Hey all, got another question: I have 100 acres no high fence or anything. How helpful will supplemental feeding--one gravity feeder with protein feed and one spin feeder with 300 lbs corn/week output be on my small property? That is, will it make a difference at holding and growing bigger deer? I'll also be planting about 10 acres of crops.

Is there any point in planting corn if I'm feeding through the feeder? Should I stick to soybeans, clover and rye grain?

Doesn't hurt to keep feed out all year. You'll have your "regular customers", and they can bring in some new ones. If you've had success with the soybeans, clover, and rye grass...stick with it. You might look at planting native forbs and browse instead of the corn.

Yes it helps. I have 205ac & with no rain in 2 1/2 months the deer are camped out at my feeders right now.

There has been some research that is showing that bucks raised on and around protien feeders tend to have a smaller home territory than those that don't. Fawn survival will increase also which means more bucks in the future for you along with more doe also. I would cut back on the corn to around once you start to feed protein. To much corn is not a good thing IMO.

I have 10 acres on my 100 to plant crops. I was considering reducing the acreage to 5% of the property or 5 acres and just planting half in clover and half in cool season annuals like rye/wheat/oats. I really need the whole 10 acres if I'm going to plant soybeans and corn due to decimation by the deer and other animals. Do you guys think it would be worth it to reduce the percent by 5% and put that amount in cover? I would basically be using the feeders with corn to make up for the extra 5 acres I would planted in corn. When I see TX hunting shows, it seems the feeders are put down long senderos with LOTS of cover on each side, I wasn't sure if that's why they were so successful, or if it's deceiving b/c those properties are just high fence. That's why I wasn't sure if it would be better to turn more of the property into more cover and only plant the minimum I need for food, about 5% b/c 10% is really too much--although I have to plant 10% if I'm going to plant heavily browsed plants like corn and soybeans. Thanks for the help!

It helps to have your feeders in a pocket surrounded by brush, trees, or some other thick stuff. It makes the bigger deer feel more secure, the more reclusive deer(mature bigger bucks) won't often step out into the wide open(on all sides), unless there is a lady leading the way.

Do you think a feeder serves as good as an attractant as a field of corn? That is would it be better to have 5 acres of corn compared to the a feeder that puts out just as much corn that is needed for deer to consume year round, all they want to eat.

I have a small place too, I had one small food plot last year and expanded it to several small plots this yr with great results last year (took a 146 10 point) and marginal results this year. As has been pointed out the protein feeders should, over time decrease the bucks range and increase the overall herd health.
I'm in Jack County and its been posted all over how tough it is there this year with the browse and acorn crop, having said that the deer are still hitting the food plots, just not like they did last year but then again they don't need to. The lack of rain has not maximized the plot output either.

So do I think it is worth it? Yes. I don't work outside anymore so for me it is very fulfilling to see the crop come up from my labor and that the deer are eating it is very cool.
I do recommend you get soil samples of each plot if they are very far from one another. I had one set of plots that needed about 400lbs of lime per ac and anouther set that were almost too PH neutural. They needed very different fertilzer regimens.

Good luck
Mark

To plant only 5 or 10 acres of corn, I think you will be greatly disappointed in the amount of corn that you will produce....if it survives! If the corn gets enough rain this spring to produce, you will not get enough corn ears to provide what you are wanting, and the stalks will only end up providing cover.

You'd be much more satisfied by planting perennial forbs and browse that will be a much better attractant and for keeping the deer around. Check with TURNER SEED COMPANY, and you'll find a good selection of seeds that will be more beneficial to what you are wanting to accomplish.

http://www.turnerseed.com/site/Default.htm

Good point Jdickey. I did plant 10 acres this year and got a great crop 150 bushels/acre. But you're right there's no guarantee I'll get that every year.

The only issue I see with my feeder is that I'll probably put out, what, 10 pounds per day, which is about 3650 lbs per year--hardly enough to make a dent in a deer's nutrition.

So, I my question is, will that little bit of corn be enough to pull deer away from a neighbor that might have 10 acres of corn? Will deer be satisfied just getting a little nibble of corn here and there from a few feeders, and then getting the rest of their food from my green plots?

Anyone else out there use only corn from feeders and not plant it, but then plant green plots in the rest of the fields?

Also, any benefit to using corn in some spin feeders and then protein pellets in gravity tube feeders? Will deer eat from the tubed feeders if I also have spin feeders with solely corn on the property? And, is it worth it...I only have 100 acres will I be feeding pellets to deer that my neighbors might shoot and therefore would it be better to devote my feeders to attraction (just corn) and the plots to the protein (possible clover, rye, soybeans, etc.)?

yes...

I usually keep corn feeders and protein feeders in separate areas and try to feed year round on both. Corn is not a major "nutrtional" item for deer anyway. Think of it as a candy for deer. In my set up, I will spin feed corn about 4 seconds in the morning and evening which equates to about 300lbs/month.

On the other hand, with protein feeders, I have gone thru as must as 700lbs/month from about March thru July, then it begins to taper off. But, do try to feed protein year-round also. The deer may stop coming to it as much during the "deer season", but do not stop making it available!

Utilize forbs and browse as your main stay as opposed to corn, oats, or wheat. By planting perennial forbs such as honey suckle or sumac, you'll have a better chance of keeping the deer in your area.

I have 7 food plots that I have tired just about everything that had been put on the market over the last 4 years. What has worked best for me has been a mixture of wheat/oats. Cover, brassica, winter greens all did not do well for me. Have friends that have had good luck with them, not me. Wheat/oats have done fairly well even in drought conditions this year. I have corn feeders on 4 of the plots and the deer are not using them, I have turned them down to 2 sec/day and still have corn on ground. I have found that the deer stay right around the plots esp the ones with heavy cover close by. Do the soil test, they are worth it. Good luck

Deer are edge feeders and don't like to come out in the open so put the plots and the feeders close to whatever cover you have. Like the others are saying...deer will eat what they need to survive. They normally need more protien in the spring and summer for antler growth, fawn production and building fat reserves. When it starts getting cold the deer will look more to a higher carb diet to keep the fat reserves up so they winter better. This is where the corn comes in is to help supply the carbs (fat). Oats are also a good sorce of fiber, high fat and protien when planted in the fall.

Here is an article and websight you might check out for more information.

http://www.deer-library.com/artman/publish/article_2.shtml

What kind of protein pellets do you guys feed?