dr_boogs said:
Not a derail, not a huge deer hunter. For those of you that feed protein is that year round? Seasonal? In addition to corn feeders?
Opinions vary like most things. I believe firmly in feeding protein year round. The reason for that is because the truth is...when you feed a deer protein it doesn't go straight to his antlers.
Most of the name brand proteins you'll find have added things in the pellet which are not growing your deers antlers, but giving them exactly what they need to be as healthy and nutritious as possible. If a deer is not completely healthy, its body can not pump all available nutrients and energy into developing antlers.
You'll find, and science does back this up that when protein is fed on a place year round, you usually have a higher survival rate and more sets of surviving twin fawns. The reasoning is the when your does are eating protein feed as well their much more healthy and their milk is also much more nutritious for their fawns and because their mother is so damn healthy she's able to birth healthier fawns. As for bucks, most people try to just feed while they're growing their antlers...which will help, but doesn't allow them to reach full potential. Especially after the rut you'd be amazed at how hard bucks will hit the protein pens,because they need the protein and minerals to help repair and get their health back after a brutal rut season.
You can disagree...but this is my opinion. Ive seen it why my own eyes.