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They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
#5566608
01/27/15 04:40 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,624
billyhunt
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I know I have a different situation than most, here they have browse all year long. During the winter they have wheat, and or oats. After, they have corn, maize and all of the hay fields to browse on. So what im asking is WHAT can I do to make them come to the protein feeder? Any and all advice is appreciated.
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5566795
01/27/15 01:23 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,135
landsurveyor
THF Trophy Hunter
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Tough one with that many groceries available for them. May be wasting your money on protein
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5566841
01/27/15 01:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,652
Pitchfork Predator
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Start them out on sweet feed. Gradually change to protein feed after they regularly eat the sweet feed.
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: Pitchfork Predator]
#5566858
01/27/15 02:08 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,005
JRJ6
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Start them out on sweet feed. Gradually change to protein feed after they regularly eat the sweet feed. this ^^^
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5566888
01/27/15 02:27 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,213
tShawnB
Pro Tracker
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Yes, sweet feed may get them started, but if there is an abundance of good browse, they may be slow to start on protein. Could take a year or two depending on weather.
How come everybody I meet is a deer hunting expert?
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5566907
01/27/15 02:37 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29,034
Western
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My deer wouldn't touch protein until it got so dry, my oak trees started dying. Now they eat it pretty good, more during lean times, but they eat it. I like the sweet feed idea and I didn't try that, but when I had cows, they would always come into the feed area i had fed my cows.
I would mix some protein right in with the sweet feed and get them used to it right off the bat, then start lessening the sweet feed over time. Or maybe try mixing some molasses with some protein pellets in a ground trough/pan below your feeder.
If at first you dont succeed, then skydiving is not for you..
"Don't trust everything you read on the Internet"- Abraham Lincoln Dennis
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5566911
01/27/15 02:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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I put a protein feeder in the pen with a corn feeder. I mix corn with protein(50/50 mix) and only put a 5 gallon bucket or two in the feeder to start. Keep adding the mix till they eat all the mix. Then straight protein. I never fill a feeder to train deer to eat out of it. On a place where I knew the deer would be hard to train, I put 50# of straight corn in the protein feeder the first time to train the deer to eat out of it. Then put in the corn/protein mix the next time and gradually weaned the deer to straight protein. Jan-Feb or July-Aug can be the best months to train deer since usually range conditions and habitat can be the poorest. If you have a coon problem then expect problems of feed on the ground around the feeder with the corn/protein mix.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5567375
01/27/15 06:42 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 482
Hunter Daddy
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It took the deer on my side of the ranch about 6 months to start eating the protein out of my protein feeder. I have an automatic feeder with corn right next to this protein feeder. The deer at first would only eat the corn and ignore the protein (I started feeding protein at the beginning of April). By October, I had a 9 pointer eating protein (only deer on camera eating protein). By November, I had 20 deer (does and bucks) eating protein. Here it is now, January 27,2015 and I have deer eating protein every day. We still have corn feeding and green oatpatches scattered around but they sure want those pellets. Just keep feeding it. I put vasaline petroleum jelly on the legs of my protein feeder and the raccoons cannot go up the legs to get the pellets. It works!
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5567451
01/27/15 07:23 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,396
Pittstate
THF Trophy Hunter
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Why do you want to feed protein when you have home grown groceries? Bunching animals up to feed them just promotes the spread of disease. I am not against supplemental feeding at all and do it myself in Dec/Jan/Feb when the natural groceries are low or hidden by snow.
I am really interested to know why. Wondering if I am missing out on something.
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5568136
01/28/15 01:31 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,624
billyhunt
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Thanks everybody, I do. Gonna try some of what has been suggested. Pittstate I just want to try to help the bucks with some antler growth and the doe's might could use it. I understand what your saying, they might not even take to the protein but it might be worth while, cant hurt. Again thanks.
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5568298
01/28/15 02:35 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,350
aeb
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If you consider protein as a "supplement" and they do not eat it...maybe they don't need it. On the other hand, they just may not have the game figured out yet. When I start a new location, I place a corn spinner in the pen with the protein feeder and let it run for awhile. I then add a corn/protein mix to the protein feeder and they will begin to sample it. Gradually switch over to 100% protein and finally, shut off the corn feeder. Make sure you have a game camera on the pen to monitor progress.
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5569374
01/28/15 07:05 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 907
Erich
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I'm thinking if they've really got that much to eat at all times...there's really no point in trying to supplementally feed them. they're not going to show much interest in your corn feeders either with all that other stuff. they're already doing well nutritionally form the surroundings.
I'd set my stands up on the grain fields and other food sources that they are currently using...not worry about any feeders...and just focus on other areas of management. like water sources, habitat manipulation, herd density and composition.....no doubt with that much groceries you've probably got some outstanding birth and survival rates.
Outdoorsman
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5570048
01/29/15 01:40 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,624
billyhunt
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Erich they do come to my corn feeders, but just not to the protein feeder. But like you said and that's what I was wondering if they just don't really need it.
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5570090
01/29/15 02:03 AM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 194
luke0872
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Woodsman
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Give them time and they will hit it. It took 2 months on one of our places to get them on it. 50/50 corn protein is a good start.
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5570166
01/29/15 02:42 AM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,624
billyhunt
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Thanks luke072.
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5570366
01/29/15 04:53 AM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,534
JustWingem
Gentleman Jack
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Deer will also be seasonal hitting the protein.
DON'T GET CONFUSED BETWEEN MY PERSONALITY AND MY ATTITUDE. MY PERSONALITY IS WHO I AM...MY ATTITUDE DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ARE
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5570396
01/29/15 05:31 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
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Erich they do come to my corn feeders, but just not to the protein feeder. But like you said and that's what I was wondering if they just don't really need it. Billy, we've talked about this. Don't waste your hard earned $ on protein. Those deer around you are like deer around Kansas or other places in the Midwest. They have plenty of food choices with all the farming around you. Corn, sweet feed, water, cover, is all you need around your feeder area. And don't forget to walk that wheat field looking for trails to set up on.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5570608
01/29/15 01:57 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
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They will eat the protein someday when it gets dry again(it is Texas and the next drought started the last day it rained) and they need it. Once they do you will be wanting them to stop eating so much. Protein along with food plots will help keep the deer closer to your property and be a supplement when they need it. Anything you add should a supplement.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5571827
01/29/15 11:41 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,624
billyhunt
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Erathkid, boy I sure thank everybody!!!
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5572515
01/30/15 07:12 AM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 877
wtjim
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2012
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Try antler max... I tried several different brands and my deer smashed the antler max. Find what their pallet prefers
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Re: They will not eat on the protein feeder!!
[Re: billyhunt]
#5574133
01/31/15 02:23 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,396
Pittstate
THF Trophy Hunter
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Nothing wrong with giving them something that they may need every once in a while. I would set up mineral sites close to water every 100 acres or 40 deer capacity.
I am just real cautious about feeding a deer 20% protein when there is natural groceries with 30% or better protein growing around them. Deer are not smarter than a 16 year old kid....if given the chance, many will eat McDonalds over better food choices. So, as you can see, I don't believe the argument that deer will always eat what is best for them.
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