What I've noticed on our 100acres in Freestone county after feeding protein free choice for the last 4yrs is.... It gets expensive, quickly!

From late winter until the rut we have more deer on the place daily than ever before, increasing numbers each year (which means more protein bought and eaten). Mostly bucks both young and older. The word is spreading amongst the herd.

Come rut (about mid-October) our core herd of doe seem to hang around, along with a few of our young and mature bucks, but most bucks displace out somewhere else, few of those that meet antler restrictions ever return.

Deer are going to do what deer do at certain times of the year. During the rut no amount or type of feed will effect that. Right now we have protein, lush green oats, corn, minerals, and great water on our place, not to mention the acorns and other natural food they can get anywhere in the area. But their instinct to procreate transcends all of that. Our corn feeders haven't gotten any action since mid-October, protein either, they will sometimes slow down and graze the oats as they walk thru but only out of convenience.

We have seen a marked improvement in just a few years when comparing similar age class deer and antler growth. Mainly in mass, tine length and width seem to be improved but to a lesser extent. Nothing spectacular on any front, but enough to see a difference. Even our really young age class deer are sporting a couple more points and better racks on average than they did before we started the protein program, which in a few cases makes them "legal" a year before they otherwise might have been before, and opens them up to being clipped while out cruising for poontang because the bigger bucks have our doe locked down.

We're going to phase in timers on a couple of protein feeders this year, with the remaining couple next year and see how our numbers and quality shake out.

In the end, feeding protein does have tangible benefits, I've seen enough positive so far that I'm not willing to give up on it. The expense for us is increasing every year because we're drawing in more deer every year, not sure if this snowball ever stops growing?

A lot of it will depend on the properties around you as well. If your place in San Saba is anything like the 900acre lease I hunted for a decade or so in that county then the doe population is likely much better, which hopefully holds more bucks closer to home range during the rut. Lots of variables there still, surrounding properties always being a huge factor when on a smaller parcel.

I have fed small acreage places 160-320 acres over the last 10 years with a single 1K gravity feeder. The All Seasons stand and fill is a tank, especially the one on skids. Start them 2/3 protein 1/3 corn for the first fill and they will chomp it. Then straight protein. I also only feed Jan-Oct. See way more deer during the season when it's cut off and they aren't totally nocturnal to eat.

Whether you go timed or gravity, just do it. It's great for antler development but even more important nutritionally post rut for bucks and when your does are carrying fawns.

Good luck

If you have LOTS of patience

After spending my whole life chasing these animals, I am under the belief most men w a rifle will shoot small deer given the chance

Theres a good chance your neighbor won't pass on a 3.5 year old 130", 10 point...as in really good chance...

8 out of 10 are blasting away I promise

And thats why I say if you have enough patience, it will eventually pay off