Gravity vs Timer feeders

[systemnt]

corn = spinner
protien = gravity tube
sterioids = injected corn pellets
AntlerInflammatory = modified mosquitos
RutEnhancer = DeerLite Doe

[Mex. Bowhunter]

Maybe you did not understand my post above? If a person lets their feeder run out, they are in fact rationing their feed and have effectively taken away the deer's option of eating when he wants. But to clarify, you are saying that if you can't afford to keep feed in the feeders, just don't bother at all? If my deer will eat 3000# a month but I can only afford 2500#, don't bother? And because I don't have a ranch hand keeping my feeders full for me, don't bother? Again, I'm clarifying the difference between TRUE 24/7/365 free-choice and what some people call free-choice that runs empty for days or weeks at a time. Again, I'm pointing out that we don't all have the same budget, goals and choices. Not everyone is feeding high fence or Mexico quality deer. We don't all have a say in how many deer we feed.

Calm Down Buddy.

You don't know me and I don't Know You. Don't act like people putting hard work and money on a lease has it easier than anyone else. No one pays my bills but Me. I have been feeding protein from Mexico to some of the crappest Co. one could ever hunt in Texas and grew big deer for the last 25yrs.

The OP asked a Simple Question on what works for you. Rather I feed a small place at home that I have grew 160 class deer verses Mexico nothing changes as far as my Goal. I know Guys that have feed a Total 20 bags of protein a yr for the last 10yrs and will say they feed Protein with no luck. Everyone is different on what they truly want to achieve. If you don't have the funds to feed all yr than feed when it will most Benefit your deer. If you have the funds that feed all yr. But, when it come down to trying to benefit a deer heard and not just a deer you have to give each deer every opportunity to eat when they need to. I will only feed 1 tone a month sometimes and then 6 tones a month on others. I am not making a choice to when deer need it they are. I would hate to know how far some of my deer travel to eat protein every day. I can tell you a lot fewer would go though that trouble in the daylight or Heat. If you think it works for you than do it but, I can tell you it would not work for me in Mexico or the small places I hunt around home were a lot of deer would never be caught out in the daylight out side the Rut. If you feed protein just to draw deer and train them to eat when you can shoot them than it might work for you. I have fed deer for 8yrs and only seen them the day he was shot during the day light behind a hot doe. Anyway-----Anyone can feed but, Making a difference is the True Goal to me.

[Bayouboy]

I have found protein type feeders perform the best in East Tx.
Deer are far less spooky of them.

[hammer63]

Calm Down Buddy.

You don't know me and I don't Know You. Don't act like people putting hard work and money on a lease has it easier than anyone else. No one pays my bills but Me. I have been feeding protein from Mexico to some of the crappest Co. one could ever hunt in Texas and grew big deer for the last 25yrs.

The OP asked a Simple Question on what works for you. Rather I feed a small place at home that I have grew 160 class deer verses Mexico nothing changes as far as my Goal. I know Guys that have feed a Total 20 bags of protein a yr for the last 10yrs and will say they feed Protein with no luck. Everyone is different on what they truly want to achieve. If you don't have the funds to feed all yr than feed when it will most Benefit your deer. If you have the funds that feed all yr. But, when it come down to trying to benefit a deer heard and not just a deer you have to give each deer every opportunity to eat when they need to. I will only feed 1 tone a month sometimes and then 6 tones a month on others. I am not making a choice to when deer need it they are. I would hate to know how far some of my deer travel to eat protein every day. I can tell you a lot fewer would go though that trouble in the daylight or Heat. If you think it works for you than do it but, I can tell you it would not work for me in Mexico or the small places I hunt around home were a lot of deer would never be caught out in the daylight out side the Rut. If you feed protein just to draw deer and train them to eat when you can shoot them than it might work for you. I have fed deer for 8yrs and only seen them the day he was shot during the day light behind a hot doe. Anyway-----Anyone can feed but, Making a difference is the True Goal to me.

Hey, I'm not at all excited man. I meant no disrespect to you or anyone else who has the luxury of feeding true free-choice. To the contrary, I respect the dedication of funds and effort put forth in that regard. And I agree with you in a lot of ways. There are just so many here that simply can't afford to feed as we do. I too was replying to the OP as to which works best for me. But I also wanted to clarify what "free-choice" means versus letting the feeders run dry for weeks at a time.

I replied in a recent thread exactly what you are suggesting - I said that if you are on a budget, feed heaviest when the deer need it most. Secondly, if you're on a budget and your heavy feeding months are more than budget will allow, reduce waste, if possible so that deer rather than coons can benefit. That is not a one-size-fits all solution but neither is everyone's budget and goals. Agreed that deer are reluctant to feed in the heat but my experience says that my deer will and have adjusted. Feed is available in the cooler hours of the morning through the early evening, and into the first hour of darkness. That (hypothetically) is what suits my budget and that's what it really all comes down to...budget versus goals.