Protein Consumption through the season

[Kenner97]

We fed 5,000 lbs of protein and 1,000 lbs of cottenseed on 100 acres from feb to sept.

Starting cottenseed earlier this year. Just put out 300 lbs yesterday.

[redfishted]

So what are you guys averaging per deer per day consumption ?

[Hydestik]

i don’t think we have calculated that. It’s starts off at about 3lbs or so and drops as it gets hotter.

[Reel cajun]

Cottonseed

are you buying in bulk? And where is the best place to look for it, and how much is it in bulk?

[lilavidhunter]

8000 lbs. 500 acres.

[texashunter56]

In the past 5.5 yrs feeding year round I have fed staring in mid Oct 2012 on 234 acres:
2012 350 lbs 9" rain from May till end of year
2013 3950 lbs 26"+ rain for year
2014 11,100 lbs 22"+ rain
2015 5,150 lbs 45"+ rain
2016 7,000 lbs 34"+ rain
2017 7,750 lbs 38"+ rain
This is out of 3 feed pens with free choice protein and corn feeder year round. Starting in 2014 I did spring and fall food plots totaling 11 acres. I shot does from 2012 till 2015. My buck to doe ratio was really good and I was not seeing many does. Had low fawn crops so I backed off killing does in 2015 and 2016. Still low fawn crops but my total deer numbers are way up. Two days ago I saw 20 bucks one morning and could remember 15 more that I have seen or had on TC the past 7 days. So 35 bucks using 234 acres. I also have seen 21 different does or groups of does and only 4 fawns. County WMA survey for my area showed 17% fawn crop. The bucks really quit eating protein in late October this year. They started back on it after the snow/rain/freeze in early December this year. That is about 3 weeks earlier than a normal year for my area. I have good oats and lot of winter weeds this year. Rainfall and good habitat really effect protein consumption. On June 8th I had to fill feeders and did not fill the again till Sept. 13th. Deer just have plenty to eat after rains and with food plots. Been the same way the past 3 yrs in a row now.

[txtimetravler]

I feed between 19,000 and 20,000 pounds from Jan thru Sept. They eat 500 lbs in 3 to 4 days but I only fill the feeder once a week. I just can't afford to feed all they will eat.

The deer almost quit hitting the protein around the first of Oct. anyway. I'm feeding 40 acres.

JC

I’m assuming this keeps more animals on your 40 acres?

Do you neighbors with small acreage? Or big acreage neighbors?

How many feed stations do you have on 40 acres?

Do you hunt the feed stations during the season?

[RiverRat1]

are you buying in bulk? And where is the best place to look for it, and how much is it in bulk?

Cheaper than corn. 200/ton or $5/50 lbs. It's a little bit of a pain to get started fencing off an area, covering the pile, and filling feeders. IMO it's worth it though for the price.

[Mike Murphey]

To compare apples to apples, you need to detemine deer numbers on your acreage. Someone with high numbers can go through more protein than someone with low deer density. Also you need to consider vegitation and the time of year. On our place, (3800 acres), with deer density at 1 deer per 15 acres we go through 16 tons every 1-1/2 to 2 months.
We also average about 5 tons of cotton seed per year.

[Snowflake Killa]

Around 200 tons on 11000 acre's

[Capt.Bryan]

40 acres? Reading comprehension is failing for my right now. Could you elaborate?

I could see this as possible. I have 13.5 acres and 2017 deer didn't eat much protein, but in 2016 I fed 15,000 pounds of protein and right at 12k pounds of corn. In the afternoons I could sit on the back porch and count 25-35 different deer. I also plant about 4 acres in food plots which they keep mowed down.

[bphillips]

Aroubd 40 tons from March through Sept on 2500ac

I think it was around 12-15 tons of cottonseed alongside it

[Grant2]

We have 12 2000# free choice feeders out at the ranch sometimes we feed them once a month others it's once every 3 months depends on rainfall.

[MQ32Shooter]

My question is, where do you guys get the money and time to feed like that?! Amazing

[coop]

40 acres? Reading comprehension is failing for my right now. Could you elaborate?

You're reading it right. My place is near lake Whitney and boarders a park on 2.5 sides. From what I've been told there is approximately 200 to 250 acres of no hunting and approximately 150 acres of Corp hunting. None of this is feed except what is carried in by the Corp hunters.

My neighbor to the west has 55 acres and feeds 4 corn feeders during hunting season only. My neighbor to the North has 1.75 acres and feeds 1 corn feeder during hunting season only.

I feed 1 free choice protein feeder from Jan. thru Sept. usually. I've tried it year round but the deer almost quit the protein in Oct. so I've quit. Now I feed Sweet Stock from Oct. thru Dec.. If I keep it out they will eat 200 lbs a day so I only feed this 2 to 3 times a week.

I feed corn from 3 spin feeders year round. I average 675 lbs a week.

I also have 2 food plots that total about 2 acres that are always eaten to the ground. The only thing I've found that will last long enough to get a foot hold in the summer is milo. Peas or anything else never gets a chance to grow.

It is not uncommon to see 15 to 30 deer at each feeder at the same time. Verified by my cameras.

The protein feeder, one corn feeder and the large food plot can be seen easily from my living room window. We enjoy watching the wild life and during the floods a couple of years ago we counted 78 deer in the food plot.

The biologist recommends we take 10 to 12 at least per year from my 40 acres.

I know it sounds ridicules but it is true. The only way I afford it is the fact that it is my only vice anymore. I do spend more than I should.

JC