It's been talked about before that corn molds and it's bad for deer and turkey. They say it kills them. Here's my question why doesn't it affect ducks that eat corn in standing water.
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Corn?
- Thread starter THE DUKE
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Only if corn is out of the water. Was wondering about the corn that's in water wet all the time.
Different kinds of stomachs and stomach bacteria/acids is my best guess.
SES
Well-Known Member
The corn doesn't affect the ducks. It affects the ones who hunt them. The mold in the duck meat makes duck hunters spend 10's of thousand of dollars to freeze their butts off to try to shoot more ducks. It's a vicious cycle.
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Was curious how it affects certain animals and not others. Coons, possums and others seem to be not affected.
Hadn't heard this in other states surrounding Tennessee. Maybe it's a vol thing . If it's killing the deer and turkeys why do other states allow it ? Not saying it's not true just don't understand it being fact and they are still allowing baiting. Just don't make sense 
I think you are referring to aflatoxins. Aflatoxins typically occur when corn is exposed to the weather. It occurs quicker when corn comes in contact with the ground.
Corn that is still in a shuck is much less likely to have aflatoxins. Corn that is underwater typically develops algae on it but I don't know about aflatoxins when corn is underwater. I would say with it being underwater and less oxygen available it may not occur as fast.
To answer your question aflatoxins just typically affect birds. Not much effect on deer or any other hooved animal.
Corn that is still in a shuck is much less likely to have aflatoxins. Corn that is underwater typically develops algae on it but I don't know about aflatoxins when corn is underwater. I would say with it being underwater and less oxygen available it may not occur as fast.
To answer your question aflatoxins just typically affect birds. Not much effect on deer or any other hooved animal.
Why are they allowing it? $$$$$$$Hadn't heard this in other states surrounding Tennessee. Maybe it's a vol thing . If it's killing the deer and turkeys why do other states allow it ? Not saying it's not true just don't understand it being fact and they are still allowing baiting. Just don't make sense
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Be glad it's not legal in TN. Think of all the $$$ you are saving!
A new member on my lease here in MS has dumped out at least 500lbs of corn on various spots so far for the first month of bow season. He still hasn't killed even a doe in over 10 sits, and is $100 poorer. If he ever does kill one, it's going to be the most expensive deer meat ever.
But yes, molded corn is hell on turkeys.
A new member on my lease here in MS has dumped out at least 500lbs of corn on various spots so far for the first month of bow season. He still hasn't killed even a doe in over 10 sits, and is $100 poorer. If he ever does kill one, it's going to be the most expensive deer meat ever.
But yes, molded corn is hell on turkeys.
Never understood what anybody gets out of killing a deer over bait.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
It's WAY harder to kill a deer over bait (at least in south MS)... from my experience running trail cameras over feeders here, I have only gotten an older buck in daylight a couple times in 4 years. And both those times were late season when the deer were VERY hungry (not much food mid Feb in pine plantations).
Maybe it's different in TN, but I would guess it's like MS... a giant waste of time and $$$
Shed Hunter
Well-Known Member
I didn't know much about this but all I had to do was google aflatoxin effect on ducks.
It does also effect them
It does also effect them
Pretty sure studies have been conducted that share your results. By baiting you are eliminating one of the reasons for a buck to be on his feet traveling. If he doesn't have to seek out a meal there really isn't a need for him to be out and about during daylight hours.
Willysman
Well-Known Member
Worked in the lab at a dairy processor. Checked every load of raw milk that came in for aflatoxin. If a load tested positive it was rejected.
Even been to a cut cornfield? When they transfer the corn from the combine to the truck they spill a lot and create several piles of corn that are left there. If it was as bad as they say the deer and turkeys would suffer with low numbers, instead it helps create overpopulation from all the extra food.
I'm NOT saying corn molds are not bad but the farmers have been doing this as far back as when they first started growing corn. On the farm, we hunt they transfer the corn and beans at the same 4 places. When the hunters want some corn all they do is get a few sacks and shovels then bag their own corn from those piles. The only time corn is brought in from outside is the bean years. I used it this year to try to get as many does I could and of the 3 I shot last Saturday none of them ever came close to it.
I'm NOT saying corn molds are not bad but the farmers have been doing this as far back as when they first started growing corn. On the farm, we hunt they transfer the corn and beans at the same 4 places. When the hunters want some corn all they do is get a few sacks and shovels then bag their own corn from those piles. The only time corn is brought in from outside is the bean years. I used it this year to try to get as many does I could and of the 3 I shot last Saturday none of them ever came close to it.
mike243
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure I have seen lot of pictures a few years ago of turkeys suffering from it, not a turkey hunter by any means but the danger must be real to some degree, folks can use the old well we been doing that forever and nothing bad ever happened lol , so if that had not been done how much of a increase in wild life would there be? Tx is very dry and would bet it would take longer for mold to develop who knows folks with a real education would know more
