Supplemental Feeding

January 11, 2022 by Macy Ledbetter

I often get asked about wholeseed cottonseed as an alternative whitetail deer feed.   It has gained in popularity in recent years and here is what you need to know:

May 05, 2020 by Macy Ledbetter

Macy joins the WildBuck podcast to discuss the many questions associated with using whole cottonseed as a supplemental deer feed. 

April 18, 2020 by Macy Ledbetter

One popular question I receive regularly is about feed pens--particularly size and design.  In my nearly thirty years of working with a wide range of ranches throughout Texas, I have seen just about every type imaginable and have some solid conclusions based on their performance and results.  The idea behind a feed pen is to allow access to those animals you wish to attract and feed while excluding those that you do not.  Animals to be excluded typically include feral hogs, javelina and domestic livestock such as horses and cattle.

June 03, 2018 by Macy Ledbetter

Supplemental feeding in the form of pelleted feed is a valuable tool in the serious deer manager’s tool belt, as it provides two things: consistency and a higher level of nutrition.  As it’s name implies, supplemental feeding is something done to augment or increase the natural feed available to deer.  Seasonal cycles, weather patterns and man-made disturbances can cause the nutritional value and availability of native deer foods to be unpredictable with a wide swings in quality.  Supplemental feeding is a safety net or an insurance policy against periods of low nutritional value and/or availability.   Of course, there are different degrees of supplementation and how it is used and its effectiveness, but a supplemental feeding program’s primary responsibility is to lessen the blows of low nutrition and keep the deer on a more level nutritional plane throughout the year.

September 10, 2017 by Macy Ledbetter

What are the differences between feeding corn and protein pellets to your deer herd?  Corn is used primarily as an attractant to lure deer to a location for viewing or hunting and is low in overall nutritive value.  Protein pellets contain a balanced ration with micro and macro nutrients and is used to supplement the natural diet of deer to help them maintain a consistent and high level of health and body condition–which translates to increase body weight, fawn production and antler growth.