If you are feeding Antlermax 20 % with climate guard and cottonseed, are the bucks getting all the minerals they need to grow their best set of antlers? Feeders are free choice now until October. I'm talking south Texas, Kinney county. I guess I want to know do I need to provide additional minerals, mainly phosphorus? I realize the best thing would be for it to rain and they get most of their nutrition from the pasture.

Verde

Here is what I do, it's a recipe from UTube and the deer like it. I've been in the stand and have seen them stand there for 5 minutes licking it up.

Cheaper to mix your own, I run 3 mineral sites.

2 parts livestock minerals
1 part fine cattle salt
1 part dried molasses
1 part di-calcuim phosphate aka "dical".

Do you think this mixture improves their antlers?

Do you think the protein I'm feeding gives them all the minerals they need?

This is from the AM20 PDF:

OPTIMUM LEVELS OF VITAMINS AND MINERALS
- Helps support antler growth, density and strength.
Optimum levels of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium
and vitamin D. Contains proprietary AntlerMax®
Mineral Technology including organic trace minerals
for replenishing depleted bone material stores used
during antler mineralization.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS:
Crude Protein (Min) ................................20.00%
Crude Fat (Min) .........................................3.00%
Crude Fiber (Max) ...................................13.00%
Ash (Max) ...............................................10.00%
Calcium (Ca) (Min) ....................................1.00%
Calcium (Ca) (Max) ...................................1.50%
Phosphorus (P) (Min) ................................1.00%
Salt (NaCl) (Min) .......................................0.25%
Salt (NaCl) (Max) ......................................0.75%
Sodium (Na) (Max) ...................................0.55%
Potassium (K) (Min) .................................0.50%
Selenium (Se) (Min).............................0.60 ppm
Selenium (Se) (Max) ............................0.72 ppm
Vitamin A (Min) ..............................11000 IU/LB
Vitamin D3 (Min) ............................... 600 IU/LB



Pretty similar to what Imperial puts in their 30-06 WT Mineral supplement. IMO if you're feeding this, the only reason for a mineral supplement is to encourage those deer that don't eat much of the protein.

I agree with you. I sent a email to Purina and they said the same thing.

Remember.....you do not need more than 16% protein in a deer pellet. They sell a 20% pellet because there are those that think "More is better" but its not. The 16% pellet will be cheaper. Most pellets have the "good" stuff in it to keep a deer healthy. But remember again, this is a "supplement" to their diet. The best thing out there is the native brush and forbs from a good rainfall spring and summer. Just pray for rain and put out pellets, cotton seed, mineral blocks/powder when conditions are getting "poor" when the deer really need it.

when does everyone put out minerals? Also any tips or tricks to keep the cows/hogs from rolling it away?

I normally get a block from Tractor Supply and it is gone in a week.

They can utilized it year-round, but certainly during the antler-growing season. I keep it out year-round for my livestock. Typically you'd think they eat more of it during the wettest/greenest parts of the year (as green feed flushes them more) but they eat a surprising amount even when it's dry.

I use granular and broadcast under corn feeder, real heavy. I need to do it again actually

You can try something like this or fence the hogs out of your feeder.

I buy the blocks and put them on tables with metal sides. That way, they can’t be rolled off. If I put them on the ground, pigs roll them away.

If you just put out a salt block get the "Yellow Block" it contains sulpher and helps keep tics off the deer.

My deer don't like the sulphur blocks as much. 'Gone back to plain ol' trace mineral blocks. They'll rust out anything metal holding them though.

I always have a few giant tree stumps that are too tall for pigs to puts blocks on.