We had enough rain early in the summer to have some decent antlers and I was seeing numerous bucks visiting my protein feeder. I usually switch from protein to corn around the middle of August. This year I had some bucks that I thought might add a couple of inches if I stayed with the protein, so I kept feeding protein. In the meantime, the rainfall fell off considerably as the summer got hotter and hotter and the pasture pretty much burned up. I know the protein is not helping the antlers any more and now more does and bucks are coming to the protein at all hours of the night and day. I had a 10 pointer stop by just before noon and it was 97 degrees. I just get the idea that right now there is not much in the pasture for them to feed on. If I switch to corn and feed protein at the same time, that might work out, by keeping the deer visiting the feeders at all hours for the protein, but when the corn starts to hit the ground, I know the hogs will show up. I have only seen them once right after I started feeding protein and I know they smelled the protein, but with no success, they went on their way. So, if the bucks are showing up at all hours, and the hogs not around, do you think I should stick with just the protein? Corn may pattern the deer early and late, but I think it will do the same for the hogs. Danged if I do and danged if I don't.

If you can afford corn and protein and your ranch is very dry with hungry deer than please feed both corn and pellets. Pellets are better for them. If it doesn't rain between now and deer season, the bucks will be all over those protein feeders.

Stay on the protein, as long as you can, they have been pounding the protein at my place now and all summer. My place is terribly burned up too and they need the groceries.
I feed corn and protein, year round, just to keep them frequenting the property and making it part of their routine.