Rice Bran for Deer
Question: “What’s the deal with rice bran? I hunt on 40 acres in Northeast Texas with heavy deer hunting pressure on all sides and I usually just throw corn on the ground to attract deer. I am very low budget and cannot afford the feeding of minerals and protein pellets. I have tried salt blocks, livestock blocks and wildlife blocks. The deer in my area seem to like flavored rice bran like apple or peanut butter but it is hard to find.
Does rice bran have any nutritional value to deer? Any suggestions and recommendations on how to attract deer in this situation would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.”
Response: Stabilized rice bran is a common ingredient used in many commercial feeds for whitetail deer. Many of the products that contain rice bran in high percentage are better described as deer baits or attractants. For example, it is the main ingredient in the commercial deer attractant “Buck Bran” which is produced by Wildgame Innovations and “Buck Grub” that is sold by Evolved Habitats.
Rice bran can also found in lower quantities in truly supplemental feeds (protein pellets). In short, rice bran is a good source of easily digested vegetable fat, but that is about it.
Rice Bran: A Great Attractant
If you just want something to use as an attractant for deer hunting then don’t turn up your nose at it. The deer will not. Whitetail deer absolutely love rice bran and it can be used to attract and pattern deer before and during the deer hunting season. Bucks readily respond to additional foods in the areas where they live, and they especially take a liking to rice bran.
It can be purchased in the smaller prepared bags or some feed stores carry straight rice bran in 50 pound bags. Costs will vary based on location and it is cheaper in the Southern US. If bought in bulk it will not be “enhanced” with things that make it smell good. Deer will still eat it, but they may not take to rice bran right away. Bulk bran can be mixed with the commercial attractants or with something like molasses to add some smell and sweetness.
Comparing Rice Bran
Remember, rice bran is not the best stand-alone supplement for deer. The thing to keep in mind is that rice bran offers a high fat content, about 20 percent, and little else in terms of macro- or micro-nutrients. It can also be used somewhat like cottonseed, for increasing body condition in post-rut deer during the late fall and winter.
Cottonseed, however, offers high protein and phosphorus levels in addition to high fat content. Neither will work by themselves, but when provided free-choice on properties providing good deer habitat these supplements can whip run-down-deer back into shape rather quickly. The good thing about high fat foods is that deer can increase energy intake without having to increasing total feed consumption.
Rice Bran for Deer Hunting
A friend of mine hunts a property located in the Post Oak Savannah region of Texas and he swears that rice bran is the best whitetail deer attractant he has ever seen. He has found that if he switches from rice bran to corn the deer visits to his feed stations will decline. Will it work this great for everyone?
Can’t say for sure because a lot depends on what is already available on your property for white-tailed deer to eat. A lot depends on available habitat as well as overall habitat conditions. Most of the calories in corn are carbohydrates whereas most of the calories in rice bran are fat. Deer, like people, like fat. We like our carbs too.
With regard to hunting on 40 acres, there is no doubt that deer can be successfully attracted to and harvested on small acreage. Deer management options are admittedly more limited in terms of size, but the plant communities on the property can still be managed to offer good natural habitat, quality deer foods.
In fact, landowners can pay more attention to the details of habitat enhancement on small properties because of the smaller scale of projects. You can afford to use higher quality seeds when planting plots and better foods (such as rice bran) when feeding because less is needed. It’s expensive to do high quality projects at large scale. Micro-management can be very attractive, and deadly, to deer.
Deer hunting a small tract of land takes more restraint than anything else. The urge to shoot middle-aged bucks only because you think your neighbors will do so should be avoided, if you goal is to harvest older and bigger bucks. Let them go so they can grow.
The best advice for deer hunting on smaller properties is to keep it quiet and offer something that deer can not find within other parts of their home range. That could be refuge, water or other supplements and attractants such as rice bran. Rice bran is a good choice for attracting and holding deer. It has some good nutritional elements and it’s uncommon on the landscape, which means once deer get a taste for it they should seek it out.
Howdy folks, I hunt northwestern Louisiana and have great success with persimmon flavored rice bran, sweet feed 12%, cottonseed, and corn. I feed year round on private land and leave my cameras out as well. When the rice bran and sweet feed runs out you see a rapid decline deer in traffic. These feeds are very cheap. The rice bran here is 7 bucks for 50 pounds, sweet feed is 9 bucks for 50 pounds, corn is 6 bucks for 50 pounds, and that lasts me an entire month. In the summer I put out salt licks and mineral licks that only cost 7 bucks for a 50 pound block.
Rich, thanks for sharing your experiences with various supplements/attractants and prices with others. Send pics of some deer when you get a chance!
Where do you find the flavored rice bran?
I am doing a science fair project and I was wondering if you used peanut butter would that attract deer or hogs?
Colt, I think peanut butter will definitely work.
Get a large plastic bottle of peanut butter, cut out the bottom completely. Then nail the top on a tree about 5-6 feet up. screw the peanut butter jar on, then hunt that area. The deer will find it and eat the peanut butter out of the jar. It will be too high for hogs, only some coons will compete with the deer.
Ted, that’s an interesting way to attract deer. Going to have to give that a shot just to set up a game camera on it. Thanks for the idea!
I live in Shreveport, LA. Where can I buy flavored rice bran?
Everyone talks about how good rice bran is for attracting deer but no one says where to buy it. I’m in Northwest Louisiana. Could someone come up with a location?
