I hunt in San Augustine, that area has had massive amounts of rain so far this year. Last year was a good year with rain and good bucks. We are filling the feeders this coming up weekend, (we don't feed yearly, around this time through end of season). Is it to late to feed protein? They just started sprouting bone.

I think the best time to feed protein is soon after the rut so they can put weight back on get healthy before the new bone even starts growing. I don't think protein would hurt but prob won't be real effective on this years growth but like I said couldn't hurt

Ok, I'll probably just feed corn and rely on the green. Last year year was great with all the rain. I think this year will be the same if not better. Can't wait.

Yep I'm already seeing some great growth mostly with deer feeding on natural food

Last year lease owner done a control burn on entire lease, year before that it was logged, just knotted pine. But since the deer have improved like crazy. Now is we could get rid of the sicomore trees sprouting every where it would be even better.

With the summer heat getting started I would definitely feed protein now. I feed it year around and can definitely tell it has attracted more deer to my area plus it is good for them.

Mix soybeans with your corn

Consider this, antlers are direct reflection of the current body condition of that buck. So, as we want cows in "breeding condition" prior to being bred, we want bucks as healthy as possible prior to the onset of antler growth. When this happens, a healthy buck can allocate nutrients that are taken in directly to antler growth rather than repairing or trying to maintain the needs of the body itself. In wet years, on good habitat we see healthy bucks thus an explosion of antler growth is the result of this. In dry years - on less than ideal habitats, we see bucks that are nutritionally stressed, therefore antler growth is less than ideal because nutrients taken in are used to keep the body functioning. Like it or not, supplemental feed (protein) provided ad libitum can reduce a lot of the negative effects of poor nutritional habitat and/or dry conditions. If you are going to feed it, as stated earlier, it is best in the winter and summer when native vegetation is likely poor (unless your in the brush country of south Texas) and the bucks are post rut or slightly stressed from summer conditions and in need of a protein bar. This will help them hit optimum body condition prior to antler growth and through the antler growth period. Bear in mind, you need enough feeders per acre that any deer at any time can have access to the feed.

Those may be the "best" time to feed but anytime you can give them something to make them healthier,why not? I'm starting to mix soybeans with my corn and will leave mineral salt blocks out. Protein is Always good for their growth, be it antler or otherwise so I wanna give my deer all they want for an overall healthier herd.

Green does not necessarily mean sufficient. Plants are high in nutrients right now, but dang near every day they will lose some of their nutrient value and usually by the start of the season most plants are pretty much nothing but fiber.

My suggestion is feed now anyway. The does are the ones that need the extra nutrition because they are lactating and feeding your future deer crop.

If it's really, really green you could probably get away with 16%, but I would feed 18%. After the native stuff gets to be basically fiber (read more woody than anything else) consider moving up to 20%.

JMO.