Quality management of white-tailed deer using supplemental feed

Quality management of white-tailed deer hasn’t been around for long, but lately it has taken off across the country. Areas that come to mind include Florida, Kansas, Iowa, the archery mecca of the Northeast, and of course Texas. Deer management has been around since the beginning, as each time an animal is captured, its impact will be reflected in the health of the herd. With the recent introduction of “quality” into the show, one wonders what that means. The hunting community now realizes the power we possess while in the field. And how we help or harm the herd is determined each time we go into the forest. Deer quality management has as many variables as there are fish in the sea. I will talk about supplemental feeder feeding in this article.

I hunt in Texas under a state authorized MLDP program (Managed Deer Land Permits). The state gives us additional privileges with the expectation that we will conduct ourselves with the health of the pack first in mind. We have fun thinking about the end result. Our ranch, like most in Texas, uses deer feeders to help achieve that goal.

During deer season, we will feed a mix of corn and protein. Corn provides a strong attractant, so we can make strong judgments about the correct venison to remove based on predetermined criteria. Corn also provides a carbohydrate replacement that is crucial for males to maintain a healthy physiological self while exerting themselves during the demands of the routine. Hopefully the deer enter the spring season in good shape. The better they are out of winter, the bigger the antlers will be next season. Once spring rolls around, it’s time to start eating protein.

I convert all of my spincast feeders to free-flowing gravity tubes by removing the timer mechanisms and installing the gravity tubes. A product called a deer feeder helper makes this a breeze, and it only takes a few minutes to convert. The optimal way to feed protein is to use the rotary feeder and ensure that the granules are contained or delivered into a chute or feed tube, which prevents the granules from reaching the ground and being destroyed by moisture.

Creating a housing (bucket) around your timer attached to a tube works well for this. Elimination of unselected animals is also encouraged, as it is not necessary to supplement the diet of raccoons or wild pigs. Feeding pens and vermin guards are always a must. There are hundreds of different types of protein feeders. These are used only for complementary feeding and are not normally hunted. It is generally placed in sanctuary-type places.

They can be quite large and require an auger type load to be efficient. Carrying 4,000 pounds a bag at a time can be very difficult and expensive. Buying in bulk is always considerably cheaper. Protein granules come in many different types. I recommend buying an affordable 16% to 20% brand that contains additional minerals to help with antler growth. Some are water repellent, which is beneficial if you choose to dispense them on the ground.

Protein granules will tend to get stuck in rotary feeders due to moisture swelling them, however this is not detrimental if you use an auxiliary feeder as you can simply unhook the auxiliary feeder and remove any clogs or clogs. If you choose to spin your protein granules, you might consider feeding them after dark. Deer are nocturnal by nature and this helps ensure that the protein is eaten quickly and not spoiled by the elements. I think this also helps the whitetail trophy dollars to claim this as their territory, which could hopefully prove fatal if you did your part on the field.

Of course, there are many different means of trying to achieve a healthy deer herd, such as food plots, prescribed burning, removing excess cedars and mesquite, and proper deer harvesting. A game biologist is always key for those who are eager to hear his opinion and advice.

I hope you find this information helpful and informative.

Happy hunting. Chris Nicholes

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