Protein in E Texas

[WoodlandsRoy]

Do any of you east tx guys feed protein, and if so what type? Im mainly concerned with counties near Hardin/Polk/Liberty, or surrounding areas. Just curious of how the deer react to it and if its truely worth messing with. Im gonna plant 2 food plots in late August prob w clover and rye grass, about 2 acres each. Ive considered having a couple protein feeders going, (on 2200 acres) but not sure if its worth the money. Any info appreciated.

[Brazos Hunter]

I did last year (local house brand) in Alto and the deer kept coming and filled back out from the drought.

[WoodlandsRoy]

How long did it take them to start eating it? I had a buddy feed protein last spring for 3 months and said deer hardly touched it. Was in Jefferson county

[snuffer]

i use mg apple scented protein. in hardin county last year they ate it up fast, spin feeder freindly too. i fed it this year mixed with corn and now feeding straight protein, they are eating it slower right now i guess cause of the good green spring we are having. cost: its about the same price as corn this year so i cant justify not buying it.

[Brazos Hunter]

Originally Posted by WoodlandsRoy

How long did it take them to start eating it? I had a buddy feed protein last spring for 3 months and said deer hardly touched it. Was in Jefferson county

They started from day one. I had been feeding corn for several months before and I switched to protein in my corn feeder when the price of corn went through the roof.

[Cuz]

I tried it at my place for 3-4 months last year and it just piled up. Even the **** hogs wouldn't eat it!!

[Brazos Hunter]

Originally Posted by Cuz

I tried it at my place for 3-4 months last year and it just piled up. Even the **** hogs wouldn't eat it!!

You need to pour a little of the majic sauce from the Mason jar on it to get pigs in to eat it... Whazup Cuz?

[WoodlandsRoy]

Cool, if it will work with a normal spin feeder I'll try it

[Texas8point]

Real Talk Roy...... I been doing this a long time in that area........ rather than feed protien, plant imperial whitetail clover in late September and you have a serious protien and attractant Oct - April / May. Trust me on this one.

We planted 3 plot, for the last 8 seasons or so, all about a half acre and we have seen body size and antler size go through the roof !

[3Tzn1J]

Set out a free choice feeder in January, put 2 bags of corn in first then M&G apple flavored 16% to the top. It was cool to see the pics of the deer trying to figure out the free choice feeder. Once they got through the corn, it didn't take long to go through the rest of the protein. I'll be going up this weekend to fill it for the 4th time and pull cards off the cams. I'm also planing on doing a food plot in September, in hopes of getting away from free choice feeders all together. The work and money needed up front is alot more with food plots but it pays it self back in a short period of time, when compared to going up and filling feeders once a month.[IMG][/IMG]

[23wyatt]

Originally Posted by Brazos Hunter

I did last year (local house brand) in Alto and the deer kept coming and filled back out from the drought.

X2 - they hit it from day one.

[Aggiebush]

I would definitely use a local brand, it is formulated for the needs of the area. We feed a blend from Martindale Feed Mill, and our deer LOVE it. Also, I wouldn't plant any food plots until late September, it's too risky. If you get a quick rain and the seeds germinate, then two weeks with no rain, you just lost your plots. I have been planting food plots in East Texas for 15+ years and have yet to lose a plot. Just watch the weather and plant accordingly.

[WoodlandsRoy]

appreciate the comments, Im def looking forward to planting the plots. I have alot of thick cover and I have 2 good spots already cleared off, about 1-2 acres each that are in great locations for a plot. Both are in the middle of the 2200 acres with water close by, about 2 miles apart from each other. Gonna prob go with some type of clover, heard they grow well in the area.

[Shortbow]

I know they will eat record rack and red river protien.

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by Brazos Hunter

You need to pour a little of the majic sauce from the Mason jar on it to get pigs in to eat it... Whazup Cuz?

Haha! Yes Saw! That's what I did wrong...

[awatsonjr]

Trial and error. Make take several attempts to find one they like. Lots of stuff to browse on in east texas

[Ragin']

Roy they are real good at eating it over her near Village Mills. Yet once again, at night!!! Lol

[Sticks&Strings]

Don't spin cast it, it causes it to break up more, and if it gets wet they won't eat it. Strt mixing it 60% corn, 40% protein and ween them onto straight protein. We feed lyssy and eckels down south but they will eat it in E.Tx too. We had to mix it first too. Now, they love it but definitely slow down on it when a wet spring comes. Natural Forbes are tastier I guess. Good luck and get a free. Choice feeder. Our next door neighbor in east tx feeds a bunch but not sure of brand.

[Pineywoods Paul]

I feed Record Rack Protein by Purina and mixed corn to start. Now I only mix in mineral granules. My troughs hold 350 lbs of protein and I mix in 10 lbs of mineral. This has become addictive to the bucks from February until after antlers harden in September.

I'm in Polk County and have 4 troughs on my family place 830 acres. Our lease which adjoins has over 16 troughs on 6700 acres. Started Spring of 2011, photo cams confirm bucks are addicted. Results already impressive but we expect years ahead will exceed year 1 results. Coons get their share so just accept that. We use hog panels to keep piggies out.

[Javelin]

I use record rack in Polk county and they eat it well. Dont spin it though, use free choice. Just take your spinner off take a toilet flange, 3ft or so of PVC that fits the flange and then put a T on the bottom and attach flange where your spinner was. TOtal cost about 16 bucks. Also on your food plot, deer do NOT like ryegrass, cereal rye yes but not rye grass. the BEST thing to plant is a mixture of Oats and Wheat along with various clovers. Last thing, DO NOT plant in August, wait till at least the wkend closest to Sept. 15.

[Bonehead]

We had 12 fenced off protein feeders on 1600 acres in Polk County and fed April 1st to September. They were 300 lb feeders and we filled each twice. We started noticing heard improvement about year 4.

[Tomkat07]

Originally Posted by WoodlandsRoy

Cool, if it will work with a normal spin feeder I'll try it

Do not put protein in a spin feeder. Not even protein corn mix. You will destroy your feeder.
I tried protein in liberty county year before last. They do not eat it. Not even pigs. Once it rots the pigs dig out the ground where it was.

[SavedHarvester]

Originally Posted by Aggiebush

I would definitely use a local brand, it is formulated for the needs of the area. We feed a blend from Martindale Feed Mill, and our deer LOVE it. Also, I wouldn't plant any food plots until late September, it's too risky. If you get a quick rain and the seeds germinate, then two weeks with no rain, you just lost your plots. I have been planting food plots in East Texas for 15+ years and have yet to lose a plot. Just watch the weather and plant accordingly.

I agree 100% ! I am a County Extension Agent and recently helped with a wildlife program in which one of the speakers was our State Climatologist and his prediction for the next 6 months was not very encouraging. With normal rainfall late August is still risky. But we are still in a drought trend even with the recent rainfall this Spring. Late Sept. or early October would be better for clover and Rye. And yes it takes very little soil moisture to germinate but a lot more moisture to sustain growth.