When should I start feeding protein?

I am going to get 2 boss buck protein feeders. I wanted to know when is the best time to start feeding it and what protein would you reccomend?

I feed year round. Tried doing it from Jan to Sept and then let the corn feeders take over but some of my deer were leaving and going to a neighbor that was feeding year round.

We start after they drop their antlers and stop mid October in our free choice feeders. Then we feed a 60/40 corn/protein mix the rest of the year.

Any specific proteins you recommend?

I think I get Martendale from my dealer, but probably wrong on that. I don't have a free choice feeder yet, but have used a trough and corn mix in another timed feeder for some time. I pay around $11-13 for 50# bag

I use 21% until Spring green up, then drop to 16% through june or so, when natural grub looks poor, I will bump it back up to 21% through end of Oct.

You would be smart to see what your local feed store carries, or one you pass on the way out, convenience can save allot in fuel.

We use Behrends 16% or Purina Antler MAx

My intentions were to look at the tags and see how they compare to feed. I can probably get the same thing a lot cheaper at the feed store.

Feed year round for me, free choice from Feb-Oct and timed during season

We feed from Mid January until the feeders run out in September. 20% Purina deer chow. We have 3 feeding stations with 1000 Lbs. Bulk feeders at each spot, these are places scatterd out over our lease, that we do not hunt over.

how long will your 1000lb feeder last you

We start February and go through August. We use free choice protein stations and have left protein in the free choice feeders into the fall, but when we start up the spin feeders with corn, tney move to the corn and other higher carbohydrate natural foods as that is what their body craves for the upcoming rut and cold weather - think energy and fat. I use trail cameras and can see a big drop off on the protein visits once the bucks shed their velvet. Keep in mind that protein gets stale, so you don't want it sitting in a feeder for months and months.

For the guys that feed free choice protein, do you have very many axis on your property?

Now and year round

we feed YEAR round free choice from 2-1 ton free choice feeders. and corn throws a least one time a day in every feeder on our lease year round!

We don't have axis, but have been on a lease before with them. They will definitely belly up to the bar and eat their share.

Now

Do yourself a favor if you can and get 2000# protein feeders they last longer. If you have a high deer population a 1000# feeder will empty fast. If you have a lot of axis they eat a lot but grow some awesome horns. I highly recommend www.lindnerfeed.com you can find a dealer and get it off there site this feed works trust me I have seen the deer grow a lot of horn in one year.

You're right about emptying fast. Our 55 gallon drum free choice feeders empty in about two weeks at the fastest and I've read some peoples empty much faster during the dry times.

I would start feeding protein now. The Post Rut is a very hard time on bucks. They've lost alot of weight during the rut, and many years there's not much available in the way of natural forbes. Getting them accustomed to protein now will help them to put weight back on faster, help you not lose any, and set them up to grow better antlers next year.

Many people only feed protein during the active antler growth periods. But, by then it's largely too late and that buck's rack has already been set for the year by his body condition.

We see our protein consumption spike in late Winter and Summer. Fall and Spring they don't eat much at all.

When feeding protein, do you still feed corn or no?

I've also never done protein but plan to start this year.