deer hunting in corn country

[caedmyn]

DH wants to shoot a deer or two, but I'm concerned about the quality of the meat since we're living in the middle of the Michigan corn/soy growing area. DH says the meat should be fine because deer don't range more than a mile and the nearest corn/soy fields are just over a mile away, but I'm not so sure. Does anyone know how far deer range to feed? Thoughts on whether you would want to eat meat deer that have probably been eating genetically modified corn and soy?

[s_kristina]

Do you know for sure that the fields near them are genetically altered? I don't know much about if they would need to post signs or anything or even what percentages are messed with. I do know he is right that deer tend to have a small foraging range when they are near a steady amount of good food. I also know that the taste of the meat is different when they mostly feed off crops rather then what they can find in the woods. Then again the last time I had deer that was taken near a corn field was in MI about 15 years ago

[deditus]

I asked the same question a while ago and I'm also in MI. Except we have soy and cornfields all around us. I believe that almost all soybeans are "Roundup Ready" (just googled it-75% of US soy in 2001). I think deer will range more 1 mile. Is it possible for your dh to go "up north" hunting? I personally decided it was acceptable to me to eat venison from deer eating gmo crops. Mostly because of the financial need. However, we are moving soon so I am not hunting this year 'cause I'm not moving a freezer full of meat!

[wagamama]

I think you have a valid concern ... I don't have any information for you, but can empathize with your worry. We live in Nigeria, and although the vast majority of beef and lamb is said to be free-range, it's impossible to know where our meat is coming from, and I wonder about where the animals are "free-ranging" (i.e. along the side of a polluted highway?). It's frustrating!

[quietserena]

Will deer really go into fields?

I mean, given how heavily corn and soy tend to be sprayed, I'm surprised they'd even want to eat it since most pesticides can't taste good. Maybe if they didn't have much choice..

Then again, I don't really know. But now I'm going to keep wondering that.

We have them in the neighborhoods, eating fruit off trees. I got so scared a few years back when I was leaving a friend's house late at night and there was a young buck in her front yard eating apples off the tree. I never ran so fast in my life.

[deditus]

Originally Posted by quietserena

Will deer really go into fields?

I mean, given how heavily corn and soy tend to be sprayed, I'm surprised they'd even want to eat it since most pesticides can't taste good. Maybe if they didn't have much choice..

Deer WON'T leave the fields if there is something there to eat. The fields behind my property are Round-up Ready soy and field corn. They are sprayed 1x a year. At dusk, you can sit and watch dozens of deer come out to eat, all summer until harvest.

[quietserena]

Originally Posted by emgremore

Deer WON'T leave the fields if there is something there to eat. The fields behind my property are Round-up Ready soy and field corn. They are sprayed 1x a year. At dusk, you can sit and watch dozens of deer come out to eat, all summer until harvest.

Ok, that's good to know.

Darn.

caedmyn, will you let us know if you find out whether deer range that far?

I think if I were in a position to choose from factory farmed meat and venison like you mention, I'd still choose the venison. At least they didn't get the feed that the cattle get otherwise, that doesn't only have the grain in it but some other 'supplements. Plus, you aren't sure that they would be in the fields.