Whats the breaking point on feeding wildlife?

[sharpstick35]

too dry for food plots and feed will probably double this year as will fuel.

on the bright side, there will be less traffic and other hunter to compete with.

[dirtybay]

Going to top all protein feeders off now and hope Mother Nature takes over. In east tx and getting good rain today. Want them to have protein now as I think it’s more critical early than late.

[asu-indian]

When it gets more expensive than golf.

[sqiggy]

I like to kill deer, not feed them.
So won’t affect me!!!

[Big pig]

Deer are hungry on my place in Mills county. Feeding all we can afford.

Same. But I am seeing some green up in spite of no moisture.
And now looking at 21 degrees on sat morning.

[louieagarcia]

Switching back to pea gravel this year.

[Bucknaked]

Yea, I don't think people have a clue of how bad prices of everything are going to be. It's not just feed, it's that everything else is going up too.

I don’t think a lot of these people even have a near close clue! So many people are in a bad bind just trying to make it to work and are having to choose between tooth paste or toilet paper at the grocery store! I’ve been seeing the looks on peoples faces at the fuel pumps and these are looks of sheer desperation. So many businesses that just barely made it through the Corona can’t even take in a small breath of air and are hanging on by a thread. I guess what I’m trying to get at is even though a person is blessed to not worry about these costs of feeds/ fuel, travel - it doesn’t mean that the products will be there! Feed store employee’s aren’t exactly knocking it out of the park if you get my drift!

[Texas Grown]

Switching back to pea gravel this year.

Sounds like a great choice, Louie! But is it readily available? How much per 50lb bag? No shortages are there? And are we gonna have to compete with the concrete companies?

[88 Bound]

I don’t plan on stopping anything or backing it off much, just going to be strategic on when I go.

[skelsey]

Topped off all feeders at end of season good to go until bow season wit cell cams on them good to go until bow season big feeders are the way to go

[Rwc]

Topped off all feeders at end of season good to go until bow season wit cell cams on them good to go until bow season big feeders are the way to go

You must have some giant feeders that you set to throw very very little per feeding, or your deer density is fairly low.


For all, just a little numbers for thought and fun:

Lease grounds out west are 211 miles one way:
Truck gets 17 mpg w/ a 24 gallon tank.
Fuel at $2.10 per gallon ran me approx. $26.07 one way or $52.14 per trip.
Fuel at $3.79 per gallon runs me approx. $47.08 one way or $94.16 per trip.
for an increase of $42.02 per trip.

Now lets talk feed (Only using corn for ease):
I average 30 bags of corn per trip between 4 feeders, so:
When corn was 6.59 per bag it ran me $197.50
now at $9.95 per bag it runs me $298.50
For an increase of $101.00

I make this trip on average once a month during the off-season, so lets say 7 trips:
$101.00+$42.02x7=$1,001.49

To answer the OP's original question of whats the braking point? I would believe that it will be different for each hunters circumstances.

For me, I am going with no change and feeding as usual for now. Nothing but beanie weenies and corn tortillas for us........deer have to eat good! Come on rain!

Rwc

[jds247]

For me it's not the money for feed. I told the guy over my lease I'm not interested in feeding year round because they bring their whole extended family to hunt.. I'm all for treating it as a trophy lease but I'm not spending all that money/ time for people to hunt for free..

[freerhunter16]

We feed protein year round. Will switch to ramen noodles and ketchup sandwiches before I change that!

[okrattler]

I don't feed wildlife unless a predator eats what's left over after I shoot somethin. If corn is getting more expensive like everything else is they'd be eating grass. Seems like every good deer on camera goes somewhere else during rut anyways and gets shot by someone who wasn't feeding it.

All work and no gain ain't my style.

[flywise]

I don't feed wildlife unless a predator eats what's left over after I shoot somethin. If corn is getting more expensive like everything else is they'd be eating grass. Seems like every good deer on camera goes somewhere else during rut anyways and gets shot by someone who wasn't feeding it.

All work and no gain ain't my style.