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Summer Deer plots vs protein pellets
Posted on 6/17/21 at 9:53 pm
Posted on 6/17/21 at 9:53 pm
Deer are eating the hell out of my buck buster premium plot from last years deer season but not touching the protein feeder less than 20 yards away. This is the second time I’ve tried to get deer to eat protein at my house and they just won’t do it. I’ve mixed it with corn and all that still not the first picture of a deer eating it. I do however get 8 to 10 deer a night on camera in my foodplot.
I can’t find anything on how much protein they may be getting from the buck busters. I think they must be eating the clover Or chicory
I can’t find anything on how much protein they may be getting from the buck busters. I think they must be eating the clover Or chicory
This post was edited on 6/17/21 at 10:12 pm
4
Posted on 6/17/21 at 10:08 pm to WPsportsman
Yeah clover and chicory are what’s producing out of that mix right now. It’s been raining a lot so everything is still growing well. Deer have a lot of forage right now. I bet as it gets hotter and the native forage gets woodier, they’ll come to protein.
Mid August- Oct 1 is the biggest stress for southern deer. That’s when they need supplemental food plots/feed.
Mid August- Oct 1 is the biggest stress for southern deer. That’s when they need supplemental food plots/feed.
Posted on 6/17/21 at 10:38 pm to WPsportsman
I have some protein out and have noticed they don’t touch it when there’s good steady rain. If the browse is palatable they don’t want anything to do with it. Let it get dry a week and they will eat the whole feeder down. I really think we could get 90% of the benefit just filling feeders with protein late winter and again in mid July.
Posted on 6/17/21 at 10:56 pm to WPsportsman
I plated iron clay peas mixed with sunflower seeds, joint vetch, Sorghum and brown top millet. Deer have been hammering the food plot.
Posted on 6/18/21 at 5:29 am to ABucks11
quote:
Mid August- Oct 1 is the biggest stress for southern deer.
Are we talking in terms of weather/climate, because it's definitely not because of food availability (unless the habitat isn't managed).
Late winter to early spring is probably the most stressful period, because other than food plots and whatever acorns/mast are left on the ground, there's nothing for them to eat.
Posted on 6/18/21 at 6:17 am to Cowboyfan89
We have protein out and planted summer plots of beans and corn. Deer are hammering it all. I find it takes them a while to figure out the whole protein program, this is our second year doing protein and the deer seem to have it figured out.
I do find they prefer a trough feeder for protein over a feeder with a "head" on it to let them eat. They visit both at our place but prefer the trough.
I do find they prefer a trough feeder for protein over a feeder with a "head" on it to let them eat. They visit both at our place but prefer the trough.
Posted on 6/18/21 at 7:03 am to Da Hammer
quote:
I do find they prefer a trough feeder for protein over a feeder with a "head" on it to let them eat. They visit both at our place but prefer the trough.
I've noticed this as well with anyone that I know that feeds protein.
But there are some places that, for whatever reason, deer won't touch protein supplements at certain times of the year. It's kind of like the birds at my house--they will not eat from feeders except in late winter/early spring when other food sources are hard to find. They just have other, more desirable sources of food throughout the rest of the year.
Posted on 6/18/21 at 8:34 am to WPsportsman
I used to do a summer plot. Now i just do mineral and protein pellets. There is so much green shite in the woods in south ms during the summer i feel like a plot is useless
Posted on 6/18/21 at 1:57 pm to oleyeller
Late summer is a pretty hard time here, also. Just because it is green doesn’t mean deer will eat it. There have need deer that died of starvation, but had a fully belly. Not all plants have enough nutrients or are can’t be easily digested.
Protein consumption almost doubles. It seems like late summer is worse then your “average” winter for here. Protein consumption almost doubles in late winter(late January-begining of March) too.
Protein consumption almost doubles. It seems like late summer is worse then your “average” winter for here. Protein consumption almost doubles in late winter(late January-begining of March) too.
