Protein Feeding questions

[Encinal]

I'm just talking about ideals. If you can't fill feeders when they are empty and are set at just being able to fill them once a month you are doing all you can do.

It's not worth arguing about it.

[tuthdoc]

Huh? contradictory statement? Fawns are deer? Surprise.

Let me restate. If you let the coons get all the protein they want, the feeder won't last very long and your fawns won't get any more protein because it'll be gone quicker. They have to wait for a work weekend or for someone to make it to the ranch to fill feeders. So, the coons are getting a big share of the protein, which cuts down on the protein that the deer, ie bucks, does, and fawns, get. If you want the fawns to get max protein, then use a Bode feeder, they can surely get to an unlimited supply. However, you'll have to contend with situations like the pic I posted above.

[Encinal]

Huh? contradictory statement? Fawns are deer? Surprise.

Let me restate. If you let the coons get all the protein they want, the feeder won't last very long and your fawns won't get any more protein because it'll be gone quicker. They have to wait for a work weekend or for someone to make it to the ranch to fill feeders. So, the coons are getting a big share of the protein, which cuts down on the protein that the deer, ie bucks, does, and fawns, get. If you want the fawns to get max protein, then use a Bode feeder, they can surely get to an unlimited supply. However, you'll have to contend with situations like the pic I posted above.

True.

I wonder... I think this year I'm going to set up a feeder that ONLY coons can get to and see how much feed they actually eat.

Trapping coons is a very effective tool. Don't be surprised though... that once you trap all of the coons that the feed bill actually goes UP since they are keeping deer away from the feed and once the deer are gone deer have access 100% of the time... I've heard of it happening in the hill country.

[Encinal]

We might, but then we couldn't afford it. We already put out 12,000 lbs per month on 8,000 acres and almost all of it goes down the necks of bucks, one of which scored 226.

You guys killed a 226 this year?

[tuthdoc]

Yep, coons are a constant battle. Fewer coons means more protein for the deer. If the deer eat more, it's a good problem. At least the protein is going where you want it. Presently, at that Boss Buck in the little barbed wire pen, there's virtually no coons. We trap the occasional one. The deer eat over 50 lbs per night. Good problem but they're about to break me. LOL

[tuthdoc]

Last year. He's on the cover of this month's TTH. We killed a 200 this year

[Encinal]

Ok,

Knew about that one. I thought that there was a new one.

That was a heck of a deer. How much did he blow up from the year before. I assume that burr drop was a new thing.

[tuthdoc]

He was a clean 12 the year before that scored 163. We found both sheds. He was a protein chowhound and used 6 different pens. When one ran out, he'd go to another one. We have hundreds of pics of him eating protein. He was 5 1/2. With the wet year this year, he might have spent more time in the brush and less time at the feeders and who knows, he might have gone down. Keith wasn't willing to take a chance and I don't blame him.

[Encinal]

No telling what would have happened... that burr drop would have certainly gone away and never come back again.

Can't blame him for shooting him at 5 1/2 those deer don't come along that often, and it would sure be tough to lose one to natural causes or have him shrink up on you.

That's a personal decision and there is no right answer.

[tuthdoc]

You're right. That's the kind of deer we're out there for. 50,000 acres, Mother Nature, weather, poachers, hog hunters, etc. Too many variables. If it were me, I'd have laid him down under the circumstances. Heck, we've had bucks where their 4 1/2 or 5 1/2 years were their best. Others that flew under the radar for years, too big to take out and too small for anyone to get excited over and they hit 8 1/2 and just blow up. Had a typical 13 point that was kind of pencilly and no one wanted him. At 8 1/2, he grew a bunch of stickers and blew up to 180+. It's all a guessing game.

[Kdog]

That fawn is struggling to get its TONGUE to the bottom of that spout...

It ain't a perfect world, I am just pointing out that by Dec. they can start to eat out of the tube.

I have not had time to even put up pens around my protein feeders. I had one that I set up last summer and the smaller bossbuck is 34" off the ground. Some rather large hogs emptied it in 10 days. No fawns, bucks, or does ate one bite.

I raised the feeder to 42" and set it back up this January. I will be interested to see what my camera shows when I go back up to the lease in a couple weeks. Hopefully I have some deer eating.

[JeffJ]

I hate coons more than cows



...and they love rubbing it in...or they love SOMETHING anyways

[tuthdoc]

LOL Honey, this is a good neighborhood. Lots of free food. Good cover. Let's start a family.

[bentlimbs]

Thanks for the info guys on the pens. I will set my bossbuck at 42" and panels around it. John, hope to run into you and Bobby and Mark one day in Freer. We hunt down the road from you on 44....

[tuthdoc]

Maybe get one of those famous DQ hamburgers. Or, help us put out about 12 to 15,000 lbs of protein while we chat. LOL