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Protein Right Now #247924 11/07/07 05:35 AM
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nolanspawn Offline OP
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Is anyone else still feeding protein right now. Despite the current good forage our deer are still hitting the protein REALLY hard. Some of the deer look like they are going to burst from all the protein and forage they have been eating. If they stay healthy all hunting season long they might have some nice horns next year dependent on rainfall and forage during their antler growth. I am not feeding as much as I was during the off season, but I am going to go full force here January 1st and be adding another protein feeder.



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Re: Protein Right Now [Re: nolanspawn] #247925 11/07/07 10:01 AM
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Save your money on the protein this time of year. Even if their hitting it hard it's not doing them any good. Coming into winter deer switch to primarily carbohydrates, which they turn into fat. Protein is for growth, muscle and bone development, such as antlers and fawns or does carrying fawns.


Re: Protein Right Now [Re: skillz1982] #247926 11/07/07 01:19 PM
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Most of the big time ranches feed protein 365 days a year. They have found that they lose a lot less of the really big bucks after the rut that way. Buck can lose up to 1/3 of their body weight during the rut, having a place where they can get good food to help them rebound before the next round of breeding helps.

-john



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Re: Protein Right Now [Re: TX_Hoghunter] #247927 11/07/07 01:34 PM
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Well, protein does not contribute to body weight much, like carbs do.


Re: Protein Right Now [Re: nolanspawn] #247928 11/07/07 01:39 PM
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we feed it every day. Just started on corn as the other attractant



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Re: Protein Right Now [Re: 7mag] #247929 11/07/07 02:31 PM
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If you want to feed it, then feed it. I am personally not feeding any right now but I know others who are.



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Re: Protein Right Now [Re: TX_Hoghunter] #247930 11/07/07 02:41 PM
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Quote:

Most of the big time ranches feed protein 365 days a year. They have found that they lose a lot less of the really big bucks after the rut that way. Buck can lose up to 1/3 of their body weight during the rut, having a place where they can get good food to help them rebound before the next round of breeding helps.




I agree...the deer recover from the stresses of the rut faster if they remain in good shape during the rut. Being in better shape after will result in less catch up during the horn growing months. Seen it work first hand, but all in all it is up to you and what your goals are. Good Luck!



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Re: Protein Right Now [Re: FETCH_UP] #247931 11/07/07 02:46 PM
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We feed protein late January to late September.Then we feed corn.[south Texas]We follow guidelines suggested by a game biologist.ALL of our neighbor ranches do the same.


Re: Protein Right Now [Re: ksk] #247932 11/07/07 02:55 PM
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Feed it, if they want it. My recommendation is switch to a maintenance ration, something down around 16%, it saves a little money and gives the deer what they need.

Re carbs in the fall, yes they get them from corn, but that's because most of the other stuff out there right now is basically a stomach filler, almost nothing but fiber, and the nutrient levels are basically at their lowest of the year.

The above comments on the deer staying in better shape and giving them a speedier recovery from the rut are correct. JMO


Re: Protein Right Now [Re: deerfeeder] #247933 11/07/07 03:00 PM
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We have some left in the feeder from the past, they are hardly hitting it all. Save your money.


Re: Protein Right Now [Re: nolanspawn] #247934 11/07/07 04:30 PM
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Having managed one of the largest commercial hunting ranches in South Tx the past 10 years, I can say from experience that feeding year round has tremendous advatanges. The body conditions of deer going into and coming out of the rut are very important. Show me a ranch feeding year round and I'll show you increased fawn crop numbers. If they want it they will go eat it. As long as its available they will decide how much they intake.


Re: Protein Right Now [Re: Beans] #247935 11/08/07 03:48 AM
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im not a big beliver in feeding protein this time of year. just corn for now but like you said come jan 1st give all the protein they want. thats when it counts



Re: Protein Right Now [Re: big10] #247936 11/08/07 03:56 AM
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Big10, I'm not trying to start anything or pick at you, but would you mind putting forth some reasons as to why you are not a "big believer" in feeding protein right now but Jan 1 is a unique day? I'm curious.


Re: Protein Right Now [Re: deerfeeder] #247937 11/08/07 04:00 AM
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Quote:

Big10, I'm not trying to start anything or pick at you, but would you mind putting forth some reasons as to why you are not a "big believer" in feeding protein right now but Jan 1 is a unique day? I'm curious.



right now they are done growing horns. they just need fat on for the rut to maintain ther body weight and corn is great for this and also attracts deer to the feeders. and i just said jan 1 because thats when the person asking the question said he would start. i ususally fill up with protein not jan 1 exactly but the last weekend of the season



Re: Protein Right Now [Re: big10] #247938 11/08/07 04:29 AM
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My thing with corn is we don't feed enough of it at a time that with a deer eating it they will gain anything out of it. Its more of just an attractant only. Does anyone think filling a protein feeder with 100% corn is smart this time of year just to maintain weight? Plus its cheaper than protein.



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Re: Protein Right Now [Re: nolanspawn] #247939 11/08/07 05:04 AM
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Corn doesnt do just a whole lot for body mass.
If you really want to see an increase in body mass and are putting forth the effort to feed protein, then why not plant food plots, wheat is better than oats for mass, but oats are more palatable.


Re: Protein Right Now [Re: skillz1982] #247940 11/08/07 05:09 AM
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Its really hard to plant anything and plant it right where I am at. There is ALOT of rock and the soil isn't very deep. Plus with the hogs we have, other than building an expensive fence around it I just don't think I can get stuff to grow before something eats it. And in that case the cost to benefit ratio just isn't in my favor.



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