I love these threads..
I'll side with dc240nt, sorry to ruffle any feathers guys. Food plots aren't necessary to keep midwestern deer healthy, that's the smorgasborg of the deer world down there. Timers....are timers and bait piles the same thing? Are timers even legal everywhere? I ask b/c I don't know.
I'm sure planting and growing plots feels good, is fun and rewarding, heck if I had land I likely would, it's the farmer in me. I won't begrudge the guy though that doesn't have the land or equip. and chucks down some grain. I even tried it, back in 07, felt like I was doing more work than hunting so it can't be all that "easy and for lazy guys". Carting a 100 pound sack of lentils in a mile wasn't easy...or fun after awhile.
I guess I use bait piles b/c at this time of yr I feed grain in my garden. No it isn't to give them the nutrients to get them through winter, it's because I enjoy seeing them out my window as well as the 3 months worth of crap I get to till into the garden every spring.
If I were hunting them I am sure I could arrow one right out of the garden shed, but they don't come in that early, not quite as early as they did in October after a few hard frosts killed all the Whitetail Institute I had broadcast in all the empty garden space. They raced in for a few days to mow that stuff back.
I know it isn't necessary to supllementally feed, Mother Nature takes care of itself. It does feel good though to provide something to the wildlife and it's just plain fun to be able to pull into your yard with your children while a buck is chasing a hot doe all across your yard. The "bait" is the reason why they were there, I won't feel bad about it not being a food plot b/c it gives us enjoyment. I'm sure there are many people there who do it for the same reasons.