For those that feed protein, what is consumption like over the next 6 months, by month? I'm trying to plan ahead. I don't like protein sitting there for long periods, and I have bulk feeders, so I'm planning on how much I need to take out.

Not sure what your deer population is like, but I can tell you, they are pounding my protein right now. Just feeding on 60acres, with not a lot of mouths to feed and
I'm puttin out about 4-5 bags every weekend. We need rain, consumption will slow down, with some rain and green up. Then, they will hit it hard again, July and August, when everything is burnt up.

Right now, fill everything up. Consumption will be its highest from early March to the middle of June. When it gets hot hot and dries out, we start to see it wane. That's when we start to see an ioncreased desire for cottonseed. Somes think that is counter-intuitive but, the minerals include salt and the deer don't need anythig making them thirsty at that point. Just my experience over the past ten plus years or so and yes, we tracked it. .

150 - 200 pounds per week per feeder is what I'm seeing. 12 feeders on 6000 acres.

Depends on the deer numbers.,

Ours are hit and miss right now. It's drier than usual so a little more hit than miss. Once things green up well they'll back off it until about mid-june. From then til bow opener they'll average about 40-70lbs per day.

I tried the big protein blocks for cattle. I put them were the pigs couldn’t get to them and roll them away. They were mostly ignored.

IME (northern McMullen Co), they tend to really start hammering the protein in June and July. Usually less rainfall then, and the nursing does are hungry. Uptick in consumption would continue sometimes into August and even September if no significant rains.

With any significant rain, though, and the new growth triggered, there would typically be a lull for a week or two.

put cameras on the protein feeders-----I am noticing more raccoons are eating protein than deer. the deer are hitting the protein feeders, but raccoons are HAMMERING them. I have spikes and trailer grease on feeder legs and it is not stopping those bandits.

Duke dog proof about the only way

Everyone should be on a predator control mission currently. The big birds are going to nest shortly if not starting already. Its dry in most places. We haven't had any appreciable rain since labor day week. I think our deer are consuming close to 1 to 1.5 lbs a day since they only have cottonseed as the other option.

As stated above Duke traps work wonders on those masked bandits.