I reckon it's common knowledge that big bucks don't come in to graze around auto feeders, but what about gravity feeders with protein?
Are we just beefing up younger deer, or do the bigger bucks eat and benefit from them?

Any deer raised eating out of or around a feeder 365 days per year will benefit. That feeder just becomes part of the habitat and they then will seek out what they need when they need it. I have seen big mature bucks eating under spin feeders many times because they were raised around those feeders.

If by "common knowledge" you mean "myth" or "highly variable claims," then your query might stand.

You can find huge amounts of online pics documenting big bucks at automatic feeders.

Just like anything else some like em and some don't.

Even if the big bucks don’t come to the feeder to eat, they’ll sure swing by to check on the does that do eat at them

Yep. Even laying under them waiting to go off, big bucks - on the Welder.

Common knowledge?? B.S.

yes sir and sometimes they will even go in for a bite.

Exactly what stxranchman said!

Thanks for the input y'all, we have a few younger bucks coming into the auto feeders, we see signs of mature bucks on the property but not on cam so, we put up a gravity protein feeder on a long easement 2 weeks ago.

As song says: First taste of .. Noticed this on first lease had. Back then twas mostly corn feeders & food plots, the bucks lurned ta skirt these areas, feed at night,
As pappy say's:
" deer learn ta pattern hunters. "

If they feel safe they might come in.
We supose ta be smarter, yet how many of us are over weight.

Me for one.

Auto feeder is the way to go. You control when the food is dispensed and also how much. With a gravity feeder they can feed at all times of the day.

THIS^
When coons, pigs, squirrels, crows, turkeys, etc. find a gravity feeder, they often just live there until it's gone, only leaving to get a drink or take a nap.

An auto feeder drops how much you want, when you want.

All depends on how many times the buck witnessed one his buddies getting shot at the feeder or getting shot at.