I have too many corn feeders and not a single protein feeder on my lease. The idea was this was my first year there and to set up a hand full of feeders and try to find a good spot. Now that deer season is wrapping up, I am going to get rid of the extra feeders and commit to just one spot and add a protein feeder as well.

My lease is two hours away and my feeder is fenced off to keep the cows out. Which protein feeder do you recommend? Or which is tried and true, hassle free since its not easy to get out and fixed something.

Also, if anyone wants to trade a protein feeder for a corn feeder, or wants to save some money and buy one of these, let me know. I have two from buc-ee's and one 600lb feeder from academy with a built in ladder. All bought this year

I am really a fan of the timed protein feeder. I have one from All Seasons, and have had great luck with it. During the season, I only feed in the morning, forcing the deer to move during daylight if they want protein. In the off season - summer, I'll feed once in the morning, and once around midnight.

Free choice is probably benefits the deer better, but I don't like feeding coons.

TX Hunter Products and always free choice - I am willing to feed others as long as the deer babies get fed.

This!

Me as well.

If you're a land owner with Wildlife Valuation for taxes, and supplemental food is one of your activity choices, timed feeders aren't supposed to qualify.

'Never had a 'coon on camera hanging off one of my free choice feeders. The feed is lasting a pretty good while, even with as dry as it's been.

Creekrunner they can and will. If it gets to bad we trap them. This is an Outback free choice feeder that is 16 years old.



Sorry for the poor image quality. I couldn’t figure out how to post a video so I took a screen shot.

Ordered a bunch of dukes…. It’s about to war

From the old style TX Hunter.



From my old combo feeder - since sold

There are lots of variables, beginning first and foremost with your budget.

Also, how long do you expect/need your protein feeder to last?

Another important question is how often do you expect to make it out to your lease during the off-season to fill it?

We started out with 2000# gravity fed feeders (from Atascosa Wildlife Supply). Solid metal construction and still going strong after 25 years. The plus to these is that they hold enough protein that they only need to be filled about every 3 months, give or take. The downside is that they require an 8-foot step ladder to fill, and humping 30 or 40 bags of protein up and down every time (imagine the joy of doing that, in July, by yourself!). Also, the central downspout boxes need to be cleaned out at least once a year, and, occasionally, the tops need to be caulked/sealed to prevent water from leaking in. Because of their size, it's a big undertaking to move them, requiring at least 3-4 people and a flatbed trailer.

The most recent one we purchased, about 10 years ago, was a 700# Lamco that can easily be filled while standing on the ground. Also solid metal construction. Money well spent, IMHO (though they were quite a bit less expensive 10 years ago). But, obviously, it has to be filled much more frequently. It will fit in the bed of a pickup, if moving [to a different location or a different lease], and it can be loaded fairly easily with just 2 people.

They just started getting on my ASF 400lb gravity feeder after many years. Dukes will be out next trip.

On sale at Scheels. I just ordered 4

ASF has a 1K feeder that we have on our place. It is on sleds and works great. It is a stand and fill but I get on my tailgate to load. Best one out there for the money IMO.

Looks like it is now a 1250. Great feeder

https://www.allseasonsfeeders.com/c...roducts/1250lb-stand-fill-protein-feeder

I still have around 20 of them I used at my previous property.

That’s the one I have but it’s a 400lb’er.

Recommendations on bait?

I use the timed All Seasons protein feeder and have for 3 years. I only use it as an attractant starting about mid September along with a timed broadcast corn feeder that goes year round. I have mine set to go off early in the AM soon after sun up. Coons already gone back to bed, I had very few coons hit it. I had as many as 7-8 at a time hitting corn that was broadcast in the PM after dark, the deer had already cleaned up the feed from the timed protein feeder.

I tried a gravity feeder for a while. I calculated what I got for hunting. Calculated what the feed bill was going to be. Calculated that I was going to loose money. And that is the end of that story.

"Lose" money. "Loose" change.

Coons and free choice feeders are made for each other. Trapping their numbers down is the only way to mitigate it. Coonhoods allegedly stop anything that gets on the tubes them but I haven't used them.

Bobo bait for the Dukes traps = jumbo marshmallows

I’ve used mini marshmallows in the winter but they melt when it’s hot. Been using cheap branded Fruit Loops with good success.

Me too! I have the 600lb stand and fill, timed, and love it. It's not bad since I only live about 45 minutes from my lease but wish I would've gone bigger. Had it (and 2 of the stand and fill corn feeders) for 4years, and only replaced 1 battery so far. They also have the solar panels.

https://www.allseasonsfeeders.com/collections/stand-and-fill/products/600lb-electric-protein-feeder

Biggest feeder you can afford since you're two hours away.

I like Atascosa and Outback.
I have two ASF 2k protein feeders and they are made for all seasons but not rain.

Outback makes a good timed protein feeder, Atascosa doesnt have a timed option as far as I know.

Timed protein will be a lot easier on your wallet, I use free choice but obviously a different situation.

I've always used cat food...but I bet that fruitloop smell attracts them like a fat kid to a candy store!