Robert, I don’t know of a location near you, but maybe the locals are staying tight-lipped about it. You should be able to find rice bran within a reasonable distance. Good luck!
I understand rice bran pellets and ground rice bran are good attracts for deer . I found a feed store that sells rice bran flakes, any thought on the flakes?
This might not be close to anyone but
Double K Feed in Crowley La
200 West Mill Ave.
Breaux Bridge, La 337-332-4636.
has rice bran for $7.99 a 50 lb. sack.
Also:
Farmers Rice Mill Company
3211 Hwy. 397 South
Lake Charles, La 70615
337-433-5205
Attwoods in east Texas carries the rice bran. The first time I used it I poured it on the ground and had bucks put their heads in it and would not raise their heads for 5 minutes. Attwoods in Kilgore and Henderson have it.
John, thanks for the East Texas rice bran hookup!
Attwoods in Paris, TX, has Rice Bran pellets for like $7 or so for 50 lb bag. Good luck!
Robert, I live in Texarkana and we have several places to buy flavored rice bran. Your best bet would be the local feed store or co-op. I believe theres one on North Market, not sure the name on it. Also there’s one on Texas Street going towards the race track from Airline.
Ronald, thanks for offering up some local places where people can get their hands on this stuff.
I buy mine at Desoto Town and Country in Stonewall, Louisiana. They have persimmon flavored and peanut butter flavored.
I’m actually in my stand watching a couple big does go to town on the persimmon rice bran now.
Anyone know where can buy rice bran for deer in DFW metroplex or within a 100 mile radius?
I live in West Virginia. Does anyone know of a place here?
I buy mine in 50 pound bags at Tractor Supply (TSC). I mix with 1/3 corn and broadcast in various spots within the pasture. Doe and bucks show up no matter what. They eat every bit of the corn at this ration but if I increase the corn they leave some. Pretty interesting.
Bob, thanks for sharing with readers. This will come in handy for those with a nearby TSC store that may have not looked there yet.
U can buy peanut butter or persimmon flavored rice bran at Tractor Supply. I live in East Texas, but i’m sure most of their locations will have it.
Spartan, many times piebalds have physical abnormalities. Does your piebald doe or her offspring have anything of that nature?
What is the best way to distribute rice bran? My lease is a six hour drive and I can’t always be there to put bran out. Can I use it in a broadcast or gravity feeder?
I have recently acquired a pretty large amount of rice, not rice bran, but rice! Will this be good to feed the deer and will they eat it readily? What would be the best way to put it out?
Mike, good question! I have no experience with anyone feeding whole rice to deer. I have to assume that whitetail will eat it since it is packed with carbohydrates but don’t know if they would eat it readily. I believe whitetail will be highly inefficient at picking it up off the ground, so my recommendation would be to put it in a covered trough feeder of sorts.
To verify that deer will go for it, start by mixing the rice with something you already feed, such as corn, roasted soybeans, pellets, etc. Start with a mix of 20-30% rice and see if you can increase the percentage of rice over time. There may be a point at which they will not eat the mix, but there may not.
At the very least, you’ve got yourself some good hog bait with that rice. Fill a 5 gallon bucket up almost halfway with rice, then fill it up to the top with water. Leave the bucket in the sun for a day or two and you will have full bucket of sour, hog killing rice for hunting or trapping.
I know from experience if you have any hogs or bears mixing rice bran with molasses will draw in the hogs and bears. I’ve found just straight rice bran for deer is better. I hunt in Arkansas and south Louisiana and it seems to work great.
Brian, thanks for sharing your experience with rice bran. This will likely save some deer hunters some heartache, but will help some hog and/or bear hunters!
I live in east texas around tyler and walmart carries the rice brand
HI fellow hunters and huntress I buy my rice bran pellets from my local TRACTOR SUPPLY CO. I live in the NEW ORLEANS area but have property and hunt in MISSISSIPPI and I mix it with corn 50% to 50% in trough feeders which holds 300# of feed I refill every 3-4 weeks deer love it and during hunting seasons I mix 70% rice bran pellets 30% corn
Clayton, thanks for the details on the rice bran pellets. I’m sure whitetail hunters in your area will appreciate the tips! Best of luck during the upcoming season.
I deer hunt in Alabama. I put out corn and a 16% protein Sweet Feed. Is that a good protein source for growing big bucks?
Herron,
Corn is not great for deer. It does provide carbs and they readily eat it, but it’s not going to be additive to antler growth. Sweet feed is probably a little better, but not good for antler growth. Bucks need macro and micro-nutrients, which is best provided by high quality habitat. Protein pellets are best if you are going to provide an artificial supplement. Pellets have a high protein content (16%+) and contain the necessary micro-nutrients. Still not as good as quality habitat, but way better than corn.
IF CORN IS BAD FOR DEER . what do farners do that grow corn in their fields DO THEY POST DEER STAY OUT DO NOT EAT CORN ITS BAD FOR YOU I NEVER SEEN SUCH SIGNS DID ANYONE?
Clayton, corn plants and fresh corn are different than a sack of whole kernel corn. It’s bad for deer if they eat too much dried corn as their digestive system can’t handle it.
You can purchase peanut butter, apple and regular flavored rice bran by the bag or pallet at the General Store in Castor La. 35 miles from Shreveport Bossier area.
John, thanks for sharing details on where hunters can find rice bran in Louisiana. Now I know that rice bran comes in various flavors. The peanut butter flavor has me hungry, too!