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Wildlife on Small Properties
Bucks by Deer Food Plot
My property is located in the Texas Hill Country. Back in 1999 I had a corn feeder that I built myself. I then decided I wanted a food plot but only had a garden tiller. So I ended up with a 0.08 acre plot that the deer ate as soon as it sprouted. In 2001 I got a tractor. Then expanded to a 1 acre plot. But still the deer ate it all.
In 2004 I built a heavy duty free choice protein feeder. In 2005 I planted an acre of pecan trees and alfalfa. Since then I have been planting Peas, Chicory, Alfalfa, Sorghum, Wheat and Oats. Also over seeding Native Grasses and Forbs. This year I plan to do about a total of 6 acres.
HD Protein Feeder
This Heavy Duty Protein Feeder was built with 11ga. sheet metal. All welded not bent and riveted. It also has an inner frame made from 1" sq. tubing. It took a spill at about half full (1,500 lbs) when I accidentally clipped a leg with the tractor. Only the leg was damaged. That's why I built it that way. I learned a long time ago when about 50 sheep destroyed my first Corn Feeder. My Corn Feeder can also withstand its own weight in a fall. Although the 55gal. barrel would need to be replaced.
137-3/8' Buck & Gordy the tracker
Sometimes hard work pays off. Yes good deer can show up anywhere. But until 2007 I never saw any Quality bucks. And for some reason there seems to be more hunters all around now. Well the rainfall has been a big factor for sure. But better land management, selective harvest, deer protein, deer food plots and deer minerals should also be playing a role. If we continue to see improvements in the future we will know for sure.
Deer Food Plots 3 & 4
This spring I tried something a little different. The oats in deer plots 3 & 4 were just starting to grow and I didn't want to turn them over. Instead I over seeded Cowpeas, BMR Sorghum, Chicory, Alfalfa and Rape Essex. I hope to eventually convert deer plots 3 & 4 to perennial food plots.
Picked up some Surrender Fire Ant Killer at a my local feed store. I knew there had to be something better than at your local home and garden stores. And it was only about $12.50 for a 1lb can. According to the warning label you need a HAZMAT uniform. Tested on 1 mound and it worked. I'll get after every Fire Ant mound I can find in a few days.
Follow up on Surrender Fire Ant Killer. It works great! Here's a link to their website.
www.controlsolutionsinc.com/product.asp?id=96
www.controlsolutionsinc.com/product.asp?id=96
Oats Deer Food Plot 3
Glad I didn't turn under the oats in Deer Plots 3 & 4. The deer actually let them go to seed. I think they had other browse and the oats got tough. Also I forgot I had mixed in some wheat. The birds should enjoy the seeds and hopefully leave enough for a semi-annual stand to return in the fall.
Oats Deer Food Plot 4
Alfalfa in Tree Cage
Just a few years ago I never would have believed Alfalfa could be grown in the Texas Hill Country. But now it makes perfect sense. It doesn't like extreme heat or cold. But it has really deep roots which make it drought hardy. And if you can keep deer off of it like these plants inside this tree cage. This mowed area has Alfalfa but as you can see the deer really keep it cut. I try not to mow this area lower than 6".
Alfalfa in camp
Here is another spot the deer don't usually browse. At camp. But I do stress usually.
Chicory and Alfalfa
Here is some Chicory and Alfalfa at camp.
Camp
This picture shows the west side of camp. With new Picnic Table and Fire Pit. Originally there were 8 large Spanish Oak trees. But oak wilt disease got all of them. The majority of trees left are Shinn Oak which is basically brush. Not much shade left.
Deer @ Trophy Rock & Protein Feeder
I have tried lots of Deer Minerals. Some were in block form and some in powder form that you bury. I can't say that I've tried them all. And there is a few more I want to try. But most only get limited use. One that got lots of use was just a salt mineral block for cattle. But I have been using Trophy Rock for about 5 years now and Bucks, Does and Fawns all use it. Even Cottontail Rabbits frequent it. They claim it has over 60 trace minerals which is great. And its 100% natural.
Wildlife Management
5' Brow tines @ Protein Feeder
The Texas Hill Country is notorious for high deer numbers, small body deer, spike deer and small antlered bucks. On small property management the same problems exist as any where else. But unlike high fence or large ranches and wildlife association ranches. Wildlife Managers have no control what happens off their property. Don't be discouraged though. Deer herd improvements can still be made. By deer herd reduction, spike deer and selective harvest then genetics and nutrition will be much more of a factor in the Texas Hill Country deer.
Deer @ Protein Feeder
Doe Reduction:
A wildlife manager can't go wrong by removing any doe if deer herd numbers are high. But the first year managers should probably set their sites on mature does.
(1) This will accomplish deer herd numbers.
(2) Fastest way of eliminating spike buck genes.
(3) Bring doe / buck ratio more in balance.
Spikes:
There have been lots of arguments over spikes throughout the years. I tend to go with the most extensive research.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs
/media/pwd_rp_w7000_0827.pdf
Selective Harvest:
(1) Let bucks mature to full potential.
(2) Remove inferior bucks.
Nutrition:
(1) Improve habitat.
(2) Deer Food Plots.
(3) Protein Feeders. (free choice feeders / year round)
(4) Corn Feeders. (especially winter months)
(5) Mineral Supplements.
Genetics:
If a wildlife manager has taken steps above genetics have been influenced.
