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<blockquote data-quote="jackinok09" data-source="post: 3964030" data-attributes="member: 51322"><p>I actually tested this on our old place in western Okla (520 acres), as to whether or not it would help. For two years I shot 11/2-2-year-old bucks and had the antlers mounted. then I started feeding corn year-round in two feeders. shot the same age class bucks (verified by trail cams) and had antlers mounted. I did feed only for two years, then started putting out mineral blocks and making mineral/salt lick piles on ground for two years. and had those antlers mounted. though the gains were small you COULD actually tell an improvement in antler growth and mass overall. plus, there was decided decrease in bucks with broken antlers on trail cams. Was the investment worth it? in all actuality probably not if antler growth was your only criteria. the overall weight of these animals did increase but whether that was due to simply having more feed available or that the quality of feed changed I have no way of guessing. but i would suspect it was due to both and the fact that they didn't have to travel as far to fill their bellies. </p><p>now I only fed corn, regular cattle mineral blocks and used commercial deer supplements you buy over counter. I have a bro-in-law that feeds high protein feed year-round and has done it for several years on several thousand acres he leases or owns. he grows some truly massive whitetails, but they have very little to no hunting pressure, have access to constant high protein feed and all the wheat they can eat within a very small (relatively) range. once again though he has a feed bill several times the probable average income.</p><p>my final analysis, yes it does help with overall herd health. with the added benefit of keeping more deer localized. but is it really worth the investment on a small acreage? I don't think so in all reality if antler growth is the only goal. case in point, I personally watched a very good buck all year on trail cams on my current 77-acre place.as soon as rut kicked in, he disappeared. I went to coffee shop a few days later and neighbor approx. 5 miles away was showing pictures of the buck he shot. it was the very buck I had fed all year that had travelled that far off his normal range. if you've got enough area then yes i believe you can grow some truly impressive bucks but it's very expensive overall and you have to keep them home.</p><p>There is a reason why game dept will help on habitat improvement only if it's for a continuous thousand acres or more.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jackinok09, post: 3964030, member: 51322"] I actually tested this on our old place in western Okla (520 acres), as to whether or not it would help. For two years I shot 11/2-2-year-old bucks and had the antlers mounted. then I started feeding corn year-round in two feeders. shot the same age class bucks (verified by trail cams) and had antlers mounted. I did feed only for two years, then started putting out mineral blocks and making mineral/salt lick piles on ground for two years. and had those antlers mounted. though the gains were small you COULD actually tell an improvement in antler growth and mass overall. plus, there was decided decrease in bucks with broken antlers on trail cams. Was the investment worth it? in all actuality probably not if antler growth was your only criteria. the overall weight of these animals did increase but whether that was due to simply having more feed available or that the quality of feed changed I have no way of guessing. but i would suspect it was due to both and the fact that they didn't have to travel as far to fill their bellies. now I only fed corn, regular cattle mineral blocks and used commercial deer supplements you buy over counter. I have a bro-in-law that feeds high protein feed year-round and has done it for several years on several thousand acres he leases or owns. he grows some truly massive whitetails, but they have very little to no hunting pressure, have access to constant high protein feed and all the wheat they can eat within a very small (relatively) range. once again though he has a feed bill several times the probable average income. my final analysis, yes it does help with overall herd health. with the added benefit of keeping more deer localized. but is it really worth the investment on a small acreage? I don't think so in all reality if antler growth is the only goal. case in point, I personally watched a very good buck all year on trail cams on my current 77-acre place.as soon as rut kicked in, he disappeared. I went to coffee shop a few days later and neighbor approx. 5 miles away was showing pictures of the buck he shot. it was the very buck I had fed all year that had travelled that far off his normal range. if you've got enough area then yes i believe you can grow some truly impressive bucks but it's very expensive overall and you have to keep them home. There is a reason why game dept will help on habitat improvement only if it's for a continuous thousand acres or more. [/QUOTE]
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