[MTRaised]

Looking for opinions. I am building some trough feeders. I am in need of some advise as to what to use for feed. Choices I thought of was commercial feed such as deer chow (expensive), COB. I want to stay away from corn cause they will be planting corn all around me this year so hopefully I can find something they like better to keep them somewhere in the area. I know it is inevitable they will go to the corn fields, but hopefully they can come and eat my stuff first as an appetizer or dessert.

Anyway any suggestions

 

[coyotehunter]

good luck,hard to pull them out of corn.i wish i could tell yah something that works for me.

 

[PMan]

I did a lot of filming over corn and brown sugar mixed togather----but every critter in the woods will appear for supper if you dont use it sparingly.:cheers:

 

[huntforfunnfood]

some one one here the other day posted pics of hay they were using for attractant. I would say that could be very productive. especially if you have some thing like a roofed feeder. if there are no cattle around you could gett some really leafy or ground high quality alfalfa and it might work good. the think i like about this idea is i think most other animals would not be eating up your food.

 

[TOBRYAN]

I highly recommend purina's antler max with rainshield.
We free feed it without corn and they eat it up.
No waste, no rotting and they clean their plate when they are done.

 

[bigredhusker]

The land I bought had some feeders already on the property... It looks like most of you use corn or antermax. I'm guessing I can get this at the coop? any other suggestions? Also, when do you fill them.. all year? just now? etc/

thansk

 

[Hayzer]

Go to Orscheln's and buy 12% sweet feed for horses. We use and we've had great results...

 

[TOBRYAN]

We buy our antler max from T and R feeds out of Chilocothe, we feed from the end of deer season to about now (new browse, clover and alfalfa out). We feed out of half barrel covered feeders that I made with CCA, plastic barrels covered with tin, they hold 2 50lbs bags..We purchase 40 50LB bags at a time (pallet full). This year we used 4 pallets.
They will fight each other getting to it..and when its empty, they arent happy and just stand there for a minute, bow their head and sulk off....:whinging:

 

[90acres]

I've started using alfalfa pellets mixed with corn last fall. The ground is always clean. I may try some of that sweet feed that Hayzer mentioned and mix it with the alfalfa pellets. The pellets are about $7 a bag, how much is the antler max?

 

[Whitemarsh]

We have our feed blended at the local coop exchange in Kirksville. If you have a special ration they can blend it or if you just have ballpark estimates such as % crude protein, mineral /vitamin content, etc. they have the ration formulation software to design a ration.

I have found that using wet molasses as a binder keeps the fines from settling out and adding a flavoring agent (apple or vanilla works best) attracts the critters. The exchange will blend as little as 500 lb or as much as you want. Depending on the cost of ingredients used, the ration cost ranges around the $200/ ton mark. They also have the ability to pelletize the ration at the bulk plant next door.

 

[Woods]

I use whole corn and throw some apples (some cut up) out to get their attention.

 

[TOBRYAN]

We used to do what whitemarsh did and got some custom feed created at Milbanks they called it deer chow but they wouldnt eat it that well unless we mixed it with shelled corn.
We give a little under 400 for a ton, its antler max with watershield, so it can sit there with water on it and doesnt disintegrate.
Good luck and happy feeding!

 

[Whitemarsh]

Originally posted by TOBRYAN
We used to do what whitemarsh did and got some custom feed created at Milbanks they called it deer chow but they wouldnt eat it that well unless we mixed it with shelled corn.

Had the same problem with cattle and horse feed from that mill.

 

[VERNETA]

ORSCHELINS

WERE IS THAT ?

 

[Whitemarsh]

Originally posted by VERNETA
WERE IS THAT ?

Headquarters is in Moberly and they have stores in nine states.

http://www.orschelnfarmhome.com/

 

[MTRaised]

There is one in Kearney

 

[Redonthehead]

A buddy of mine has the local mill mix something like 500 lbs cracked corn, 70 lbs soybean meal, and 30 pounds of mineral. That ratio may be off, but its close. The deer eat it up.

Goal is not so much the deer needing feed, but in getting them to eat it, it forces them to increase the uptake of mineral. And that grows pounds, antlers, and fawns.

Me? I'm too poor to spend that kind of dough.

 

[Bowkil]

Originally posted by Hayzer
Go to Orscheln's and buy 12% sweet feed for horses. We use and we've had great results...

thats exactly what i was gonna type!!!
i had a 50lb bag of sweet feed and there was a hole in the bottom, i figured a mouse got in their, so i didnt want my horses eating it. i threw it out by the creek, 2 days later i walked down there and it was mostly gone. deer prints all around there. it has a strong smell that lures deer.

 

[cowboy]

i work for the orscheln DC in moberly and have worked at two of the stores while i was going to college. if you were to find something there that you wanted to use as a supplemental feed and would buy in bulk. talk to the store manager and you can normally get a discount, 10-15%, is what we always did for our customers. we carry some evolved harvest stuff, which includes a supplemental feed but its like $15 a bag.

 

[TOBRYAN]

Here is a pic of my feeder and the feed from my farm.
Feeders were out of feed for 2 weeks , got a load Monday and put it out yesterday in the am by the afternoon neighbor said they were fighting for it.