A wildlife manager can't go wrong by removing any doe if deer herd numbers are high. But the first year managers should probably set their sites on mature does.
(1) This will accomplish deer herd numbers.
(2) Fastest way of eliminating spike buck genes.
(3) Bring doe / buck ratio more in balance.
Spikes:
There have been lots of arguments over spikes throughout the years. I tend to go with the most extensive research.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs
/media/pwd_rp_w7000_0827.pdf
Selective Harvest:
(1) Let bucks mature to full potential.
(2) Remove inferior bucks.
Nutrition:
(1) Improve habitat.
(2) Deer Food Plots.
(3) Protein Feeders. (free choice feeders / year round)
(4) Corn Feeders. (especially winter months)
(5) Mineral Supplements.
Genetics:
If a wildlife manager has taken steps above genetics have been influenced.
Droptine Buck @ Protein Feeder
Here is some thing I have not seen before. The first Drop tine Buck at the Protein Feeder. He is the one that had the 5" Brow tines back in June. Quite a surprise for this hot dry summer. Also got a picture of a younger Buck with fairly tall tines. Maybe the same genes.
Supplemental Feeding
Now that 2010 Deer Season is over. All managers having done their jobs and accomplished their goals, with herd management. It’s time to start over with the new year. In my opinion the first order of business should be keeping those corn feeders going. Corn may have it’s best value during the extreme cold months of January and February. While not much in nutritional protein value 5% - 7%. However corn is high in calories, and 82% of those calories are in the form of carbohydrates. With the combination of extreme cold temperatures (just last week over 100 hours below freezing) and limited available forage. In this stressful period deer are using lots of energy just to stay warm, corn could help keep deer healthy.
After the rut nutrition first goes toward building a bucks body, antlers second. Therefore a manager would want his deer in the best shape possible, when their antlers are shed. All these things are just as important for does and fawns. Not only are does using extra energy just to stay warm in this high stressed period, they are also carrying.
And if all your hard work goes as you had planned, carrying you future trophy. Therefore we want him healthy even before he is born.
Just as important is protein. I prefer to feed year round. Also for me I just stay with 20% whether using feed with an antler package (February - September) or not ( October - January). Deer nutritionists generally agree that a diet containing 16-20% crude protein is more than adequate to support deer protein requirements. After deer meet their minimal protein requirements any additional protein consumed does not lead to larger antlers or bigger bodies. I would not disagree, but in times of stress when native forage may be 12% or lower, by feeding 20% I should be keeping them at 16% level.
For the Texas Hill Country I believe protein should be fed year round, even with the addition of food plots. Feeding protein 24/7 seems the best choice because food plots are hit or miss, and are not usually doing well at the times when deer are most stressed. I want all the nutrients and minerals that a protein supplement can provide in the deer’s system when antlers drop (first week in March here). So here in the Texas Hill Country if your not feeding protein year round. You should at least start in February - January.
I’m not sure about the role mineral supplements play here, along with supplemental protein feeding. I think that in certain areas it would be beneficial. I have experimented with several different ones, but deer had very little interest. I can say the Trophy Rock or salt mineral block for cattle get used by all deer. I suspect even those two, it’s only the salt animals are after.
Also would think February would be ideal time to put out mineral supplements.
Next would be Improving native habitat and Food Plots. I will get more into these subjects later.
After the rut nutrition first goes toward building a bucks body, antlers second. Therefore a manager would want his deer in the best shape possible, when their antlers are shed. All these things are just as important for does and fawns. Not only are does using extra energy just to stay warm in this high stressed period, they are also carrying.
And if all your hard work goes as you had planned, carrying you future trophy. Therefore we want him healthy even before he is born.
Just as important is protein. I prefer to feed year round. Also for me I just stay with 20% whether using feed with an antler package (February - September) or not ( October - January). Deer nutritionists generally agree that a diet containing 16-20% crude protein is more than adequate to support deer protein requirements. After deer meet their minimal protein requirements any additional protein consumed does not lead to larger antlers or bigger bodies. I would not disagree, but in times of stress when native forage may be 12% or lower, by feeding 20% I should be keeping them at 16% level.
For the Texas Hill Country I believe protein should be fed year round, even with the addition of food plots. Feeding protein 24/7 seems the best choice because food plots are hit or miss, and are not usually doing well at the times when deer are most stressed. I want all the nutrients and minerals that a protein supplement can provide in the deer’s system when antlers drop (first week in March here). So here in the Texas Hill Country if your not feeding protein year round. You should at least start in February - January.
I’m not sure about the role mineral supplements play here, along with supplemental protein feeding. I think that in certain areas it would be beneficial. I have experimented with several different ones, but deer had very little interest. I can say the Trophy Rock or salt mineral block for cattle get used by all deer. I suspect even those two, it’s only the salt animals are after.
Also would think February would be ideal time to put out mineral supplements.
Next would be Improving native habitat and Food Plots. I will get more into these subjects later.
I'm no expert by any means still learning the hard way. Also just learning web design so bare with me. I'll keep adding things. So comeback soon. Be sure and check out my Pictures and Products and Services pages. And if you have any questions or comments or would like me to build you a Deer Feeder, Protein Feeder, Blind, Tower/Base or Picnic Table please fill out my Contact Form. Let me know how I'm doing. Thanks
Address: rwmcountry
105 W. Elm st
Gustine, Tx. 76455