School me on Protein Feeder

[Rusto 23]

Turning to the GS for some education. I purchased a timed protein feeder for the new pen I put up. Our property is roughly 30-40 miles south of Rocksprings. Our property is around 100 acres, and we are surrounded by other properties on 3 sides, all 30-50 acres. On the backside of our property, we bump up to a large ranch with a low fence. I would like to put more than just corn into this feeder to attract deer for the season. The plan would be to start a feeding plan however, at this time in my life financially it will likely just be a corn/protein pellet mix. However to draw some deer in for the season is there something else I should/could add to help out? I have been scrolling through lots of posts trying to educate myself. My thought would be to have it go off every morning about 30ish minutes before shooting light and plan on a longer morning sit, so the deer are not just eating through the night and might stop by in the morning. Again any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated!

As always, thanks in advance for your time and knowledge.
Rusto

[Ham]

Soybean maybe something to consider. I been to a couple of feeder stores that already had premix bags of all 3 corn, protein and soybean.

[Drycreek3189]

I never liked my feeders to go off before daylight. In the western and central parts of the state deer that I’ve seen will stage in cover before the feeder spins. I didn’t want to bump them in the dark. Deer in East Texas generally come when they **** well please but mine still sling at 8:00 AM.

[Gumbo Man]

I’m sure that you will get all kinds of suggestions but for me my feeders feed at first light not before in the morning. I don’t want deer there before I can shoot and don’t want to bump them off the feeder going in. Any earlier and it allows your target to feed and leave before shooting light like a lot will do. To start out with I personally don’t think there’s a better attractant for deer than corn. Good luck this season.

[Rusto 23]

I never liked my feeders to go off before daylight. In the western and central parts of the state deer that I’ve seen will stage in cover before the feeder spins. I didn’t want to bump them in the dark. Deer in East Texas generally come when they **** well please but mine still sling at 8:00 AM.

My feeder is a timed protein feeder that will drop the feed and fill the tube, so hopefully, there will be no too little noise. Last year, I counted 6-7 spin feeders going off around me. This is why I moved locations this year and I am hoping for better results.

[Rusto 23]

Thanks for the advice! Will keep doing my research and hopefully it will all come together.

[sharpstick35]

I use a corn and protein mix in my timed feeder. this late in year though, you might not pull many in that corn wouldn't. Right at sunrise or a little later works good on my place south on 55, but I'm relatively flat with a lot of oaks so your place might be different.
I have 4 feeders set 20 minutes apart starting at sunrise during the season and they repeat that pattern twice. It gets them moving in a pattern and i hunt the trails in between during bow season.

[rladner]

I tried something similar a few years ago and had very little success. I was like you, I wanted to have another attractant. First year I tried protein and it really didn't do anything to bring deer in and when they came in they didn't even touch it, just ate the corn off the ground. Second year I tried roasted soy beans. Same result. However, the entire 1,000 lb feeder was empty sometime after deer season both years. It tells me the deer did in fact eat it, just not during deer season. I think there are times of year they crave the protein and soy beans, but during deer season it was all about the corn. My feeder was timed as well. Dropped morning and early afternoon so I know they could only eat so much per day and it was gone over the summer. Hopefully you find something that will actually attract them during season. My protein feeder now just sits there empty as I have no desire to feed them off season. I ain't going to spoil them that much .

[BowhunterB]

I used a timed protein feeder and switch to corn / protein during the season. As others have said, I think having it set right about first light is the best for the morning so deer don;t eat and leave or you don;t bump them on the way to your stand. Also, if you have hogs, it might cut down on that activity a little. If it goes off before daylight, hogs will usually be there and can clean up all your feed before daylight. Where I hunt, the deer seem to love protein as well as corn, so it has worked well. I also have it going off more than once in the morning to allow for a longer hunt.

[Low Fence]

Your problem is similar to the big East Texas feeder problem. In reality there needs to be a corn feeder every 250-300 acres….. but everyone has 50 acres and 2 feeders on it (seriously). So realistically you have 10 feeders on 200 acres…. They can eat whenever they want, if they want corn. Forget attracting them and give them safety. It’s a hard pill to swallow but it works and is a lot cheaper


for what it’s worth I’ve never seen a timed protein feeder any place I’ve hunted achieve it’s purpose during season. I’m sure there’s a success story or two out there but none from me

with everyone feeding. They know what they are…. And it don’t take long for them to know what happens at them in daylight

[HTOWN]

Are you off 674 or 377?

[Voodoo]

I have a suggestion.

I am assuming the surrounding properties are feeding?

If this is the case I suggest you use record rack products or Booner Blend and put a small pen in the tightest cover you can get away with and still get a shot in the opposite end of the property from your camp toward that low fence big ranch and not near the neighbors camp. Become invisible and walk to the stands.

I would keep another corn feeder close to another neighbors property well away from the pen for hogs.

Do not put a cell cam on the small pen because for some reason the larger animals than hogs and whitetail can detect this. I have tested this theory for three years now. I have animals that will not leave cover and will not come around a cell cam. I actually turn my phone to airplane mode whilst I hunt or watch them.

[Rusto 23]

Are you off 674 or 377?

377

[Rusto 23]

I tried something similar a few years ago and had very little success. I was like you, I wanted to have another attractant. First year I tried protein and it really didn't do anything to bring deer in and when they came in they didn't even touch it, just ate the corn off the ground. Second year I tried roasted soy beans. Same result. However, the entire 1,000 lb feeder was empty sometime after deer season both years. It tells me the deer did in fact eat it, just not during deer season. I think there are times of year they crave the protein and soy beans, but during deer season it was all about the corn. My feeder was timed as well. Dropped morning and early afternoon so I know they could only eat so much per day and it was gone over the summer. Hopefully you find something that will actually attract them during season. My protein feeder now just sits there empty as I have no desire to feed them off season. I ain't going to spoil them that much .

I am not finacally ready to spoil the deer either. My thought was after the season I would have my feed drop every few days to hopefully keep them around. Sounds like corn is the winner maybe with a little something either on the ground or mixed in.

Thanks

[Rusto 23]

I have a suggestion.

I am assuming the surrounding properties are feeding?

If this is the case I suggest you use record rack products or Booner Blend and put a small pen in the tightest cover you can get away with and still get a shot in the opposite end of the property from your camp toward that low fence big ranch and not near the neighbors camp. Become invisible and walk to the stands.

I would keep another corn feeder close to another neighbors property well away from the pen for hogs.

Do not put a cell cam on the small pen because for some reason the larger animals than hogs and whitetail can detect this. I have tested this theory for three years now. I have animals that will not leave cover and will not come around a cell cam. I actually turn my phone to airplane mode whilst I hunt or watch them.

My new feeder / penned setup is next to the bigger ranch and in tightish cover along a creek/runoff bed. We have two other feeders at the moment that will keep the pigs fed.