if your having problems getting the deer 'hooked' on protein, you have a couple options. 1. before you put the protein into the feeder, spray a light coating of cotton seed oil on the pellets...deer love cotton seed oil. 2. as your putting the protein into the feeded, mix in your favorite deer attractant flavoring (c'meer deer, or other similar types of dry attractant). both of these techniques will entice the deer to eat the protein, and become familiar with the taste. once they become familiar, they will become a regular and invite others.