We currently feed 3 times per day out of our lamco protein feeders set at 10 seconds per feeder... We feed 18% pellet protein normally year round. I would like to know how often and how much protein everyone else feeds. I have been told I feed to much which is too much protein... but I have also been told I dont feed enough... What are your thoughts and how much protein do you feed and what percentage are you feeding?

Thanks,

Mine are free choice feeders, I have 3 going. I average 20# a day from each one for a 60# a day average for the year. Right now their not eating much but in about 6-8 weeks they'll be hammering it.

we only do free choice - that keeps the crowds away at the feeder and allows any deer to eat at anytime they want

If you are feeding a timered feeder I would feed 3 times at night only. Just after dark in the evening, 11pm.ish and then around 3-4 am. That way your are concentrating on feeding bucks only. Bucks are feeding at night time anyway with the hot days ahead. I would also say to feed 20% since you are limit feeding. What you want to try to feed is 1#/hd/day. So if 15 deer use the feeder then 15#/day. Less if it is green or more if it very dry. By feeding at night that amount of feed will go to mainly bucks also.
I prefer free choice also like the others have posted. I feed 4 feeders right now and they are not using them much at all with all the green now.

anyone use double down protein? I hear it adds 50" to your bucks

Free choice 20% for us. 5 feeders on a little over 300 acres... we want them fat and sassy

and the deer live till they are 25 years old

that's what they say....

Is that your trick to keep the old dinosaurs around?

haha, ive also seen some say the deer sleep under their feeder with DD in it, so maybe I should give it a try

We feed L&E 20% free choice year around. We purchased 12 tons of Double Down to try. Started feeding it in January for the post rut benefit of fat and cottonseed content in the DD. Our deer still seem to like the L&E better. Further, our biologist told me those guys are growing fewer big deer than any of the ranches around them. Biologist said to stay with L&E.

We also feed free choice protein for the reason tlk mentioned above. All deer have access and don't have to compete for the limited amount thrown out by a timed feeder. We feed from Feb 1 through August, longer if it is really dry. Then we have fall food plots (really not plots as they total about 160 acres) that are primarily wheat that the deer utilize until it starts getting too mature and less tender in January/February.

We had a protein feeder for every 100 acres this past year, but the wildlife biologist said one for every 200 acres was sufficient. We just consolidated them to one for every 175 acres, to make filling them a little easier, or quicker I should say. As of last week, we have gone through about a ton per feed station since February, but anticipate the consumption rate will double from June on. We typically don't use more than 18% protein unless it is really dry and the natural range conditions are poor. Then we may bump it up to 20% or higher to help offset the lower quality natural food the deer are also consuming. Deer don't just eat your protein, they are almost constantly eating when they are on their feet moving from bedding area to water to food source, etc.

Our biologists confirmed that the only deer that typically benefit from more than 16% protein in decent range conditions are fawns. They need a little extra protein that first year when they are growing the most. I wish there was a way to have a kids table for the fawns only, but that ain't possible.

You are doing the right thing supplementing with protein. The mineral content is as important, if not more than the % of protein. For most of Texas, natural occurring mineral content in the plants deer eat is less than optimum for antler growth, so a good mineral/vitamin content is key. If you are feeding a timed feeder, I would follow stxranchman's advice and maybe even feed four or five times a night. I don't know how often you are at your place, but if you can experiment with the quantities you feed, you may be able to adjust your feed rate until you have just a little leftover which would indicate most deer are getting their fill. You would need to adjust periodically though as we get to the summer and range conditions usually deteriorate.

Thanks for all of the replies.
We have 250 acres and have 3 timed protein feeders as I mentioned and also a 1500lb free choice feeder... From what it looks like I believe we are feeding plenty of protein for all of the animals. As far as them fighting for protein in the timed feeders there alwasy seeems to be a little left over in each feeder throughout the day so I would say we are good.

We also have 3 10-20 acre food plots with wheat and another 20 acre plot with a grass plot.

Thanks for the information if anyone has any other ideas or information please continue to give me advice as we are just getting started!!!

we tried the same thing - set two identical feeders up side by side and filled one with Antlermax (which is what we currently feed) and one with DD. Checked back in a few weeks and Antlermax feeder was hit way more than the other. Does not mean DD not a good feed but in our case it did not cause more consumption

Big_AG Are you feeding in Knox Co? IF so which feed are you using and where are you getting it?

Daddybigbuck - Yes. I'm feeding in Knox Co. I have been using Trophy Maxx by Protocol Technologies out of Bridgeport as well as Red Chain made by Gorman Milling in Gorman. Both will deliver bulk or bagged if you purchase enough. Gorman does not have a lift gate on their trucks, so if you order bagged, you have to unload it yourself. We don't have a forklift or large enough tractor, so we purchase it through Haskell Feeds. We just acquired a bulk feed bin, so we can have either delivered in bulk which will be cheaper overall and eliminate making runs to Haskell to pick up feed.

Thanks for the info Big_Ag!