As Minnesotans are still digging out from what was the snowiest February on record throughout much of the state, deer enthusiasts may grow concerned about the condition of the white-tailed deer herd and wonder if supplemental feeding is needed to prevent population declines.

Although deer feeding can be well-intentioned, the DNR recommends against it. Why? In short, what we know now is that the risks of these feeding practices easily outweigh the potential benefits. Some examples include:

Disease risks – The congregation of animals at concentrated sources of feed is known to increase the...