Soybean meal attracts deer?

15 years ago

I was all excited to run out and buy a 50# bag of SBM but I thought- just as I had about alfalfa pellets- that I better check the internet to see if deer are attracted to soybean (I'm sure they would be all over alfalfa pellets).

Sure enough- I google and read about "Buck Builder" and various deer foods all including soybean meal because it is a deer attractant and helps them gain weight for winter.

WTH??? I live in an area that deer frequent- not so much that I see them daily, but several times a year in the Spring/Summer. The last thing I need is to ATTRACT them to my yard.

Does anyone else have a similar situation or know if this really would be an issue? I suppose if it was watered in real good after application there would be less "risk" of that happening, but I was also hoping to put down the fertilizer this weekend in hopes that the rains predicted for Monday would come as planned since my sprinkler system isn't turned on yet.

Comments (4)

decklap
15 years ago
If you water it in very well immediately it will lessen the likelihood of the deer finding it but straight SBM will most definitely be of interest to them.
okcdan
15 years ago
While I don't have any deer near my home, another member here, Deerslayer uses soybean meal regularly, has deer nearby & has no problems with it. Like decklap says, just apply it & water it in.

Dan
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v1rt
15 years ago
that explains why we saw a deer last year at our backyard :)
rhaine86
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks!

I actually decided to just try it out and see what happens- considering that I do live in a development w/ mostly fenced yards and dogs I figure the chances of them sticking around too long to try and get the food is small. After picking up a bag of it and putting it in the spreader I realized that it would be so hard to get at when in the lawn... Two days later- no deer sightings (yet) and the SBM seems to be making it's way further into the lawn thanks to some rain last night.

We'll see...