I have a question as to when would be the best time to start feeding protein to optimize antler growth on our place in Jasper county. I've heard that Record Rack is good stuff, will it work by feeding through my regular 225lb American Hunter feeder? Would it be best to feed Record Rack straight up, or mix with corn initially? I appreciate your feedback.

Right after rut is good so that they (the bucks) can recover.

I don't know about anyone else but I have had problems with protein clogging my feeders - you should get a protein feeder.

I am about to buy another one. They have this one that has a protein feeder mounted next to a regular feeder on a stand with a ladder between the two. It looks like it would work great for me.

Start right now and use a gravity fed feeder just for protein. You want the deer to eat as much as they want and when they want it...all hours of the day and night

agreed!

You can feed protein pellets out of a spin feeder, but it will cause problems sooner or later. The biggest reason you don't want to feed it out of a spin feeder is that even on a 30 second throw you aren't putting out enough protein to feed but maybe one or two deer. Plus, you will have birds and other critters competing for it.

Go with a free choice feeder and you will be investing your protein dollars much more wisely than trying to do it through a spin feeder.

You can also use troughs or tubs, but you will loose alot to moisture that way.

If you are thinking of a protein feeder consider the Bossbuck line. www.bossbuck.com. Most water resistant feeder on the market.

http://www.bossbuck.com/products/feeders/protein.html

now now now

right now through Septmeber

I always hear of people feeding starting at antler growth and I dont get it. If deer dont go into antler growth at there best what good is it then? December is when you start

okietex, down here it is not as critical as up in the northern states. But, you feed now to help the deer get through the post rut and get their bodies back into shape. Don't forget the majority of your does are pregnant now. You want them as healthy as you can get them, particularily by the last trimester of their pregnancy when the fetuses grow the most.

The better shape the bucks are in when they shed their antlers for the new set, the better shot they have of growing a bigger set of antlers next year. They have to get nutrients to their body before anything goes to the antlers.

thats kind of what I said.lol but you sound smarter

Oops, dang, I'm getting old. I missed or misunderstood those last few words in your post. My apologies.

Thanks guys. Sounds like the consensus is to start now. I have looked at the Boss Buck protein feeders, and they look good and reasonably priced, so I'll check them out. Thanks everybody.

I like to have the protein available free choice year around... and prefer to feed corn year around as well... but sometimes that's hard on the wallet...

Actually what biologists are now saying, you need to keep the level of protein in their system year around for the best results.

East tx hunter here... Unless you are hunting/feeding in a controled environment, meaning high fence, protien is just an extra expense..I have not seen the results over a 5 year period of feeding protein on a low fence in east tx.. I have noticed larger racoons and more hogs showing up to eat what falls on the ground + you are most likely feeding the neighbors deer who didnt chip in on the bill...if you are focused on horn development, i believe the protein in the native vegetation is there, just focus more on letting those bucks grow to a mature age and save your self the expense.

I don't agree. Protein will positively affect your deer. You have feed them free choice and keep it full at all times. You can't skimp on it, either all in, or out.

We have seen a tremendous difference on our place. We have 1500 acres of free ranging low fence. We have two 3000# protein feeders we keep going from Jan. until Sept. I know I mentioned for best results. But we close them off during hunting season.

I throw alfalfa bales protien blocks and minerals. I will spin some corn turkey season but shut them down till Sept. This will be our third year feeding alfalfa and I can see some improvements, especially in mass w/ less broken tines. Last year we had lots of twins and triplets, so I think that the benefits justify the expence.

Why do you close them off?

We do the same thing the deer will eat at night once they start seeing all the people and guns going off.

There are some stands in proximatey to them. We really don't want them free feeding on the protein and not coming to the corn feeders during this time. One is close to camp.

All year ! !