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New to deer lease/hunting.
#6748761
04/28/17 04:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 42
Bald Eagle
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 42 |
Looking for recommendations on what to do on my first lease. My lease is down by Stephenville. I was planning on getting a corn and protein feeder. Do you feed corn and protein all year long? Salt or mineral blocks, do you recommend them? What about a very easy food plot? I do not have any farming equipment.
Thanks.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6748766
04/28/17 04:04 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,848
Texan Til I Die
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,848 |
Yes on the year round feeding. If your protein contains trace minerals (most do) you won't need the mineral block.
Silver spurs and gold tequila keep me hanging on. Pretty girls and old cantinas give me shelter from the storm.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6748885
04/28/17 06:32 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,379
Schpanky
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,379 |
set up a 10 panel round feed pen using hog panels....T post every 8 ft and get one of the corn and protein dual feeders from Dent Express in Stephenville ( http://www.dentexpress.org/wildlife-feeders.html )....install a game cam and you should be good to go
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6748911
04/28/17 07:22 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,971
Dry Fire
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,971 |
Always hated the newcomers. Made us older members look by bad because of all their energy and excitement.
coffee spelled backwards is eeffoc. I don't give eeffoc until I have my morning coffee.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Dry Fire]
#6748944
04/28/17 08:15 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,789
Mr. T.
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,789 |
Always hated the newcomers. Made us older members look by bad because of all their energy and excitement. Agree....I was just thinking darn darn darn because I have to go fill the feeder this weekend.
Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co. Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6748970
04/28/17 08:44 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 248
BooneDog
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 248 |
Get out there a few days after a rain when the tracks are fresh in the mud. Find where the deer are moving, feeding and bedding down. Set up your feeders where they want to be. Stephenville area has some good deer in spots but none in others. When you have spotty populations you can't always force the deer to feed where you want. My brother manages a cattle ranch that is spread out half way to Dublin. One 400 Ac place will have deer all over it and the next one won't have a one. A lot of people hunt where they think is the best or prettiest place instead of where the proof of deer is actually at.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6749528
04/29/17 03:59 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 |
Deer can be spotty, but good quality. I've hunted Erath since '99, when we bought our place. Lots of pigs, not a high deer population on our property. More bucks than does though.
Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: BooneDog]
#6750274
04/30/17 01:28 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,923
Stub
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,923 |
set up a 10 panel round feed pen using hog panels I have 10 hog panels around my feeder. If you can, make your feed pen a big circle and wait until after a rain or whenever the ground is moist to drive your T-Post, its a whole lot easier Get out there a few days after a rain when the tracks are fresh in the mud. Find where the deer are moving, feeding and bedding down. Set up your feeders where they want to be.
Also put your blind as far away as you are comfortable shooting, try and position the blind where the prevailing winds will not bust you. I like my blind to the N.E of where my feeder and the deer activity originates from. Good luck
Last edited by Stub; 04/30/17 02:40 PM.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6750408
04/30/17 05:30 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 785
Deer Hound
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 785 |
Stub not saying it wrong just curious why to the NE of the feeder. We always put most of our blinds South or slightly SW that way we can hunt a North, North East or North West wind. What direction does most of your fall and winter wind come from?
