A bit late...but WELCOME! Sounds like you've got some interesting bits & pieces to add to the Marlin Forum. Deer-eating fish or fish-eating deer? In the great outdoors with the need for survival...I don't doubt there's other odd and interesting facts that might bring guffaws and accusations of a fella being off his rocker!
As for feeding them, depends on the state, but food plots arent' bait and are no different that CRP. The overall benefits outweigh what a hunter or three might harvest over them and all sorts of critters benefit. In MO, just have to remove piles of feed and feeders 10 days before hunting season opens. I know guys that feed almost year round and just leave the feeders empty until after season and then put back the eats to keep the deer/turkeys around. Most of us like to just witness them; it's not all about killing. Anything sportsmen do to aid in their survival as a whole is a lot more than the tree huggers contribute that complain about "mean" hunters. Without us...there wouldn't be the numbers of fish, fowl and animals in the numbers that exist today.
Again Welcome to the Forum
BTW - Those are some classic weapons you have. Must be a tradition 'cause your not going to find many like that available on the open market.