Baiting Roe Deer?

[Paul Miguel]

Hi

I have set up a permanent hide on a farm - mainly to photograph Roe Deer. It's positioned near to the woodland edge where they venture from. Does anyone know if Roe Deer can be baited - perhaps a bit of left over veg. might work? Of course I'm wondering if they would eat anything that has a slight human smell to it - possibly not.. Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated..

[kent marshman]

Originally Posted by Paul Miguel

Hi

I have set up a permanent hide on a farm - mainly to photograph Roe Deer. It's positioned near to the woodland edge where they venture from. Does anyone know if Roe Deer can be baited - perhaps a bit of left over veg. might work? Of course I'm wondering if they would eat anything that has a slight human smell to it - possibly not.. Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated..

hi paul
you can buy mineral blocks that might work or a roe call they work on does and bucks im sure if you put wheat out they wood come to that as well,
gamekeepers have a lot of trouble from deer taking wheat from there feeders
good luck
george

[Badger Watching Man]

I've heard of people leaving out piles of sugar beet in wooded areas, and I always assumed that this was for the deer.

Perhaps someone may know more, and be able to confirm if Roe Reer are fond of sugar beet...

[davejg]

Try ewe pencils (pellets) about a fiverper 25k from your local animal feed stockist

[RogerTheCat]

Given deer are farmed I would assume that it is possible to buy a feed specific to them but I have no idea from where

[Paul Miguel]

Some great information there - thanks for that. Very interested in the pellets and blocks, and the sugar beet is interesting too - I will have a look and see what I can get... should increase my chances of bringing them closer to my hide.

Many thanks for those posts,

[shei111]

It was on our regional news on TV other night that farmers in our area want deer to be culled because they are eating so much sugar beet, they showed loads of beet half eaten over a large area !! dont you feel sorry for the farmers . NOT MUCH . sheila

[neil draycott]

years ago when i used to hunt if you put out carrots during the colder weather they would enjoy them you may find that they have a partucular liking for something grown locally like us animals prefer regional meals

[Rob Chace]

Originally Posted by RogerTheCat

Given deer are farmed I would assume that it is possible to buy a feed specific to them but I have no idea from where

Roe are not farmed. (Red are). Their favorite meal consists of bramble or its close cousin roses! They will also eat apples, sugar beet tops, carrot, beetroot tops, willow & will usually only eat grass or hay if nothing else exists. Even then they can die of starvation due to the fact that they have to build up the correct bacteria in their guts in order to digest it. This can take 3 weeks. Roe that are often seen in wheat fields are usually feeding on weeds.
They will also frequent the same area for ages as long as they are not disturbed. Your best bet is to either find the areas they use & stake them out, or to try stalking them which can be great fun! Early morning or evenings are the best times.
Calls that were mentioned in an earlier post can be very effective, but only in the run up to, & during the rutt. Using a call at this time of year will result in one thing.....running away!!!!
Roe are fantastic & carismatic animals & can be a great challenge to document with the camera.
Regards
Rob.

[wild oats are us]

I have just read the above comments as I was thinking the same thing. I wandered if you had had any luck with bait and what you used?