How much protein will they eatFirst

On a new lease between Sonora/Juno and we are required to feed protein year round. Our group is hunting just over 3K acres of the 20K acre property that seems to have high deer populations. How much protein will they consume per month ballpark? I have a 500lb free choice feeder with three 4" openings that I plan to use. Thanks for any feedback.

I have a 350# in East TX. and I have to fill it every month. It's a pretty safe bet that you have higher populations, so just guessing, they'll probably go through 500 lbs a month.

In that area...as MUCH as you will feed them Sir..
We try and feed a minimal of 350lbs of free choice every 6-8 weeks from Feb-Sept right up the road from you ...
Good Luck and thats a Target Rich area...Love that stretch of road off 277 back to Juno...Lovely Country

I hunt between comanche and goldthwaite and last year we had one feeder that held 550lbs and they were emptying it every 12 days. That's about 1400lbs a month.

Free choice will break you to keep up with it if the population is high. You are better off limiting your protein and supplementing with minerals.

Mine will eat at least 50# per day. They will eat more than that I just have not given them the chance.

Best thing to do is buy bigger feeders. We use #2000 protein feeders and have 6 on our place if it's green they will not eat that much but when it starts to dry and the green goes away look out they will eat a lot. If you are not close to the lease buy bigger feeder you are only blowing money and time if they are small and you can't be there to fill them. If you are close and can keep them full your fine.

What is the deer density and what is the habitat like? That will greatly effect your consumption...but it will range from 1#-3#/hd per day. So if you have 20 deer using the feeder it will last from one week to 3-4 weeks. Time of the year and rainfall will effect those numbers also.

I'm somewhat in the dark as this is will be our first year on the place. The browse seems to be decent and there are plenty shin and pin oaks on the place. There are a few head of sheep as well so we'll have to deal with feeder pens. I opted for two 85 gallon feeders for now (Spin type for corn and free choice for protein) since I'm not sure what to expect. If all works well with the landowner this year and we end up signing a long term contract I'll certainly invest in bulk feeders to cut down on refill trips. I'm going with a 50' diameter pen. Does this size sound about right for two tripod feeders?

You will be fine...Sounds good...rut should hit you around Dec the 6th in that area and sheds should start dropping around the 21st...late this year...
If you have enough of a group and have a feed program in place..I would suggest investing in a container and work with Lyssy & Eckel to deliver feed for your group...
Great bunch of Gentleman and in that area its a pretty simple process...Yea who feeds the most wins...very little food source..

Pen size is good.

Wonder what side of the Hwy he's on...Odd but seems to make a difference down in that area..

Thanks again fellas. I've been hunting free (aside from my set-ups and feed) for the past 15 years with the in-laws in Terrell County. After seeing cam pics from this new place and meeting the owner I just couldn't pass it up. May there be few unpleasant surprises and many big bucks in our future.

10 miles south of hwy 189. 10 miles due West of hwy 277. Roughly

You will love it...never a boring sit Amigo

There is no question that feeding protein is great. However, have you done any deer surveys to find out your buck/doe ratio and an estimate of the total population? You may end up feeding a bunch of does and cull bucks that you guys will just end up whacking when deer season comes around.

Don't think he has any choice if he wants on the lease.

The landowner says the current ratio is 3:1 and he'd like it at 2:1. He said we can do seat of the pants counts/game cams and he'll get a survey done as well. The deer we've seen on camera since Jan. have been nothing short of amazing. I've personally never killed a 140" buck, but there are a few 160" deer seen thus far.

The question you should be asking, IMHO, is how much can you afford per month? I imagine they will eat all you put out - I can imagine they will EASILY eat 1000-1200 lbs. per month even with a very modest population. And more important, if you are going to feed year-round, free-choice protein in that area, you MUST have water, and plenty of it, for them to drink - or you could end up making those 160" deer sick, even kill them. Trust me on this, but I am sure others will chirp in and confirm this. A water tank setup will be highly desirable in that country, will monthly visits to check/refill feeder/water tank.

And IME, water will be a bigger pain to deal with out there than feed.

But, the rewards for having feed/protein/water in sufficient quantities, is that you will have all the critters in a wide area wanting to hang around in your spot. And don't be surprised to have some exotics show up. And plan on hog/varmit control to be regular chores.

I'm not certain on the water throughout the entire 20K acres, but our 3K acres has four year round water supplies. His first rule on the list was no hunting over water sources.

Do you have any air motors sir..
And the John has a great point on the water..IMO it helps in the Protein absorption ..

This was taken right around the Corner from you ..
Historically there are several 150's brought out of there on a wet spring years..

I know the protein bill will start adding up in a hurry trying to keep the feeders full at all times, but it'll be well worth it for that class of deer. IMO
Just hoping everyone else is fully on board and willing to manage this place according to the owners request. He wants no axis shot and deer to be 5.5 years or older for trophy animals. Those axis will put a huge dent in the protein if everything I'm reading is correct.

If and I use the word if and you have a great set of rules and a strong straw boss (Hence the container and ONE feed order that everyone gets a email showing the amount ordered) 350 ever 6-8 is NOT that expensive...use a good 18-21%..I went to a timed feeder instead of free choice personally to have more of a controlled enviroment.
Smoke those spotted chow hounds ASAP but the great part down there they will follow the grass and rain...
Main thing is Congratulations and have Fun Man, that area will drop your BP 10 points when you hit the front gate and I hope you wax a Beast

I wonder why no axis?

If you can find reasonably priced large bales of alfalfa then you could put those out in separate pens to try to keep the axis from hammering your protein feeders.

A lot of the Edwards County Goat farmers seen MONEY..

Started a 100-500 bucks per Axis killed..I have NO PROBLEM with that who wouldn't pull a bill or two out to tip over a 36"

what they don't understand is we are getting EAT UP w them. it will be our NEXT Feral Hog trust me ..stop in Junction at dark and ease over to Rock Springs at dark and pray to GOD you have a grill guard

Agreed with all that's been said. Your decision is really how much you choose to feed them, especially in the Summer and late Winter when natural groceries are scarce. Deer can eat 1.5 to 2.5 lb per head per day, so you can do the math on total consumption. In the summer in Llano Co. my 350lb unit will get emptied in about 20 days. So, I'd expect that 500lber will last a month or less, depending on how many deer are hitting it.

Congrats on the new place, hope it will be a great place for you.

I think the Water in that area is a big player also TxAg...
I have a water trough less than 500 yrds away but still provide water at the pens, it seems to help with the Protein absorption..They will eat a tad and then go drink and go back for seconds with more frequency. Good Wet Spring down there this year which seems to throw a good yaer

Thanks for all the replies fellas. Just got back from a 7 day cruise out of Galveston to Mexico. It was about 6 days too long and made me even more thankful that I live in the US of A.

We have 3 1000lb and 3 500lb protein feeders on 2500 acres, the 1000lb feeders are empty every 2 months on a dry year (George West area) as of now they have been full since December. I don't think I have the numbers you have either.

Good Problem to have Amigo

If it keeps raining like it has been our deer may forget what protein is.

I can be standing in knee deep water and I'll still be asking for rain

I'm sure its going to quit in early May when I plant beans

Don't get me wrong im not complaining at all about the rain!

Our deer just seem to not eat much if any protein after rain spells, which is A OK with me, mother nature grows better groceries cheaper