Posted on 6/18/21 at 3:19 pm to Outdoorreb
quote:
Just because it is green doesn’t mean deer will eat it.
Yeah, but they do eat alot of that green vegetation. I've seen deer browse all sorts of veg, but they browse the hell out of greenbriar, ragweed, and Verbena especially, which are all fairly common species if you have any open ground.
quote:
There have need deer that died of starvation, but had a fully belly.
Yeah, in poor habitat. They aren't eating garbage if there is good food sources present. And that is as simple as doing some habitat management. If you have nothing but closed canopy hardwood forest, sure, they aren't going to have much to eat at that time of year.
Posted on 6/18/21 at 4:44 pm to Cowboyfan89
quote:
Verbena
Are you talking about Vervain? They don’t eat vervain here. They don’t eat giant ragweed either. They will eat common ragweed and Smilax species like you said plus other forbs, but they won’t eat everything.
In the hottest and driest part of the year forbs that they eat are stressed out too. Everything needs some water.
Posted on 6/18/21 at 5:52 pm to Outdoorreb
quote:
Are you talking about Vervain? They don’t eat vervain here.
I guess yalls deer biologists need to go study deer some more then.
There are over 400 species of vegetation that deer browsing has been documented on, including verbena. They may not browse it heavily, but I bet they do eat it.
Posted on 6/18/21 at 7:00 pm to Cowboyfan89
Posted on 6/18/21 at 11:02 pm to Outdoorreb
We have the most briars I have seen in 4 years and the deer havent touched my JV yet. Last year the kept the peas and JV down to dirt all year.
Posted on 6/18/21 at 11:25 pm to jimjackandjose
Just curious, but when did you plant your vetch. NoColors would know more then me on the vetch, but I know last year it was a crappy year here with all the rain. I planted mine the last week of May and I ran out 7 deer of a plot last Sunday.
Just curious about your planting date.
Just curious about your planting date.
Posted on 6/19/21 at 6:45 pm to Cowboyfan89
quote:
Mid August- Oct 1 is the biggest stress for southern deer. .
quote:
Are we talking in terms of weather/climate, because it's definitely not because of food availability (unless the habitat isn't managed).
We are talking available nutrients to daily demand. End of summer bucks are finishing antlers and does are still lactating. Lactating is equivalent to the nutrient demand of being pregnant. September is usually the driest month + August heat lowers the nutrients available in plants. Late summer is worse than end of February- green-up in terms of stress on deer.
Summer plots are one way to bridge the gap. Like you mentioned, managing the habitat for native browse is the better approach since that’s what majority of deers diet is.
Posted on 6/19/21 at 6:51 pm to jimjackandjose
quote:
the deer havent touched my JV yet
They usually don't start hitting it hard until about August
Posted on 6/19/21 at 11:26 pm to Outdoorreb
I think I drilled end of April. Wanted to give heads start for it to pop up/grow and I've been swamped raising 2 boys less than 16 months old. Anytime I can get on tractor, I have to.
My best patch last year I sprayed about 1/4 acre and hand spread about hard rain when ground was really sticky
Drilled in this year in 2 foot plots and it appears to be doing very well
My best patch last year I sprayed about 1/4 acre and hand spread about hard rain when ground was really sticky
Drilled in this year in 2 foot plots and it appears to be doing very well
Posted on 6/20/21 at 8:48 am to jimjackandjose
Yea we are loaded with briar and dew berry this year.
They had barely touched the peas when I went up last week to check.
Between the peanuts, peas and browse they have a buffet.
They had barely touched the peas when I went up last week to check.
Between the peanuts, peas and browse they have a buffet.
Posted on 6/20/21 at 1:31 pm to GREENHEAD22
Wish I could get some peanuts to grow or sweet potato. My soul is clumpy stick clay. LsU ag told me it isnt sandy enough for those crops
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