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Deer Hound]
#6750562
04/30/17 10:43 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,923
Stub
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,923 |
Stub not saying it wrong just curious why to the NE of the feeder. We always put most of our blinds South or slightly SW that way we can hunt a North, North East or North West wind. What direction does most of your fall and winter wind come from? Great question! The N.E setup works best for me because I only have a north to south entry into my hunting area so it is a logistics situation for me to begin with, remember I hunt only the east side of 80 acres. The deer mainly bed south or southwest of the blind and feeding area, the winds during November can fluctuate from any direction but seldom from the SW or West. Usually the winds are from the south or S.E which puts it in my face and down wind from the deer, or Northwest and any scent blows S.E where I have little deer movement. Everybody setup is different and lot of it has to do with what access you have and where the deer travel to and from. You hunt in Cotulla where the country will do 3 things to you. Stick, Sting or Bite you I have hunted Cotulla a couple of times back in the 90's, lots of deer, dove & quail Bottom line is you want to be down wind when you are hunting and you do not want to traverse across your targeted hunting area to get to your blind
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6750570
04/30/17 11:00 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,063
Wilhunt
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,063 |
Many feed protein Feb. thru August then corn Sept. thru January.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6752088
05/02/17 01:15 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,166
westtexaswatkins
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,166 |
I feed corn and protein year around. They slow down on the protein in the spring when it is green then hammer it summer through the winter. I can tell it has attracted more deer to my place since before I only slung corn year around.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6752315
05/02/17 04:43 PM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091
Always ready 2 hunt
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091 |
Agree with others. Don't skimp on building a solid pen around your feeder/protein equipment. Build as big a pen as you can (at least 8 panels but 10-12 even better) and lots of posts and wire. Even if no cattle/livestock; hogs will eventually aggravate you, cost you more feed and equipment repairs. They will still be around to shoot but just not inside your pen.
Corn year around and wish I could do protein the same. Just switched over a couple 1000# corn slingers to protein with "TheHammer.com) and started protein. Will increase the flow on those later this summer and winter.
Good luck sir. Save and 'cry once' on quality feeders/equipment as it will pay off in the long run.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6753848
05/04/17 01:07 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 42
Bald Eagle
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 42 |
Are the hog panels 8 or 16 feet in length? 36 inches tall? Thanks for all the suggestions!
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6753940
05/04/17 02:30 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 248
BooneDog
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 248 |
They are 16 feet long. If you use 8 panels your pen will 40 feet across. Easy to measure 20 foot from center point. If you have stock on your place you need the 52 in tall panels to keep cows and horses out in my opinion.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6755724
05/06/17 02:21 AM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091
Always ready 2 hunt
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091 |
If you go with the 52" panels, then where you want the deer to jump into the pen cut down the top row or two of squares for a lower jump in spot. I do this in 2 locations on each of my pens also helps so younger deer/fawns can more easily jump in. Also be sure to make your self a gate area with one of panels large enough to drive in with utv/truck (even if you don't plan to back into the pen) over time you make upgrade to larger feeders or have a friend with a utv/ranch truck and you'll want the ease/convenience of pulling next to feeder for easier filling (assuming you don't go with stand and fill.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: BooneDog]
#6755733
05/06/17 02:31 AM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,695
krmitchell
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,695 |
They are 16 feet long. If you use 8 panels your pen will 40 feet across. Easy to measure 20 foot from center point. If you have stock on your place you need the 52 in tall panels to keep cows and horses out in my opinion. We've never had a cow get in a pen with 36 inch hog panels. Also run a strand of barb wire on top. The deer however are less likely to jump a higher pen.
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Re: New to deer lease/hunting.
[Re: Bald Eagle]
#6760394
05/10/17 11:05 PM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 862
rattler03
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 862 |
I use hog panels from tractor supply for my feeder pen. I believe they're 34" tall. I haven't had any trouble with hogs or cows. I've even cut the top square out in the front of my pen because my feeder is about 6' higher in elevation than my my stand, so my stand floor elevation is only 2' higher than the ground under my feeder. I only set one t-post in the middle of each 16' panel and wire the panels together where they meet. No problems with hogs or cows getting in pen this way and half as many t-posts. However, my landowner is responsible and doesn't run too many head of cattle. My pens were 10 panels in a circle, but I just expanded my primary feeder to 16 panels in an oval shape since I added a protein feeder. I still feed corn year round but turn it down march through august.
I feed protein year round now. Another hunter on my lease was doing this and seeing a ton of deer, so I added protein to my Location.
Most importantly set the stand and feeder up to put you downwind when you have the primary wind. It'll most likely be a south to southeast wind. Put up a secondary stand or a completely different setup to hunt the opposite wind. I like having my primary stand northeast of my feeder. I always try to put my feeder in a natural travel route of the deer in my area.
Last edited by rattler03; 05/10/17 11:07 PM.
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