When is a good time to start putting feed out to help with body growth and good herd health. What does everyone use for feed and nutrition? I like Big and J and this year Ive heard some good things about Cabelas products and the mineral products from Whitetail institute. so I will be giving them a try. Please advise if you have used any of Cabelas or WTI minerals. Thanks
Spring feeding
- Thread starter oz1195
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Now is the best time and nothing is harder on them than these freezing temps, deep snow and little to no quality food left.
Big & J is some high priced stuff and my deer did not touch the BB2. I will stick to regular old shelled corn.
I make my own mineral mix and will put it out in late March.
Big & J is some high priced stuff and my deer did not touch the BB2. I will stick to regular old shelled corn.
I make my own mineral mix and will put it out in late March.
Corn for this guy. Big&j is too expensive. I can get 200 pounds of corn for the price of a 40 pound bag of that stuff.
The deer pellets pack the most bang for your buck when it comes to nutrition. Sure you can buy 4 times as much corn for the same price, but it doesn't even come close when it comes to nutrition.
Just a good read, take it for what its worth.
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/documents/winterdeerfeeding.pdf
I also agree that from now is a great time to start.
Just a good read, take it for what its worth.
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/documents/winterdeerfeeding.pdf
I also agree that from now is a great time to start.
If I dumped 40 pounds of pellets at my best property, it would be gone in one day. The fuggin birds and squirrels would eat it all day long then the deer would hammer it evening and all night. How much nutrition is one deer going to get when they have to share a measly 40 pounds with every other critter in the woods. Hell, 200 pounds of corn don't even last me a week right now, I can't afford a 40 pound bag of pellets that cost $20 at the rate these animals are eating.
I'm not slamming you man. I also use just strait corn for that reason. I'm just answering the question. Every situation is different and if my pockets could reach pellets, I'd use it with corn, through a timed feeder.
Lumber head 75
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This time of year I put out corn and believe it or not wild bird feed. The bird feed has corn, sunflower seed, and milo they pound the shit out of it. Once the snow is gone I freshen up mineral sites and start putting out record rack pellets until the acorns drop. This has worked well for me.
Thank you every one for your replies. The deer that I put feed out for last year loved the BB2. I know its expensive but for me it worked really well. I also tried Big tine 30-06 and it worked well to. I learned last in the year that tractor supply has Big and J and Big tine 30-06 for a fraction of the price. I already picked up 3 begs of BT 40 lbs bags for 10 each. Big and J is usually $5-7 cheaper than any where else.
Learned something tonight. Never would have thought so many on here feed year round. I won't spend the money on it. Minerals is about where I draw the line. I have bought 3-4 bags of corn in the last 7 years to try to help my son get on his first deer. That is about it and it hasn't helped.
at1010
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NO. There is 0 effects that show, feeding or minerals even positivily benefit free range deer. I honestly think it does but as this has been discussed at length several times I will not continue to ramble any more on this topic. I don't want bore everyone!
I feed before season to get an inventory, and after season for shed inventory. The corn dumping will stop here shortly then I'll do my minerals.
at1010
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good post. I also don't feed all year round. I feed from last week of OCT-FEB/March. One station near the house, like to see the deer and give them something in the dead of winter. Also keep an inventory after the boom sticks.
The only reason I feed year around is to see them from my house also. I don't feed where I hunt and I rarely hunt at my house unless I'm hunting with my kids.
Not judging. Don't take my post wrong. Just interesting. I simply choose not to do it. Takes money and I am cheap. We are all agricultural around here. Never once seen a deer that was starving. Maybe if I lived somewhere seriously cold where they truly would not make it otherwise. Just not going to do it around here. I don't see a benefit for myself personally. Now. . . were I living somewhere I could see the deer from my house, out the kitchen window or something. . . my thoughts my change. I do enjoy watching the animals.
I set the camera up in my front yard last spring in hopes to get a pic of one in the yard with the house in the background. This was the closest daylight I got that week.
Well I just got some whitetail institute mineral 30-06 . Will be getting it out soon. I'll update when I can
at1010
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minerals will start to get hit now, but IMO think of minerals and baiting deer totally different.
1. bag of mineral can last a long time. it seeps into the ground, deer lick the dirt even.
2. Corn, deer eat it corn runs out, they are done.