it always helps but i usually start early spring, they will certainly hammer them now though, especially the protien as natural browse dries and becomes less palatable i really see an increase in protien pellet consumption, right now they are eating about 1000 lb a week on 155 acres so it assume its making a diffrence, especially for those that survive till next year. for me its a year round thing, and from my research im told it should take 3 years to notice documentable results, im on yr 3 and it seemed to me that stuff was better last year, even my management bucks are starting to look good to me now days. ive got some dang mountable sixes walking around.