I have been fortunate to manage a high end LF south texas ranch for years.
We feed protein and cottonseed.
IMO they are both SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDS and called that for a reason.
During severe drought? I think they both are worth every penny.
During times when the ranch habitat is good? We have looked through thousands upon thousands of trail camera pics. We run 20-30 cameras. We set our cameras to 2 shots every 5 minutes. In most all cases the bucks are there five minutes or less IF the bigger bucks show up at the feeder at all. How much protein can an animal ingest in 5 minutes or less?
Compare that to a buck browsing natural habitat all day or a food plot? He has to ingest much more protein in either setting does he not?
As a side note ........... if a person has unlimited funds and can place a protein feeder in a semi-controlled setting (partially HF) and place multiple protein feeders every 100 acres or so then that is a different situation. In this case you created a basic feed lot so no doubt protein is worth the cost (even though most hunters cannot afford to do so)
So my observation comes from many years of being in the middle of this - at times I cannot help but wonder if the entire protein feeding phenomena is worth the cost? Maybe just feed it when there are drought situations? Open for input.
Final comment is this - the cameras do not lie - bucks at feeders for long periods is highly unusual
We feed protein and cottonseed.
IMO they are both SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDS and called that for a reason.
During severe drought? I think they both are worth every penny.
During times when the ranch habitat is good? We have looked through thousands upon thousands of trail camera pics. We run 20-30 cameras. We set our cameras to 2 shots every 5 minutes. In most all cases the bucks are there five minutes or less IF the bigger bucks show up at the feeder at all. How much protein can an animal ingest in 5 minutes or less?
Compare that to a buck browsing natural habitat all day or a food plot? He has to ingest much more protein in either setting does he not?
As a side note ........... if a person has unlimited funds and can place a protein feeder in a semi-controlled setting (partially HF) and place multiple protein feeders every 100 acres or so then that is a different situation. In this case you created a basic feed lot so no doubt protein is worth the cost (even though most hunters cannot afford to do so)
So my observation comes from many years of being in the middle of this - at times I cannot help but wonder if the entire protein feeding phenomena is worth the cost? Maybe just feed it when there are drought situations? Open for input.
Final comment is this - the cameras do not lie - bucks at feeders for long periods is highly unusual
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