Shooting deer at a free choice protein feeder

[JeffJ]

We dont make a practice of it at our place while rifle hunting. We have made a few exceptions when we have a cull that is by themself or an exotic. Basically I dont want to do ANYTHING that would deter the deer from eating at the protein feeder and I feel the boom from my rifle could do that. Now I dont know which way to lean while bow hunting.

What are the opinions?

[Eason]

I would not do it, but that's just my opinion.

[qzilla]

No rifles. A bow setup can be OK. I have never done it....yet. I have 1 setup right now that I will hunt because the deer I am hunting does not exist anywhere except right in front of the feeder. So, I set a tripod up 22 yards away and we will see what happens.

I set cameras up on all the major trails leading to the feeder and never got him but, the camera at the feeder has pictures during this time. So he must be coming in sort of randomly and not on any trails. He is at the feeder EVERY day so far.


I NEVER< EVER>NEVER shoot a rifle anywhere around a protein feed station.

[Fightinaggies]

Wouldnt do it. Hunt the trails coming in and out but wouldnt recommend hunting the feeder itself. May not scare them off but the question you have to ask is do you want to take that chance.

[cbrown]

If you don't hunt the protein feeder and don't have cameras how do you know what is coming in?

How is hunting the protein feeder any different than hunting a corn feeder?

It is a free choice feeder, meaning they can come to it anytime they want to. You are not always going to be there..

TGridley and I have hunted them on his place for the last 4 years and continue to see large numbers of deer at them. In fact he shot a great 8pt. tonight off a protein feeder that is maybe 250 yrds behind his house and horse barn...

I don't see a problem with it at all... Deer may be spooked by the noise but they don't have the ability to decipher what that noise was or typically where it came from. They are a flight animal, typically running a distance then stopping and listening, waiting to get spooked again..

[Atfulldraw]

We don't hunt over ours, but if I see a big one, I may move

[cosmiccowboy]

We may be strange, but we have all 10 of our protein feeders set up in secluded locations that can't be seen from any stands. I will put cameras on them but I won't hunt them except to dart does early in September (before we start putting corn out)...and then only if they are alone at the feeder...

[Bowhunterman]

I wouldnt ever do it with a rifle.

[tuthdoc]

I have a tripod about 50 yards from one of my Boss Buck and the other one is about 20 feet from my corn feeder and 15 yards from my ground blind. I hunt around mine and have for the entire time that I've had them. They love the protein more than corn and are used to me being around it filling it and checking it. I see no ill effects.

[ArtisticWildlife]

All of our protien feeders are within sight and range of our blinds... It is no different than hunting over a corn feeder.

[CapnKirk]

We use our protein feeders as a "sanctuary" where deer can eat and never be pressured. It probably doesn't make much difference, but it's just a gentleman's agreement that we don't hunt protein.