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Protein Hokum
#8503447
01/14/22 05:42 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,350
aeb
OP
THF Celebrity
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OP
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,350 |
The lease manager on my lease has come up with the idea that you only need to fill the free-choice protein feeders three times a year. Once in January, once in April and again in August. Prior to this, protein was available year round. I have requested the name of his "nutritionist". He is " going to get back to me'!
In all seriousness, he probably was not totally aware of the cost when he agreed to continue a year round feeding program and is looking for a way to cut costs. What would be your recommendations for an adequate feeding program that would not lose what has been accomplished after several years of a12 month program.
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8503468
01/14/22 11:13 AM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,663
DQ Kid
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,663 |
Probably 3 to 4x times a year, Jan/Feb.- Mar.April - July/Aug. - Nov./Dec.; bit of a hard scenario not knowing the acreage size, # of protein stations, deer densities, average consumption monthly as previously estimated or known, etc. but in all I'd say 4x a year should get you pretty decent results...
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8503582
01/14/22 02:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Think of feeding like you would the accelerator on your truck. The more you push down the faster your truck goes, you let off it slows to a stop. Antlers are growing tissue, you slow down they will slow also if the native forage is not up to or above average.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8503647
01/14/22 03:38 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,743
QuitShootinYoungBucks
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,743 |
If I could only feed part of the year, I would feed Jan-Jun. Helps with recovery and 60%+ of antler development. So I would fill in January, and two more times as soon as they are empty.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170223065011/http:/www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8503691
01/14/22 04:30 PM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,259
Smokey Bear
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,259 |
Protein from mid January to mid September is what the boys I hunt with do. Basically no protein while the bucks are hard antlered. While that cuts the annual feeding duration by 33%, in east texas at least, the bucks don’t seem to hit the protein very hard or with regularity during that timeframe. In that respect the $ saved is minimal.
Edit to add: annual feed bill on that program is in the 4-5k/feeder range.
Last edited by Smokey Bear; 01/14/22 04:42 PM.
Smokey Bear---Lone Star State.
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8503775
01/14/22 05:57 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8,043
Stompy
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 8,043 |
I started feeding protein in 2002. Cut back a couple of years to save some cost and only fed 6 months a year. Didn't like the results so for the past 14 years it's been pedal to the floor, year round feeding and they never run out. And I'm liking the results.
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8506534
01/17/22 09:51 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,480
4Weight
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,480 |
I've shut the protein off the last couple of Octobers and it sure seems to help see more bucks and deer in general in the daytime.
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8509344
01/21/22 02:11 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,350
aeb
OP
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,350 |
3500 acres with 10 free choice LP 750 lbs Cross Fire feeders. Their plan is to fill the feeders by the calendar beginning in January, return and refill in April, July and October!!! Their January fill lasted two weeks. What kind of nutritionist would recommend walking away until next spring?
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8509648
01/21/22 01:56 PM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,395
Hudbone
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,395 |
Just the way we do it on about 1,200 acres with five fee choice feeders totaling 4,800 lbs total capacity. Our program was modified just this past year after some discussion with a knowledgeable curmudgeon. Right now, protein and cottonseed. Bucks need the higher fat content provided by cottonseed to rebuild their bodies. Not going to worry about refilling the protein, but will maintain the cottonseed.
March 1st, protein will be filled to the brim. Will come down every three weeks until the end of April and will be prepared to fill each feeder on those trips. Bene charting it for about 15 years now and after that, the deer allow us to slow down. Will get down there when we can and then whenever we fill up on or about July 1st, that'll be it on the protein until sometime in mid to late September. On or about that July 1st trip, we do reintroduce cottonseed. When it gets hot, the deer tend to slow down on the protein content, possibly because of the salt and seem to prefer hitting cottonseed. At that point and when we come down on subsequent trips, we are just maintaining the cottonseed and that's pretty easy.
Labor day, fill up corn feeders. The next time we come down in mid to late September, we fill the protein back up as bucks are looking to put on weight and build strength in anticipation of the rut. This was our major change after speaking with Obie Juan, the noted deer whisperer and spotted hog killer. I know his experience is vast and these thoughts about bucks attempting to fill out at that time, made a ton of sense to me.
It is my personal belief, the most important part of all this making protein available from March 1 through the middle of May. If I were to only fill up three times in a year, it would be then.
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8512940
01/25/22 12:39 PM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,395
Hudbone
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Posts: 14,395 |
" . . . . Right now, protein and cottonseed. Bucks need the higher fat content provided by cottonseed to rebuild their bodies. . . . . ." They need it and they need it right now. The weight this buck lost is, well, amazing. His front is "gone". Cottonseed will be introduced in the next couple of weeks after the hot wire is installed on this pen - assuming it works on the two others we put them in.
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: Hudbone]
#8512948
01/25/22 12:51 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Do you think if you put the cottonseed in another pen close by or between the two current pens it would keep the cattle out of the two protein feed/corn feeder pens? You just have to repeat..."It is only money, it is only money, it is only money......" Especially since hog panels are not up to $31.99 and cattle panels up to $28.99. " . . . . Right now, protein and cottonseed. Bucks need the higher fat content provided by cottonseed to rebuild their bodies. . . . . ." They need it and they need it right now. The weight this buck lost is, well, amazing. His front is "gone". Cottonseed will be introduced in the next couple of weeks after the hot wire is installed on this pen - assuming it works on the two others we put them in.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8521632
02/03/22 05:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,861
Texan Til I Die
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,861 |
We start feeding protein the last week of December and continue into September. This time of year I have to refill the protein every 5 - 6 weeks until the Spring green up, then it goes to every 8 - 10 weeks. Corn gets fed year round.
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: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8522485
02/04/22 01:53 PM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,395
Hudbone
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,395 |
Seeing lots and lots of activity at the cottonseed.
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8522510
02/04/22 02:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,638
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,638 |
I’m sure every little bit helps, but it’s not going to last long. We have 500 lb free choice feeders (4 on 300 acres) and the deer will empty them in 2 weeks in hard times.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8532210
02/15/22 06:53 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,213
tShawnB
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,213 |
We start in January to help them recover and we pour it to them until we top off in July/August one last time before the Fall. Range conditions play a big part in how much they eat. At present we have 5 free choice feeders on 1300 acres and the deer are going thru about 250 pounds a week per feeder. With an expected dryer than normal winter and spring, I expect this will continue thru the summer until the last filling. We run corn feeders just a spurt twice a day and have mineral placed around them so the deer capture that crucial benefit as well. It's not a 401K plan, but it's fun.
How come everybody I meet is a deer hunting expert?
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8532222
02/15/22 07:02 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,852
Wytex
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,852 |
Is it possible to do some habitat improvement and cut down on the feeding ? I have no clue on your area just asking if some long term habitat improvements might help cut some costs.
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Re: Protein Hokum
[Re: aeb]
#8532238
02/15/22 07:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185
hook_n_line
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185 |
Last edited by hook_n_line; 02/15/22 08:31 PM.
Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
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