Purina Mule Deer 22 feed?

[NE69]

Thinking of supplementing some of the areas where I hunt with a high protein feed. Not so much to grow big antlers but just to just increase health of the deer and get them to come to the feeders. I feed a mixture of corn, wheat and milo now. Does any one have any experience with Purina's mule deer 22 pellets? Using the game feeders as a way to get pics on trail cams to see what is in the area. Also feeding the pheasants, quail and other critters. All on private ground. Plan on a few small food plots also for winter nutrition in secluded places in the canyons but haven't decided what to plant in them yet.
Any input or help will be appreciated. Thanks guys

 

[ceby7]

Not sure Eastmans' forums is the place to ask a question like this. Most here aren't your 'food plot' type hunters.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Not sure Eastmans' forums is the place to ask a question like this. Most here aren't your 'food plot' type hunters.

This is true we don't grow or farm our deer out west. But we have no problem hunting in or around existing crops that were not planted specifically to attract or hold deer.
I am guilty of this because last year I shot an antelope from an alfalfa field and the meat is outstanding.

 

[packmule]

It's a good idea for overall health and assisting with fawn recruitment/development. Understand without adequate water close to those feeders consumption will be low, it burns hot on their stomachs. Also if soil moisture is an issue it's sometimes more cost effective to pour nutrition out of a bag vs doing rain dances.

As far as the brand, you'll have to figure out what they'll actually eat after mixing it with something they're accustomed to eating out of a feeder. They may like that brand, could have to go through several.

 

[NE69]

Maybe I need to clarify. I'm not hunting the food plots. Just giving them feed. Figure the food plots will do more for the other animals than the deer but really do like to help them out also. I do hunt a lot, just don't kill very often by choice. I don't intend to hunt over these ever.

 

[NE69]

It's a good idea for overall health and assisting with fawn recruitment/development. Understand without adequate water close to those feeders consumption will be low, it burns hot on their stomachs.

There is water on all of the areas in the form of windmill/tanks and irrigation always close. We are dry here but not as dry as Texas most years. There is a learning curve to this game feeding and I'm just trying to speed it up a bit. I'm not going into it with any real expectations except to learn from it and contribute back to all wildlife in the areas. One pasture hasn't had a cow in it for 20 years just to let it grow and provide cover for animals. Thanks Packmule

 

[packmule]

It won't be an immediate return on investment. You'll start seeing the benefits as the fawns age that were nursed by does with better diets. Buddies who operate big mule deer properties in the panhandle and West Tx generally say it takes about 7yrs to see it show up in antlers and several to see the fawn numbers start increasing if there's Summer rains helping.

We treat our whitetail the same way, except with 60-65" of rain it makes planting an easier choice. I'm on brand #9 on protein after 2yrs and haven't gotten the first deer to eat it. I like that because they don't need it and fawn recruitment is around 120%.

 

[roknHS]

If the natural food supply is short, supplemental feed is more readily accepted by deer. Whole grains like corn are the easiest to get deer started on. Pelleted feeds take time to get deer used to them. A lot depends on how hungry they are. The benefit of a pelleted supplement is usually the addition of a basic vitamin/mineral pak that is added to the mix before it is pelleted. Not all pelleted feeds contain the extras but, I'm very sure Purina adds the vitamin/mineral mix to their pellets.
A balanced diet containing protein, energy, vitamins and minerals plus adequate water is the key to the health and well being of every big game animal. A formulated pelleted feed is nutritionally superior to a whole grain. The challenge is getting the deer used to eating something they haven't seen before.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

You should make sure you check the laws in your state. Most western states it's illegal to feed deer and the use of feeders.

 

[Hilltop]

You should make sure you check the laws in your state. Most western states it's illegal to feed deer and the use of feeders.

It is legal here in Nebraska as long as you aren't hunting over the feeders.

 

[NE69]

Thanks roknHS. They have taken to the corn very well even though they have good feed. First week I had visits every day from a herd of 25 or so. We have great genetics, food and water, just winter months food isn't as good quality naturally. I'm in what they call the mule deer conservation district so GameNParks is finally doing things to help the herd and it is unreal the improvements in just a few years. I'm just doing this as an experiment and as a way to learn more about those wonderful Mule Deer I have hunted for 40 years. Thanks again

 

[buckbull]

Everything I have ever read on the subject written by biologists state that supplemental feedings do more harm than good. Problems with the deer's ability to process the food to congregating deer close together makes them susceptible to disease and easy targets for predators. It would be tuff to watch them starve to death without doing anything for sure.

