up the leaves that fall from my cherry tree.

I put out any left over fruit that we don't eat and it always disappears over night. Badgers love grapes, sultanas and dried apricots, but I think the deer eat them too. I put some strawberries out the other day that were a bit past it. I looked out the window and a squirrel was sat there with one in its paws, nibbling away.

Here is a Badger eating my windfall apples last year.



Yes, we are in a rural area but only about 8 miles away from a town centre. We have woodland around 3 sides of the house and farmland in front. The deer love it because they pop into the garden for a feed and if they feel at all threatened, they run back into the woods.

Jenny

[deer boy]

Cracking Roe Doe & Badger shots Jenny

Royalist deer will eat almost anything heather,grass,fungi,nuts,bark,leaves,ivy,fruit/berries even holly & brambles.

As derelict said if you want easy photographs of deer go to a deer park but you'll have more fun stalking wild deer.
Find one of your local herds & watch from afar,when they move follow them at a distance keeping a note of location & times.
When you know the area they use you can then pick your spot to wait for them or as i said before stalk them which is more fun & much more rewarding when you get really close.
Have fun & don't forget to show us your results

[Royalist]

Originally Posted by deer boy

Cracking Roe Doe & Badger shots Jenny

Royalist deer will eat almost anything heather,grass,fungi,nuts,bark,leaves,ivy,fruit/berries even holly & brambles.

As derelict said if you want easy photographs of deer go to a deer park but you'll have more fun stalking wild deer.
Find one of your local herds & watch from afar,when they move follow them at a distance keeping a note of location & times.
When you know the area they use you can then pick your spot to wait for them or as i said before stalk them which is more fun & much more rewarding when you get really close.
Have fun & don't forget to show us your results

Thanks Deer Boy,

I'm exploring a woodland that is near to where I live, still means taking the car. I have been told there are deer there and I have seen tracks. Having spent two hours and then three hours there, the latter occasion from dawn, I have as yet to take even one picture. Found a lovely copse last time with full overhead leaf cover and in full view of the deer track, where I had sprinkled peanuts. The copse is a perfect location for camouflaged camera and me, being quite dark. At three paces I could hardly make out the camera on tripod even though I knew where it was. Then the rain started, so I retired as the camouflage gear has yet to be waterproofed.
There was no dawn chorus that day. My arrival was announced by a crow.
Well the sun is shining, so time to go to the wood again. I hope this is of interest. Roy

[Royalist]

Originally Posted by mh68

In the States, lots of Deer Hunters set up mineral licks to attract Deer,and theyre also set up in wildlife reserves to attract deer to specific spots so people can observe them more easily. Type "deer mineral lick" into Google and you`ll find some good info.
I`ve not baited for Badgers, but i`m told Raisins can be good as they dont show up in pics as blatantly as other bait items.Small food items will keep the animals in an area longer as it takes them longer to mop them all up. Something else worth considering if you want a chance of photos.

Mark H

Thanks Mark,

I have located a source of mineral licks nearby, for horses and also for cattle. I shall be persuing that next week. Although available in tablet and tub form, I am sure that I will find a way of dealing with that

Thanks again

Roy

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Royalist

Thanks Mark,

I have located a source of mineral licks nearby, for horses and also for cattle. I shall be persuing that next week. Although available in tablet and tub form, I am sure that I will find a way of dealing with that

Thanks again

Roy

It`ll be interesting to hear how you get on Roy, let us know how it goes...

Mark H

[deer boy]

Hi Roy
Have u seen any deer there yet?
They might be getting your scent there for staying away,u say you've found some tracks why not follow the tracks & see what u find look out for fresh droppings as well.
You'll find u probably see more walking around the wood than u do staying in one place

[Royalist]

Originally Posted by deer boy

Hi Roy
Have u seen any deer there yet?
They might be getting your scent there for staying away,u say you've found some tracks why not follow the tracks & see what u find look out for fresh droppings as well.
You'll find u probably see more walking around the wood than u do staying in one place

Right well that is what I did yesterday afternoon. I was in the same part of the wood and it was a disaster, the were dog walkers everywhere and the tracks were obliterated by dogs, tyres, boots etc. The only way to follow tracks is either to go to another part of the wood or go up on the moors which are more distant. I did leave a bird feeder with peanuts concealed from public view in a more remote area, having scouted a suitable place for my camera with camouflage. Yesterday illustrated the futility of going to public woodlands i.e. Forestry Commission.
Roy

[derelict]

Originally Posted by Royalist

the were dog walkers everywhere and the tracks were obliterated by dogs, tyres, boots etc.<snip> Yesterday illustrated the futility of going to public woodlands i.e. Forestry Commission.
Roy

It sounds as though the stalking's going quite well - you've certainly identified the two biggest problems with seeing deer (and indeed most wildlife). Strangely the Forestry Commission isn't one of them - it's other people. And dogs. I'm sure we've all had this well and truly hammered into us at some point. Sadly it's a lesson you'll never stop getting taught! Going forward, is this a deciduous plantation or conifers? Are the deer using it for food or shelter (or both)?

[Rob Chace]

Badgers also love sugarpuffs & custard creams!

[Royalist]

[\QUOTE]is this a deciduous plantation or conifers? Are the deer using it for food or shelter (or both)?[/quote]

Firstly, I haven't fully explored this wood yet, but I can say that the area that I have spent most time in so far, is deciduous. However, there is also another section to the east which is coniferous with a lovely soft floor which makes walking quietly so much easier. This is where I left the bird feeder. I found what I thought might have been a Fox's liar near to the base of some trees, but there was no evidence except for the entrance size being too small for Badgers, I thought. Some twigs appeared had been arranged above the entrance to keep it clear.
Next time I shall check out the two previous sites probably and then move on to explore more of the wood.
Thanks for your interest and help Deer Boy

Roy

[Royalist]