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 Feeding Protein In The Hill Country
#4116854
03/12/13 05:54 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 176
txhunter26
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 176 |
I would like to start feeding protein at the new lease. Will the deer hit the protein feeder if i provide ? When i tryed to feed protein at our place in east texas the deer wouldnt touch it. Just curious on others experience particulalry in the mason county area on feeding protein.
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Re: Feeding Protein In The Hill Country
[Re: txhunter26]
#4116877
03/12/13 06:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 63
Aggieivy
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 63 |
It generally takes some time for them to get used to a newly introduced food source. Here are a couple of things that will help speed up the process--and once they get used to it, you will be filling feeders all the time.
1. Mix corn with the protein in the feeder and put lots of corn on the ground around the feeder.
2. If you are also introducing a "feeder pen" to keep out hogs or cows--wait until the deer are already eating the protein on a regular basis before building the pen (and make the pen as large as you can--40x40 ft min.).
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Re: Feeding Protein In The Hill Country
[Re: txhunter26]
#4116888
03/12/13 06:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 63
Aggieivy
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 63 |
Also, don't worry that it is a slow process. It's already starting to warm up and new forage will be coming up (if it's not already). That means the deer will have more to choose from and will probably hit an unfamiliar food source less often. You definitely need to start soon so they will be used to it when the tougher summer months roll around.
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Re: Feeding Protein In The Hill Country
[Re: Aggieivy]
#4118365
03/13/13 07:51 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 612
Huntsmanda
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 612 |
The short answer is yes, they will eat it when provided if/when other food sources are scarce. During the summer, I've had deer stand just outside the feeder pen waiting for us to fill it up and leave. (I hunt just to the SE of you in Blanco Co. and we use straight protein).
I agree with Aggieivy - start now or as soon as you can before summer.
"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not." - Thomas Jefferson
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Re: Feeding Protein In The Hill Country
[Re: Huntsmanda]
#4118439
03/13/13 11:53 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 176
txhunter26
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Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 176 |
10-4 thanks for the info guys
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Re: Feeding Protein In The Hill Country
[Re: txhunter26]
#4118483
03/13/13 12:33 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 685
BlakeJ
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I'm no expert, but protein feed, and the fastest way I've found to get them on protein is to pick your feeder locations very carefully (on well used trails, not out in the open, where the deer are already there and feel comfortable). Then start putting out a sack of corn at a time for a couple sacks, and monitor it with a camera. When they start knocking out the corn pretty quick and figure out there is a food source there, put up your feeder pen (if you're gonna use one), and throw another sack of corn in there and let them figure out that they need to jump the fence to get to the food. Then put your protein feeder in, with corn first, then a 50/50 mix, then straight protein. It's best to start around New Years doing this because the whole process should take about a month or so.
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Re: Feeding Protein In The Hill Country
[Re: BlakeJ]
#4118902
03/13/13 03:33 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 232
B_Bop77
Woodsman
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Woodsman
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Posts: 232 |
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Re: Feeding Protein In The Hill Country
[Re: BlakeJ]
#4118953
03/13/13 04:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498 |
I'm no expert, but protein feed, and the fastest way I've found to get them on protein is to pick your feeder locations very carefully (on well used trails, not out in the open, where the deer are already there and feel comfortable). Then start putting out a sack of corn at a time for a couple sacks, and monitor it with a camera. When they start knocking out the corn pretty quick and figure out there is a food source there, put up your feeder pen (if you're gonna use one), and throw another sack of corn in there and let them figure out that they need to jump the fence to get to the food. Then put your protein feeder in, with corn first, then a 50/50 mix, then straight protein. It's best to start around New Years doing this because the whole process should take about a month or so. Great info Blake and B-bop. Just don't put the sweet feed in a spin feeder, it WILL clog. Pour it on the ground.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it.
Don't text and drive.
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Re: Feeding Protein In The Hill Country
[Re: txhunter26]
#4119029
03/13/13 04:32 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,350
aeb
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,350 |
When selecting a location for a new protein feeder, I hang a bucket corn feeder in a tree and set up a game camera nearby to confirm that I have chosen a good location. Once the crowd begins to gather around the candy, I enclose the area with ten wire cattle panels. Four of the panels will have cut-outs to make it easier to jump into the pen. Only after they become accustomed to entering the pen, do I set the feeder. For the first filling, I mix a bag of corn with 4-5 sacks of protein. Be careful and don’t dump a couple of bags of corn in the feeder and then pour protein pellets on top. The protein will push the slicker corn kernels right out the chute. I continue running the spin bucket until I see activity at the protein feeder and then remove it from the pen.
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