 

[Againstthewind]

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/WILDLIFE-1002436.aspx. I think that is Wyoming's stance on it, but Nebraska is in a different situation I think.

 

[Tim McCoy]

I think there is a big difference between supplemental feeding in a bad winter to "help" survival (WY link), and a supplemental feeding program to help recover or sustain a population. The former nearly always being a bad idea I'm told. A former MDF guy, Stevens I think, ran a year round supplemental feeding program on his ranch in WA. Buck Run. We hunted it twice for youth doe and buck mgmt. population control hunts. Was a special hunt in the WA regs, may still be for all I know. He did it for years, since we left WA in 2001, not sure if he is still doing it. I would suspect his success or lack there of would be instructive. During the 6 years I followed the place, he was very successful in maintaining a high healthy population.

 

[okielite]

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/WILDLIFE-1002436.aspx. I think that is Wyoming's stance on it, but Nebraska is in a different situation I think.

Wyoming likes to be on both sides, as usual. They say feeding deer and antelope won't help while at the same time they have a massive elk feeding program the feed thousands of wild elk. Do as I say, not as I do.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Wyoming likes to be on both sides, as usual. They say feeding deer and antelope won't help while at the same time they have a massive elk feeding program the feed thousands of wild elk. Do as I say, not as I do.

Funny. Comes down to what the situation is in each case I suspect. Done right and consistently, seems there can be a benefit. Done as a knee jerk to a bad weather or not sustained, a train wreck in the making. OR has some regular elk feed areas too, not aware of any for MD.

 

[NE69]

I've read that deer can starve to death on a belly full of alfalfa when they have tried to feed them during a bad winter in Wy & Co. Several years ago they were trying to develop a pellet that they could digest well in those conditions. Deer being a browser eat small amounts of all variety of vegetation where as elk being grazers do better on alfalfa when fed on winter range. I agree supplemental feeding in winter to help them survive is usually unsuccessful.

 

[Tim McCoy]

I've read that deer can starve to death on a belly full of alfalfa when they have tried to feed them during a bad winter in Wy & Co. Several years ago they were trying to develop a pellet that they could digest well in those conditions. Deer being a browser eat small amounts of all variety of vegetation where as elk being grazers do better on alfalfa when fed on winter range. I agree supplemental feeding in winter to help them survive is usually unsuccessful.

My brother was the ODFW Vet for a number of years for some feed studies on Elk at the Starkey project. They had elk pens with a variety of feed and cover options and studied it for years. I would bet ODFW would have some data from that NE could use. But that was an elk study. The main issue, as I understsand it, is conditioning the bacteria in the gut to a new food, it takes time. Which is why we hear of dead starved ungulates with full bellies, ergo the failure of many emergency feeding projects I suspect.

 

[Fink]

I'd think what you're feeding them now is fine. There's protein in corn and beans, and they like to eat it, so I probably wouldnt over think it. You might add mineral licks so they can get their additional minerals in the spring/summer, when they need them.

Our deer tear up our salt blocks. The salt/mineral licks would be your best bet for inventory over the spring and summer, as that's about the only place the deer really concentrate on, until they start messing up the standing beans in July

 

[2rocky]

There is water on all of the areas in the form of windmill/tanks and irrigation always close. We are dry here but not as dry as Texas most years. There is a learning curve to this game feeding and I'm just trying to speed it up a bit. I'm not going into it with any real expectations except to learn from it and contribute back to all wildlife in the areas. One pasture hasn't had a cow in it for 20 years just to let it grow and provide cover for animals. Thanks Packmule

From a range management perspective I'd say opening up areas for new grass and forb growth in a pasture that hasn't been grazed for 20 years will be the best bang for the buck. Something as simple as mowing down the thatchy grass in the bottom of a draw where there might be some sub moisture. Open up these spots and you will see the deer use them. 300 acres of old dead grass is cover but they have to leave to get groceries. 5 or 6 half acre openings lets them come to green feed without travelling a half mile.

(This is assuming we are talking a good side pasture, like 100 acres or more.)

You never said what kind of Ag Crops are nearby as food sources. If it is Alfalfa, there is plenty of protein.