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Thoughts on feeding protien on low fence ranch in S TX? #5944904 09/24/15 09:10 PM
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SouthTXhunter07 Offline OP
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Do any of you feed protein on low fence or free range ranches? My ranch in south TX is about 250 acres, it is high fenced on 2 sides (corner) but shares a low fence with a large 30,000 acre ranch. I have the water source (tank).

Would it be worth my money and time to start feeding protein? We see nice bucks each year and I cant stand to think how these deer would grown with protein. How much money a year do you think it would cost to feed a 250 acre place? I would have to keep the hogs and javs out.

Thanks in advance.


Re: Thoughts on feeding protien on low fence ranch in S TX? [Re: SouthTXhunter07] #5944930 09/24/15 09:27 PM
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Have you talked to the low fence neighbors? Do they feed protein? It could be worth it and help hold more deer on your property, but depending on the number of mouths you have it can get real expensive



Re: Thoughts on feeding protien on low fence ranch in S TX? [Re: SouthTXhunter07] #5944942 09/24/15 09:36 PM
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It never hurts. The key is to establish a maternal group that stays on your property primarily. I have good neighbors around one property I hunt. It is only 350 acres. At any time there will be 20 plus does on the ranch and mature buck are always coming though. I rarely ever shoot anything unless it is over the old (post mature). still it is really nice to see so much.


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Re: Thoughts on feeding protien on low fence ranch in S TX? [Re: SouthTXhunter07] #5945090 09/24/15 11:35 PM
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Lot of things to consider before feeding. Lot of unanswered questions. I have fed the same amount of acreage for the last 3 yrs now year round. Has helped my deer numbers and quality a lot on those deer raised on feed.


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Re: Thoughts on feeding protien on low fence ranch in S TX? [Re: SouthTXhunter07] #5945167 09/25/15 12:25 AM
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It can't hurt. I would place a 1000 lb. free choice feeder in the middle of your property. up

Re: Thoughts on feeding protien on low fence ranch in S TX? [Re: SouthTXhunter07] #5945345 09/25/15 02:00 AM
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Originally Posted By: SouthTXhunter07
Do any of you feed protein on low fence or free range ranches? My ranch in south TX is about 250 acres, it is high fenced on 2 sides (corner) but shares a low fence with a large 30,000 acre ranch. I have the water source (tank).

Would it be worth my money and time to start feeding protein? We see nice bucks each year and I cant stand to think how these deer would grown with protein. How much money a year do you think it would cost to feed a 250 acre place? I would have to keep the hogs and javs out.

Thanks in advance.


If your water source is plentiful year round, a protein feeder in the area should be great. On a property your size, I'd try to avoid hunting it as to not discourage deer from visiting it. You want there to be as little disturbance as possible and it should be free choice, not spin fed. It won't take long to figure out what volume you'll need to keep it maintained.

Re: Thoughts on feeding protien on low fence ranch in S TX? [Re: SouthTXhunter07] #5949787 09/28/15 03:01 AM
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We have been feeding protein for a few years now on 241acres in south Texas low fence. We have noticed our deer population getting larger and deer seem healthier. It may be due to a few wetter years though. We have had our place since I think the 70s.

We now are managing age, feeding protein, have waterers, pens on feeders, plant food plots, and feed year round. The neighbors don't manage except for age but don't hunt much and there's not a lot of them.

I doubt we will see a huge difference ever, but we enjoy it and you can't take you're money with you when you're dead...

Is it wort it...idk yet.

Re: Thoughts on feeding protien on low fence ranch in S TX? [Re: SouthTXhunter07] #5950033 09/28/15 12:29 PM
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We have been feeding protein on our low fence place for a long time now and I would highly recommend doing this. We are low fence for miles around and have good water sources and have seen the improvements that protein provides. We fence off the pen with hog panel to keep out the unwanted game.

Re: Thoughts on feeding protien on low fence ranch in S TX? [Re: SouthTXhunter07] #5950486 09/28/15 04:41 PM
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320 Ac. LF. We feed protein free choice 9-10 months out of the year. Cant say what it did for the horns because we started feeding protein when we got the property, but it deffinitly has improved body condition and survival/reproductive rates in bad years.


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