I was wanting to know of a good protein feed and how much it costs and a good protein feeder,Thanks

On protein feeders you're best bet will be the bossbuck protein feeders. See www.bossbuck.com. They are absolutely the best at keeping moisture out of the protein. (IMO) All that being said, you should know I sell them, but I sell them because I have worked with just about everything on the market and these do the job the best.

On protein feed, if you are going to feed at this time of the year or late December into January you can get by with a so-called maintenance ration. Something in the 16% range, just to get the deer through the post rut. About the time March rolls around you should consider going to anywhere from 17% to 20% for antler growth. If it is over 20% (unless it is a penned deer) you are wasting your money because they will poop alot of it out. Kinda like taking two vitamin pills in one day, your body won't use it and the excess will be excreted. Also, not only at this time of the year but in general, your protein feeders should not be around your corn feeders. Number one, the deer will associate the protein with danger, number two they will be in there eating after shooting hours. Sometimes though, fianancially it isn't feasible to have completely different set-ups

Protein feeding requieres the 3 C's Cash, commitment, and consistency. Yes, every little bit helps, but to achieve visible results it will cost and you have to be commited to keep after it.

Most of the big name companies make a decent feed. On some of the big name companies you will be spending money on their name though just as much as for the protein. Don't be fooled by the tag information. When you cut through the hype the tag tells you very little. What the heck is "Processed vegtable matter" or "vegetable by products?" Quite often that turns out to be whole cotten seed. That would be another whole thread and it has been discussed here before. You might want to check and see what sort of mineral package, if any, is in the feed. Some feeds have next to nothing in them as far as vitamins and minerals especially when it comes down to the mico/trace nutrients.

As far as cost, that depends who and where you get it from. In general it will cost you anywhere from $7.00 and change to over $9.00 per 50 pound bag. Good luck with it.

You should probably start out gradually, which will get them used to it as they come into eat corn and gradually begin eating the protein, too. There are a number of mixes that you can run out of your spin cast that will serve this purpose + you don't have to invest in an additional feeder.


Deerfeeder,

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your protein feeders should not be around your corn feeders. Number one, the deer will associate the protein with danger, number two they will be in there eating after shooting hours.

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I dunno and not necessarily. Why would deer associate protien + danger? Are you suggesting that because deer get shot at over corn and that is near the protein, they associate that with danger. I would think they associate gun shots, arrows flying by, and other preditors (hunters) with danger. Deer eat corn + protein all the time without being shot at. I have fed all year and not taken a single shot at my feeder the deer didn't appear to be scared of the corn or the protein.

Additionally, you can control your protein rations so that deer don't eat all night long. You can use your spincast as mentioned above or there are protein feeders with timers.

I set my protein feeders where you can't see them from over 50 yards and it cannot be hunted with a rifle. The bucks seem to like the boss bucks

Having a protein set up away from corn is the theory. Like I said it doesn't always work in the real world, but they are supposed to have a sanctuary of sorts for the protein. The other part is if you are feeding both at the same time, the free choice allows them to come in after shooting hours.

Theory should be a guide or a starting point. I feed some ranches that are in the 15,000 acre neighborhood. Theory says one protein feeder for every 500 or so acres. I do not have any customers that can afford to do that.

In a similar post elsewhere, I stated I've seen deer shot in a feed pen. Theory says you shouldn't do that. But it happens alot and most of the time the survivors are back in about 10 minutes looking at the dead deer like they are thinking, "Dang, too bad about him but why did he have to fall on all that corn." Deer don't read the textbooks.

My bucks like my Monarch Hunting Products protein feeder:)