Long story short, the land owner is requiring free range or timed drop protein pellets next year during the "off season". In the past he allowed corn/soy mix or L&E Blast for us hunters that only had broadcast feeders but no more after this season (not enough protein in that form according to land owner).

I been looking at the ASF 1,000lb Electric Protein Stand & Fill and I see it has a good reputation and a few members of this forum also use it. I also see that ASF recently came out with the "Corn Pro" which is a dual purpose protein drop and corn broadcast feeder. Which sounds like a good idea but I am a bit leery about the protein trough feed part, as it looks like to get the trough feed to work, you slide up some baffles to cover the broadcast ports and the protein then richochets around and falls down into the trough below. What concerns me is (and I may be wrong here) but that sounds like you are running protein pellets through a broadcast spinner normally used for corn. I have seen what protein pellets can do to a broadcast spinner mechanism when they get moist and then turn into concrete!

A couple of other options I have looked at are pretty spendy, the open trough feeders from HB, Lamco and Ranch King

Since the lease is almost five hours away I feel the timed release feeder is going to be my best bet over the free range as I would like to control how much feed is being dispensed.

So with all that said do you think the ASF 1,000lb Electric Protein Stand & Fill will serve me best or is there something better out there? Thanks!

'Don't mean to divert away from your recommendation goal here, but I can't help but notice that your LO is upping the bar in the middle of, what I assume, is a signed contract? And I doubt he's lowering your lease cost due to increased expenses due to his new rule?

Whats the cost of the unit you are considering? Im asking for my personal research on something like this.

Hi CR you are correct

I was given a "oh by the way next year" while I was down there filling up the feeder a few weeks ago. It is a yearly contract and no I doubt any lease costs will be lowered. I could complain ...but frankly I won't because at the moment this is the best lease I can afford and for the location (hill country) the price is pretty good. Besides, you ever tried arguin' with a hill country German about feeder costs and contracts? Actually, I am more afraid of his wife! LOL

I am considering this one at the moment it is $999 which is probably the going rate. I haven't called around yet but I imagine they will all be $999

https://www.allseasonsfeeders.com/collections/protein-feeders/products/1000lb-electric-standandfill

I have a ASF #1000 and like it except, it will not empty all the protein contained inside. Protein tends to stick to all 4 tapered walls. I’m considering a #600.

I agree, I have the 600 lb that dispenses the feed in a trough. works ok for me. The feed don't actually stick to the side but on the funnel part. The sides aren't steep enough where the funnel begins. I am a firm believer in Purina Antler Max. I now use the roasted soybeans mix with corn. The deer love it. We own the land so we don't have to bother with land owners.

This one has been running 3 years zero issues, I think it’s ASF

FTWshooter, My lease is 4 hours away. It's been in a drought since 2018. We feed free choice protein, cottonseed, and spin cast corn. Yes, it's expensive but the deer are getting what they need to grow while we are waiting for the drought to break. There aren't always this many bucks trying to feed at once, but I want them to get all they want. How much would you feed per cycle?

I think with the bucks you have eating I would try to adjust timer to basically give them all they will clean up in a certain amount of time. I wouldn't want a whole lot left for the coons.

2-3lb per deer per night


True maximization in your case would be 2 protein feeder 20 yards apart and 4-6 ports each feeder.

Problem is the pecking order of bachelor group. Not all bucks get to feed for same amount of time. When lead buck leaves the rest follow. He may also keep others at a distance

This is also why bulk cotton seed is so effective when feed in conjunction with pellet, individual tolerant is spreed out and give multiple options

2-3 pounds per deer each night? You spending time with Norml? He ain’t hunting a pen.

What we ran on timed lamco in hill country during summer. 1lb per deer per spin. 2 spins a night. One at dark and other 1-2 hrs before day light. You are also always going to feed more deer then you think also

Bobo, how do you know how many deer you are feeding. Just watch what feeds on cam??
And Im not sure what Huds comment meant unless its similar to mine....... Actually, as I think about it, Hud and I are smoking(or not) the same stuff.

Yes, camera. No I said a night and he was probably thinking I was saying 2 lb per deer every feeding. We only fed at night during heat if summer . Timed is not optimal if you are trying to target fawns etc. top end of the social pecking system will be optimized the most.

Hud was asking if I was smoking the funny stuff…. Yet he wears leather shorts

Yes, the shorts, and he talks openly about his sausage…..

Being as the LO is a hill country square-head, maybe his demand that his hunters put out protein is his no-cost-to-me way of converting to a Wildlife Valuation on his property taxes and getting rid of his cattle? If so, the state guidelines (regs?) for the Wildlife Valuation are free-choice only. Although I've never heard of anyone being audited/inspected, each CAD is very different and goes about things they way they see fit.

Thanks for the replies
Ehhh to be honest I haven’t really thought about how much feed to drop yet. I see two consistent groups in my pictures with about 12 deer total, ASF says their feeder will drop 12lbs of feed with a 10 second cycle so I am thinking two 10 second drops at a minimum would work for me?

thinking the 1000 lb model would get me through a month at that rate (minus what feed clings to the inside of the feeder)

I know it will empty pretty quickly but thinking of building a chickenwire cottonseed feeder too as another supplement.

Sounds like you will figure it out. Hopefully the neighboring ranches will feed protein as well.

You don’t want to go that heavy for a few months. if you put out the 1k feeder next week, I’d put 500lb of 50% corn to protein and feed 2 seconds a spin and then increase as utilization goes up.

You want them cleaning it up or moisture can cause it to clog. Higher the utilization per pound the less likely moisture will soak up the funnel.

Thanks all, I appreciate your responses