We are buying 5 hammer lower timed protein units to put on some feeders we have already. Our thoughts are to feed free choice during the off season and then start going timed during season. I've read a lot where guys swear by timed all year long so just wondering what everyone's thoughts are? Thanks
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Timed vs free choice?
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The purpose of protein is to supplement their diet so they can receive the most nutrition possible, why restrict that? There are several threads on this subject if you look around, but I am not a believer in timed protein feeders. Only benefit is if you are on a budget and want to make your feed last longer, but on the flip side how much are they actually benefiting from this?
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Some benefits to timed feeders IMO are:
You can train the deer to eat when you want them to. Preferably daylight hours.
Setting them to feed in the mornings will help reduce loss to raccoons.
You can control how much you feed and can budget accordingly.
Not everyone can afford to let deer eat as much as they want anytime they want. Some supplementary feed is better than none at all.
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Our biggest thoughts for going to timed protein was to still attract deer to our pastures during season bc no one around us feeds protein during season. We have tossed the idea around about feeding truly free choice during off season and then also talked about shutting feeders off right after dark too.
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Originally posted by canny View PostThe purpose of protein is to supplement their diet so they can receive the most nutrition possible, why restrict that? There are several threads on this subject if you look around, but I am not a believer in timed protein feeders. Only benefit is if you are on a budget and want to make your feed last longer, but on the flip side how much are they actually benefiting from this?
He nailed it..Free choice.
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We've obviously been using the Hammer longer than anyone. Since 2012 to be exact. We hunt a 20K LF ranch and our designated pasture for the last 7 years is +/- 300 acres. We feed 2000# per month (double the ranch requirement) and probably have the best B&C average on the ranch for those years, consistently taking old deer with our bows. We draw 'em in and grow 'em big, year in and year out.
2017 buck
Last edited by hammer63; 12-20-2017, 12:33 PM.
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My goal is to supplement their diet, not provide their only source of food. If you can afford free choice protein, that's great, but at $10-$12 per 50 pounds, that is gonna get expensive REAL quick.
I set mine to open for 3-4 hours in the morning and 3-4 hours in the afternoon. It IS free choice, as long as they get there during those hours. The gate is open and they can eat as much as they want. However, when the gate closes, that leaves 3-4 pounds in the tube for what comes along, or for raccoons to eat/waste. If you wanted, you could leave it open during daylight hours, and shut down at night.
I simply can't afford to feed free choice all day long for the deer, and all night for the raccoons. If I was running a high fence game ranch, I might feel differently, but for low fence game, that's what I do.Last edited by Abctx; 12-20-2017, 12:57 PM.
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Originally posted by bphillips View PostI think you have a good plan and I will be trying it this year also. I think a lot of people didn’t read where the OP planned free choice through off season and timed only during deer season. Makes no sense to feed free choice during season to me
If I had timed I would leave it open Jan- Sept 1 then during daylight hours only if you planned on feeding during season
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Originally posted by Abctx View PostMy goal is to supplement their diet, not provide their only source of food. If you can afford free choice protein, that's great, but at $10-$12 per 50 pounds, that is gonna get expensive REAL quick.
I set mine to open for 3-4 hours in the morning and 3-4 hours in the afternoon. It IS free choice, as long as they get there during those hours. The gate is open and they can eat as much as they want. However, when the gate closes, that leaves 3-4 pounds in the tube for what comes along, or for raccoons to eat/waste. If you wanted, you could leave it open during daylight hours, and shut down at night.
I simply can't afford to feed free choice all day long for the deer, and all night for the raccoons. If I was running a high fence game ranch, I might feel differently, but for low fence game, that's what I do.
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