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Protein feeding question #6117140 01/04/16 02:14 AM
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KennyLee Offline OP
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Think I'm gonna start a protein program, but don't really know where to start. Neighbors have started doing it though and I feel like I need to do my part. All of us have relatively small acreage, but large for the area and not a great deal of hunting pressure.

Is there an ideal ratio for amount of protein per acre? Would probably put out 4-6 feeders.

Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6117199 01/04/16 02:44 AM
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A good rule of thumb is one per 100 acres to see maximum benefit to your herd. I suppose your overall density plays a role as well. Less deer per acre, less protein feeding stations you'll need.

Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6117213 01/04/16 02:50 AM
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Once you figure out how much your gonna feed, go see Matt Lively at Outdoor Trading Co on 377. He carries a couple good brands of feeders and will deliver feeders to your prop. Heck of a nice guy. Tell him Red sent you. His number is 817-578-0503

Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6117232 01/04/16 03:00 AM
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One per 100.......wow. Looks like I need 180 feeders

Re: Protein feeding question [Re: CaveManRancher] #6117253 01/04/16 03:09 AM
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Originally Posted By: CaveManRancher
One per 100.......wow. Looks like I need 180 feeders


Damn! 18,000 acres would take lots of protein for sure!

Re: Protein feeding question [Re: BOONER] #6117284 01/04/16 03:22 AM
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Originally Posted By: BOONER
Originally Posted By: CaveManRancher
One per 100.......wow. Looks like I need 180 feeders


Damn! 18,000 acres would take lots of protein for sure!


And you said you have small acreage....we have a different definition of small acreage


Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6117368 01/04/16 04:10 AM
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Do you guys feed all the off season or certain months?



Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6117622 01/04/16 02:19 PM
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we have a little over 13,000 on our Edwards co place, We have 8 protein feeders placed around the ranch in locations that are close to the better cover and bedding areas for bucks. The other 5,440 acres is something we picked up and leased a few years ago and the hunting has been deferred for 2 years now. We have some other acreage in other counties but they are year round leases so the protein gets taken care of by the hunters. We feed protein and a deer specific mineral except during hunting. We don't feed year around due to the economics of it but try to put as much out as possible. I talked to a deer farmer who gave me a crazy idea that promised to put a lot of growth on our deer that we may try.....It sounds crazy but he has pictures of monsters so.....

Last edited by CaveManRancher; 01/04/16 02:19 PM.
Re: Protein feeding question [Re: jsplinter] #6117737 01/04/16 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted By: jsplinter
Originally Posted By: BOONER
Originally Posted By: CaveManRancher
One per 100.......wow. Looks like I need 180 feeders


Damn! 18,000 acres would take lots of protein for sure!


And you said you have small acreage....we have a different definition of small acreage


Different people..



Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6117747 01/04/16 03:26 PM
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protein helps a lot but if you can plant some fruit trees those will keep them
coming for that special 'treat'

I have 5 pear trees on my place and I see new bucks, does passing through
all the time ..... more fruit trees are what I recommend

Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6117809 01/04/16 03:57 PM
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well this deer farm guy said they put used cooking oil over cubed or sweet feed for the deer to help them gain fat during the winter, spring and fall and according to him it has helped him get some good antler growth.

Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6117880 01/04/16 04:34 PM
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I have one feeder to 3-400 acres. A lot depends upon your deer population and the terrain.


Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6117884 01/04/16 04:36 PM
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I've heard one feeder per 25 deer or 150 acres



Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6118137 01/04/16 07:21 PM
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That's what the guy selling the feeder tells you....until you realize you'd run out of money. You got water every 150 acres?

Last edited by CaveManRancher; 01/04/16 07:22 PM.
Re: Protein feeding question [Re: CaveManRancher] #6118289 01/04/16 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted By: CaveManRancher
That's what the guy selling the feeder tells you....until you realize you'd run out of money. You got water every 150 acres?


If your asking me, the place I hunt is only 85 acres and has 6 ponds all between 1 and 7 acres, four of which are spring fed and never run dry. I have one corn feeder and will be adding a protein feeder next month.



Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KnoxCityNate] #6118527 01/04/16 11:30 PM
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Originally Posted By: KnoxCityNate
Do you guys feed all the off season or certain months?


Protein year round


Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6118947 01/05/16 03:13 AM
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Yeah I guess every place is different. Further west you go the bigger the places usually are with less water. We're lucky to have water every 1/4 to 1/2 mile.

Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6119315 01/05/16 01:29 PM
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I think a lot depends on your property and what your goals are.

We have a protein 1 protein feeder per 60 acres on our place and they all have a water trough at them we fill during the summer. Our property is only a little over 300 acres though. No doubt it provides good food year round and especially in stressful times for the deer, but it is more or less an attractant for us as well, where as on a larger property the deer stay on your place and you don't have to attract them.


It's hell eatin em live
Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6119379 01/05/16 02:04 PM
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I feed protein year round.I switched from feeding Purina Antler Max to a feed that my local feed mill mixes.It took a couple weks for the deer to like the change, but they eat more of the new stuff than the Purina. It's also about 55% cheaper to buy.

Last edited by Txhillbilly; 01/05/16 02:04 PM.
Re: Protein feeding question [Re: Txhillbilly] #6119636 01/05/16 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted By: Txhillbilly
I feed protein year round.I switched from feeding Purina Antler Max to a feed that my local feed mill mixes.It took a couple weks for the deer to like the change, but they eat more of the new stuff than the Purina. It's also about 55% cheaper to buy.


I've switched a time or two over the last few years until I took a closer look at the actual ingredients. As it turned out, I was throwing money away on the cheaper stuff available locally. There are other feeds out there that may be even better nutritionally than the Purina formulation but they are not available in my area. Take a long hard look at what you are getting for half price!


Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6119651 01/05/16 03:52 PM
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I think it's better to select quantity of protein feeders based on number of deer rather than acreage. Totally different in different parts of the state as population varies greatly.

I prefer to set it up where I have 20 to 25 deer per free-choice protein feeder. We are in a high-density area. But, doing that on a big place can get expensive real quick.

We feed year round. The deer decide when they need it.

Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6119658 01/05/16 03:56 PM
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^ cheers

Re: Protein feeding question [Re: rickym] #6120394 01/05/16 09:17 PM
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Originally Posted By: rickym
Originally Posted By: jsplinter
Originally Posted By: BOONER
Originally Posted By: CaveManRancher
One per 100.......wow. Looks like I need 180 feeders


Damn! 18,000 acres would take lots of protein for sure!


And you said you have small acreage....we have a different definition of small acreage


Different people..


See that now


Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6120530 01/05/16 10:10 PM
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I feed year round for the best return on my investment. I also do not look at acres per feeder but deer per feeder. I like to see 7-10 max per feeder so all deer get to eat as much as they need when they can. I also like to put 2-3 feeders per location if you have a lot of deer. That way all the deer get a chance to eat.


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Re: Protein feeding question [Re: KennyLee] #6121634 01/06/16 03:30 PM
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we Feed a MCness Blend that we sale here at the feed store in Sonora. it has diatomaceous earth, Tasco, Cinagar and some other sciencie stuff in it. It also has a mineral pack. Its about $2 or so higher a bag but if your feeding the deer might as well be feeding them right. I think we've seen a good improvement but will continue for a few years to see exactly. I have not used the boss buck feeders but the system makes since, a reasonably priced protein feeder that can be converted back and forth between protein and corn. if you are buying feeders anyway this would seem to be a good route, but I have never used one myself.

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