Who feeds protein during the summer?
How many feeders do you have out?

Have you seen a noticeable difference in Antlers or body weights?
How long does it take to see a difference? Can you tell that fall or does it take a couple years to really show up?

We already have Mineral/Di-Cal licks in place. Just curious how much difference supplemental feeding could make.
This is leased timber company land, so not much if any habitat improvement can be done.

Do you think planting summer crops is more benifical than feeding protein?

My conclusion is I don't think it can hurt, it certainly must help to some degree, but overall unless you're doing it for the hobby and enjoyment, it'll cost you more than what benefit you'll see in the deer. Or said more simply, I don't think you'll get noticeable improvement, at least not to justify the cost of the supplemental feed and labor. Legit protein feed, and planting to a large enough scale to matter, will both be really expensive and intensive.

I'm still of the opinion that they get more than sufficient protein from their natural sources. "The Lord don't make no junk" is what my uncle used to say about all the stuff deer can eat in the woods.

I tried feeding some record rack mixed with corn last summer. Deer didn't take to it well. Alot of it laid on the ground until it got rained on and ruined. I think the deer around here would rather eat what they can find in gardens and in the woods instead of something that comes in a sack. This was just my observation, your deer may be different.

I found it hard to get them to eat it too. It really needs to be in a covered feeder/trough, but I couldn't get them to eat it straight, so I mixed with corn, but they didn't want to eat out of the trough! Ug!!! I could get them to eat it from a pipe feeder, but it's the kind of stuff that ruins when wet. Crap, we were spending $100 for crap they wouldn't eat, then ruined the first time it rained.

I've been feeding with the Boss Buck feeders for the past two years and can't really say I've seen a big difference other than just holding more deer in an area. Like most have said you have to start off feeding them a predominantly corn mix or start immediately after the season when they are hungry and will eat anything.

Never had an issue with deer eating record rack or buck booster. Throw some corn in with it and it's gone in a few days. Right on the ground. My deer are hungry, though.

Unless you've got the finances to dedicate to this for years, I'd stick to planting as many fields as you can over the year. Spring, summer and fall. That will feed them cheaper than buying bags of feed.

Same here. Bought 100 acres 6 years ago and put a Boss Buck on it that year.
Keep it full of record rack year round and the deer love it.
Definitely helps keep the deer on the property.

supplemental feeding is just that...SUPPLEMENTAL. I would feed year round but the best use is in late summer and mid-late winter before spring greenup. Put the protein pellets in a covered, rain proof feeder, not on the ground for best results and less waste.

You will get more bang for the buck by planting food plots and fertilizing native plants. Add planting fruit trees and mineral licks.

Each is only a PART of the puzzle, but all will help to greater or lesser degrees.

Fred what kid of fruit tree do you recommend planting? I see Mossy Oaks Nativ Nurseries is running a sale this month on their seedlings. I thought about buying some for my home place and some for a 100 ac lease. Another question is regards to the lease. The young pines were aggressively thinned a few years ago. There are some pretty sizeable thinning lanes with an open canopy. I'll have a dozer back once season ends to clean up some more of these cut lanes so I can plant more summer food. Would it be worth planting some fruit trees and sawtooth oak in some of these lanes?

Not Fred but I've got a similar situation on some of my land. What I would recommend is to plant the trees in open fields and then once the dozer clears up those lanes, run a disk through them. This will result in a lot of native forage growing up. Also makes for great fawning cover and nesting cover for turkeys

Truth!

Boss Buck &/or Buckeye gravity feeders with a mix of corn and Buck Booster Pellets for me. BUT, it is only part of the total package!

We also have a lot of sawtooth oaks planted.
We have some apple and pear trees, too. But, they are still young and not making any substantial fruit yet. They are also a good bit more trouble with spraying AND protecting from the deer. They willnip the ends of the limbs off and love to run their antlers on them!
Honeysuckle sprigged in those lanes and fertilized regular makes a good little attractant and provides a lot of food with little maintenance.

We fed this summer. Killed a 200lb 9 point 220lb 6 point and a 251lb 7 point on our club. We are thinking that's where body weight came from but haven't noticed any difference in antler growth. May take a couple of years.

My home place is 15 acre total and I have about 8 acre of pasture/open field. This is were I plan to spend most of my money for trees. I'm not sure it would be a good investment on leased land. It will be 10 to 15 years before these pines are clear cut and the owner has no intentions of selling anytime soon so I giving it some thought. I definitely want to utilize those lanes to may advantage. This property has potential to be a special place due to it's location. I'm seeing good genetics on the younger deer and some deer are able to reach maturity. It really has everything a deer needs I just want to take it to the next level.

Property also has a nice little flock of turkey using the place as well.

If you have plenty of Oak trees I'd focus on pear trees, persimmon trees, and Dunstan Chestnut trees. With some Sawtooth Oaks if space is available. Plant several varieties of pear trees in an area, with different dropping dates for the trees. Pear trees are easy to grow and produce in a couple a three years.

Use trees tubes, stakes, and cages if needed to protect the young trees. Water once a week in summer first year.

Thanks Fred! I will put your advice to use

Mike, short answer to your question is I doubt it would be. I've got around 400 saw tooth oaks and 35-40 pears, apples and crab apples. They'll give the deer something to eat in mid to late September and early October.

I agree with the old man’s advice. I’ve planted just about everything The Wildlife Group sales and I’ve come to the conclusion that pears, persimmons, and nut producing trees are about the best options. Nuttal oak is another you might add to the list.

the less you as a manager can use a particular tool, such as planting crops, the more important the other tools become. In areas of no crops I'd say protein feeders become more important to supplying needed nutrition and keeping deer in your area.