I currently have 3 demand protein feeders and 5 spin corn feeders on my place. The deer seem to really love the protein, but since they can eat anytime they want at night, I plan on stopping the demand protein feeders before deer season starts.

I am thinking about putting protein pellets or a mixture of protein and corn in my spin feeders, since the deer seem to like the protein better than the corn. I tried this quite a few years ago, but the protein clogged up my feeders when it somehow got damp. I don't think they had the "watershield" protein feed then like they do now. Has anyone had any experience with the protein in spin feeders?

Switch to the Golden Deer Nuggets. It is 13% protien and they love it.

I run Protein in my Spin cast feeders, all i had to do was open the space between the funnel and throwing plate from 5/8" to 7/8" to make room for the Protein to clear.

I run a Wildlife Conculting service and I am a Wildlife Biologist .

Doc

Thanks for the information. I will be sure and put a little larger distance between the funnel and spinner plate.

Anyone else had any experience with straight protein or protein and corn mixture in spin feeders???

we tried it a few years back, even with a larger opening, but didnt have good results. Triple C feed in Burnet even sells a corn protein mix, rated at 16 % net protein. These are the feeders we use now, its timed but also free choice, so you can feed as much or as little as you want.

http://www.lamcofeeders.com/html/timed.html

oh and its a 5/32 protein, standard sheep and goat size.

Most pelleted feed breaks up when cast from a 12 volt spin feeder. In my opinion, I wouldn't want to waste good pelleted protein feed by putting it on the ground. If it goes on the ground it needs to be a bigger pellet like a 3/8" or so. The regular 1/8"-3/16" pellet just breaks up when its cast out. I would suggest trying black eyed peas in the feeder along with the corn. That has worked well for us.

We run some corn feeders with some protien in them. What we found over the last couple years is that you need to have about a 50% corn, 25% Protien, 25% Milo mix to make sure you have no cloging issues. The Milo acts like small ball berrings to help move everything out the feeder. This seems to work well and we have not had a cloged feeder since we have adopted this policy on the lease. Also, mix up the protien and corn well in the can and get the majority of the milo on top, in a couple of days the milo will work it's way down into all the feed and keep things running smoothly, also you will see turkey this deer season with that milo in there if your not allready.

I bought a Kenco Straight Shooter and consider it borderline junk. It stopped up continually when using corn. Do you think the milo might help it?

We just started using roasted soy bean and corn mix (50/50) this year. It's protein level is in the teens I believe. It is smaller than corn, so it shouldn't pose an issue throwing. Several people we talked to over the last few years swear by it. We'll see. We have alot of hogs and turkey that keep our feeder areas pretty clean, so it will be hard to tell which animals are actually eating it until deer season starts. We tend to stay out of the woods thru Sept. We are getting the mix at the local feed store in San Saba for $7.75 a bag. You can get 100% soy bean for about $11 a bag, but the only place we have found it is in Gaitesville (too far, and too much $$$).

Oh, and we use American Hunter feeders/mechanisms almost exclusively. But then again, half the leasers live in Kaufman so they're just around the corner.


Jay

As far as a management program goes...including your feed program...it is probably a bad idea to cease the feed program...IMO...the reason you are using (deer eating only at night) should not hurt your hunting. I have my protein out year round with no problem with hunting at corn feeders...also if you are on low fence property you will probably keep more deer on your property with the protein out free choice. You have to look at it from a deer standpoint...protein being their meat and potatoes and the corn being the ice cream and candy bars. They are not going to each feeder looking for the same thing...so the two types of feeders with the two different contents (corn and protein) are not "competing" with each other for deer. IMO

Another point is that it would be very hard to put out enough protein out of a spin feeder to make an impact on the deer herd. I am not real sure what your deer density is but it would have to be doing a lot of spinning to put out enough feed. You have to look at about 1lb of feed per deer per day in most situations.
JR

has any body used the deer feed that pilgrams feed is puting out?

Thanks txbobcat for your input. I don't have a problem feeding protein year round in the 3 protein feeders if that is the best thing to do to keep deer on my property. I was just afraid that they would not come to the corn feeders if they could eat protein anytime day or night.

Does anyone else feed protein year round and also use corn feeders? If so, what is your opinion.

Also, my corn feeders are set to feed at 7:00am and 4:30pm, but we are having a problem with nocturnal deer. I am thinking about changing the times to 7:00am and 12:00noon.

What times do most of you guys feed and is anyone else having problem with nocturnal deer???

I am in Stephens county, close to PK Lake. We are getting a lot of good pictures of really good bucks at the protein feeders, but most photos are at night.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

We only feed protein in the spring and currently use on-demand systems.

Our spin feeders throw corn at about the same times, but they come as soon as the feeder goes off and don't leave anything behind for any latecomers.

After reading the article below, I'm going to price soybeans in my area for use in the feeders. Will probably still only do it in the spring due to cost.
http://www.moultriefeeders.com/Articles/Nutrition/DanMoultrieonSoybeans.htm

I use the Pilgrims in both spin and gravity feeders. The deer love it, it is the only protein feed that they will eat. It works great in the spin feeders and doesn't clog. It is the same size as corn so goes through easily.

We feed 2 protein to 1 corn off season. Then slowly move into 1 to 1 going into season. During season will feed the roads with 100% corn.

Tried soybeans and "our" deer wouldn't eat it. Tried other protein feeds (including water resistant) and they wouldn't eat it either and the feed clogged up the feeders anyway.

If you are anywhere around Italy, call John at Gage's feed, 972-483-7241 for the best price on Pilgrim's. Tell him Sharon sent you.

He keeps it in stock for me, so don't go buying mine!

WATERSHIELD WORKS WELL FOR US!

Are these the same type of soybeans I would buy for a food-plot?

The soybeans you put in a feeder are usually roasted from what I have seen and used. This prevents rotting/molding and/ or germination inside your feeder I believe.

I have been using protein pellets with rain guard and have had no problems. Currently, I am using Sportsman's Choice and they love it. About $7.50 for a 50 pound bag.