I just got a new lease guys is it too late to start protein feeding and has anyone hunted in the area? It's off 285 and county rd 109, not sure what to expect on deer density since I have never hunted this area

Never too late to get started. Congrats on the new lease.

Protein's effect on an animal is a cumulative process built up over years, not 1 season. If you feed protein for the next 2-3 years, you'll see it in the antlers of surviving deer.

So it's never really "too late" to start. It's a few years too late to have an effect on this year's crop, unless someone else was feeding them.

Good deer in the area numbers and genetics. How good the hunting is will proably vary largely upon how the property has been hunted/manged in the past, how large it is, and how the neighbors conduct themselves.

Good luck

The lease is next to the Jones ranch property is being managed corn and protein by the existing members I hope it's a good place to stay on for years

Some nice deer out there. Tons of dove. Congrats.

I disagree-any increase in nutrition is beneficial and you should still see some impact this year from feeding, compared to not feeding at all. They may not be at the same point as if they were 3 years down the protein road, but there is no doubt it would help.

It takes years for protein to pay off. It requires age as well. I would start feeding and never stop. A trophy buck must reach at least 5-6 years of age to be mature. So to really reap the benefits, those bucks would need protein in their diets for the same number of years

When you start feeding protien you truly are targeting the younger bucks and does. You are trying to get them a custom to it. That way they have years and years of utilizing it. They are the ones that will benefit most from it.

Late yes, to late no. I just wouldn't fill feeders to max or even half max until they get a custom to it

So far the range conditions in the area are great, lots of growth. If/when it turns dry again the protein and other feeds will keep your deer in good shape.

sounds like it has decent neighbors and some management in place. probably it won't be too bad. depends on what your expectations are I suppose. deer numbers are good for south texas, but less than what you'd typically see in the hill country or something. again it depends on what you are used to. dove and quail hunting are excellent. plenty hogs usually, and javlina.

Jones have several ranches, the one you mentioned and at least 2, that I know of, on 1017 south of where you are going towards La Gloria. If the one next to you is like the other two, it is well taken care of, and if not high fenced on your side, should be a plus for you.

Only hunted down there on invitation a couple of times. Good luck with your new place. It's a whole different world than 90% of the members on here are used to.

Very familiar with the area our family ranch is off 1017 in southern jim hogg. It depends on what area of the jones dictates answers to your questions. I always forget whose part is whose but if it borders up to Frank's or the sisters youll have excellent deer. if its on one of the sisters place expect to do some culling, but trophies will present themselves. The jones area im most familiar with is alta vista area, which Tres i believe owns and is based at tacubya. The entire ranch has good deer, but is not evenly distributed, due to some areas not being hunted on, and other factors. Just an fyi, do expect illegals if youre east of 1017 between 281 and 1017. It is a major highway for em. I would feed protein ONLY if i was going to be there at least 5 years. The natural genetics and natural protein available yield 170bc class bucks year in year out. Instead of protein id do food plots/and drinkers youll draw wayyy more trophy class bucks. Numbers are not all the same in the area, a lot has to do with hunting pressure and what piece of the jones youre bordered up against. Great job finding a lease there and best of luck.

The lease looks promising set up 1 protein feed station with a water tank for supply keeping that area off limits but centered in my area to hunt, I'm about 300-400 yards away from the jones high fence did scouting and saw rooting along the fence could be from hogs and deer have more than likely crossed, I will say there are solar powered cameras throughout the ranch and just to get in is 4x4 only to avoid any poachers driving around if they are in 2wd lease obviously knows what it has and the owners take good care of it to keep the members feel safe at all times as they have a ranch hand and guard at the entrance

Main Jones ranch I was familiar with is Los Borregos on the west side of 1017. Beautiful ranch that butts u against the east fenceline of what was (maybe still is) the Robert East ranch which runs west all the way to FM 649. Robert had some monster bucks, I called them front cover of Outdoor Life bucks. Great area and pretty darn good quail hunting too.

I have this place several miles south of Hebbronville and it borders Jones Ranch. We have very strict rules of 2 bucks and 2 hogs, no more than that. Very well managed by a well respected lease master, respectable hunters who are well knit together to have a safe / good environment and honors the rules. We have protein fed 2nd year in a row and this place is nothing like the old deer leases I had for the last 30 years. I rate this ranch a A plus. On the old ranches I have been on, its over gunned, too many hunters who break rules, shoot more than the limit. Old ranches I have been on has a 10 to 15% success rate for big deer per hunter but this place has almost 100% success rate of 2 big bucks per hunter. I am here to stay. Just bought a 800 pound gravity feeder to use protein only and using two other motorized feeders for corn only. It's hog paneled as well because the hogs eat all the corn / protein when the feeders go off. I sent two pics. One of the pics is a nice buck with thick mass with a broken horn on the left side fighting another buck. The other is a beautiful racked deer. It's not monster bucks, but respectable bucks I would be happy with.

Where at Stan? Who is your lease master if I may ask?

cant believe no one has mentioned the great big rattle snakes in that area

Lots of indigo's for us so just a few rattle bugs.

Same here, we have several big indigo's and for what you would think of south texas we see very few ratlers. Been on our place for about ten years now and have not even seen a "1" rattler for every year.

That is true the day I was setting up my equipment I did see an indigo crossing a senders but no rattlers

Where is everyone getting the "it takes years for protein to work" mentality ???

Simple facts your not going to feed protein and record book bucks abound. Kids that grow up to be 6'5" probably wouldn't attain the same stature if they were malnourished from age 1-15. Antler development is second to body structure development, the quicker and easier you make it for the deer to attain what he needs for his growing body the more he will devote to antlers.

Also it takes time for deer to get accustomed to eating protein.