Would like to know how many of you guys feed Corn year round? Also if you could post if you feed corn for extra nutritional value or just an attractant, I would appreciate it? Doing some homework, Thanks in advance for posting.

My feeders pretty much run all year. Putting protein out this year

I feed protein year round out of free choice feeders. I only feed corn Sept to Jan as an attractant. The protein helps them a lot more than corn and holds them on the ranch.

I use to stop protein feeding in Sept and start back up in Jan but noticed that some of my deer left during that time. Talked to my neighbor and he feeds protein year round. I told him I was losing some good bucks during season and he showed me pics of my bucks on his place eating protein. Now I'm able to hold them on my ranch a little better.

Same here. We started protein year-round 3 years ago and the results have been impressive.

Is the Protein you guys are feeding cheaper than soy bean?

I feed corn year round out of two spin feeders and 2 pig pipes on a no fence lease. Protein would be a waste of money at my spot.

It's mainly to bring the hogs in range and to remind the deer there's always a free meal on my section.

Feed year around. There really isn't a nutritional value to corn, more like candy to them...

Whether or not you would get max value out of feeding protein would depend on your situation. If you are on a small property surrounded by other small properties and you are the only one feeding protein, I wouldn't mess with it...

I don't know how much Soy Beans are but my protein is about $240 per 1000#. I tried the soy bean thing here years ago, deer wouldn't eat them. They would get in the sand and dirt under the feeder and the deer either wouldn't or couldn't pick them up. A soy bean is smaller than corn.

I feed corn year round, for extra nutritional value & as an attractant. If I was on a bigger place with a better deer population I would also be feeding protein.

Corn to keep deer and pigs coming in.

Agree,

How much does a deer get when it visits a feeder?

1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time? Maaaybe, if there aren't hogs or too many other deer there, (and probably not daily).

Feeders are for the hunters, IMO.

Ok I'll hijack the thread for a second and ask , how big is big enough to feed protein? I've just leased a 500 acre section of a ranch that's high fenced on three sides out of four. And I thought about doing protein and corn but all I have now is a corn feeder. Is that worth investing in a protein feeder for year round? I was planning on doing corn year round regardless.

Why not feed a pellet formulated to meet the deer's nutritional needs?

Good comment. My protein feeders run year around and are for the deers benefit. I let my hunters make their own decision on baiting.

Feed all year.

Determining when to feed protein is site specific. Generally, it's more difficult to see results on smaller places because most of your bucks especially will be more prone to travel outside of your property & run the risk of being shot by one of your neighbors. But like I said, every place is different. If the non-high fenced portion of your 500 acres is bordering a larger ranch that is a plus. Especially if that neighbor's property is not really hunted. The most important things to remember before choosing to spend the money on protein is: (1) you need to have a decent deer population on your property. (2) Genetics. Your deer need to have decent genetics & the possibility of growing nice racks. Remember, all of the protein feed in the world won't do you much good if the foundation (genetics) isn't there. Feeding year round with corn is always a good idea IMO, & I do. Personally I've never had much luck on the smaller places I've hunted feeding protein, mainly because of trigger happy neighbors & not so good deer populations. On the bigger ranches I've hunted on where you have a larger deer population & can actually see what kind of bucks you have living on the property, protein does make a difference.

Well rather than keep posting I'm going to start a new thread and give all the details of the place and my questions.

We manage the herd to meet its maximum potential. A major part of that management is to insure that both the does and bucks receive adequate nutrition. There will be times of the year that those needs are met without suppliments but I keep the feeders in operation throughout the year. After a prolonged period of being empty, it sometimes takes awhile to get the herd back on feed when the time comes to start back up. As far as corn, my grandson gets a piece of candy occasionally but he gets his milk every day.

We feed year round especially since the feeders were new to the deer. We cut back to one shorter feeding per day. We keep the cameras on the feeders as well. Although, we get frustrated at the pictures in the off-season that we never see the deer during legal hunting hours.

You can feed all year but corn holds little nutrition for deer. During the summer, before antler growth, deer need more protein. As I have been told, corn is loaded with carbohydrates which gives quick energy to deer when its cold. This is preferred in the winter. Feel free to throw corn all year, if nothing else it gives the deer a choice. Just cut back the amount if it looks like they aren't interested.

Just feed corn year round IMO. Everyone is different on this depending on if you're a horn hunter or a meat hunter. IMO, protein feed is over rated unless you are on a place that it can actually do some good. If you have a place where you regularly see decent bucks, then by all means feed them protein. Growing up as a little kid I watched my dad kill numerous "big" bucks in S Texas & never fed protein, only fed the roads & senderos while hunting. Never even had a corn feeder.

Feed year round. Not sure why. Acorns fall right before season and deer go off the corn. I guess I just feed to keep them in the area.

No acorns where I hunt, year round corn is a plus there. That's what I meant by every place is different.

I cull shoot a place, 3 sections, in Fowlerton that has protein
and corn yr. round...We hunt doe...they are the trophy..The bucks
come to the feeders and stay, even after we kill does there..They
don't really pay attention to noise, ect..or blood...Most of it's
Old Wives Tales...My friend and I shot 4 does in 20 min. last yr
at one feeder and around it..Had three large bucks eating corn..
they'd leave and come back every shot..DD

Feed protein year round and use corn from late August to Feb.