Four flavors of deer feed blocks from Hardwood Ridge, a small business based in Carney. (Courtesy photo)

CARNEY — A family business based in the heart of the Upper Peninsula this year has released a new line of deer feed blocks.

The products, made right in Carney, are full of natural ingredients and minerals, and the brand strives to emulate Yooper values and provide people with quality items for hunting camp or at home.

The name Hardwood Ridge aims to evoke pleasant memories of certain natural places and stories of success from longtime hunters, co-owner and founder Cody Whitens explained.

“A lot of these hunting stories revolve around a hardwood ridge, and everyone loves, like, a hardwood ridge scene, the beauty of it,” Whitens said.

It’s a subtle name that’s meant to create a warm, nostalgic feeling, rather than go overboard with words and imagery that imply the size of the trophy buck they may get by purchasing the product.

Of course, big, healthy deer are still the intended outcome for those who buy the various Hardwood Ridge deer blocks, which come in 4-pound and 20-pound sizes and four flavors — persimmon, Honeycrisp apple, molasses and sugar beet.

Not strictly for hunters, Hardwood Ridge blocks can also provide good backyard supplements for people who enjoy feeding deer and seeing them on their property. However, as there are some places where feeding wildlife is disallowed, readers are advised to check local regulations.

Whitens said what sets Hardwood Ridge apart is the way the brand goes about achieving the goal of providing deer with healthy feed blocks.

To draw deer in and provide the animals with essential nutrition, “we actually do things a little differently,” Whitens said. “We use natural ingredients, natural flavorings … That Honeycrisp apple block actually has Honeycrisp apples in it. … We make sure we’re using these higher-quality ingredients, and so the attraction level is high in there, but we’re also adding a lot more minerals and vitamins and different natural prebiotics for the deer health.”

Calling a Hardwood Ridge feed block “more than a glorified salt lick,” the brand’s website states that the products contain calcium and phosphorus for antler and bone growth, vitamins and trace minerals for herd-wide health and organic prebiotic micronutrients for digestion and absorption boost.

Whitens said the brand is unique because the blocks are made from start to finish right by his family in Carney. They order all the raw materials separately, mix the recipes together, press the blocks, package and label them. The blocks are then marketed and sold directly to retailers in the U.P. and around the country. Local deliveries are made by Whitens’ uncle.

Though the family operation only recently released Hardwood Ridge as an in-house brand under AgriFeed LLC, they’ve had experience manufacturing similar products for other companies in the past, beginning in about 2019.

To recognize and honor deer hunting traditions, Hardwood Ridge is currently running a giveaway people can enter on its website at hunthardwoodridge.com. Participants are asked to share stories and memories of deer camp. After the entry period ends Nov. 13, a winner will be drawn. First place will receive not only Hardwood Ridge deer blocks but also a Rapid River knife, Johnson maple syrup, trail cameras, 906 Outdoors cooking seasoning and other deer camp-themed gifts. Hardwood Ridge will give deer feed blocks for second and third place.

Though the stories are not publicly posted, Whitens said he’s really enjoyed reading the entries people have sent in so far. It reminds him of the connections and stories many people have made at camp and reinforces what Hardwood Ridge strives to be.

“Hardwood Ridge wasn’t created to just sell deer products. It was built to make products that serve a purpose — rooted in our hunting heritage and driven by a passion to carry on the traditions left to us by those who paved the way. Products that connect family, friends and the whitetail woods,” Whitens wrote. “Our products are created by hunters who, like you, remember sitting on a stump with grandpa, waiting to see the first deer of the morning — or feeling the thrill of bringing your first deer back to camp.”

Hardwood Ridge items are available for purchase from many retailers in the U.P., nationwide and online. The company looks forward to releasing several new products in 2026.