Will Great Nutrition Guarantee Trophy Bucks?

If only it were that simple! Great nutrition will give your deer the opportunity to maximize their genetic potential for antler growth, but it is just one (albeit an important one) of many factors that affect deer antler growth. Even assuming that you are providing the best nutrition possible, other things, some within your control and some not, will affect production of trophy racks.

Factors in deer antler growth

General health greatly influences a variety of factors that affect deer antler growth, such as feed intake and hormone production. If your deer are laboring under a parasite load (internal or external), clinical or sub-clinical disease challenges, or have been injured, antler growth will be negatively affected no matter how nutritious the feed because nutrition will be siphoned off to deal with these other issues. Good management must go hand-in-hand with nutrition to get optimum results.

Deer habitat and antler growth

Environmental conditions are also a factor. Climate can affect how much time a deer spends eating, moving around, resting, etc., and how much energy it expends just staying warm or cooling down. Stressors such as traffic or roaming dogs can upset deer, raising blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol and negatively impacting feeding behavior and nutrient usage. Even something like an improper feeder design can affect how much a deer will eat.

Hydration maximizes feed intake in deer

Water availability is critical. Research has shown that in many species of ruminants, if water intake is reduced even minimally, food intake drops also. Water must be fresh, clean, available, and away from stressors that might inhibit a deer’s water intake. Maximizing water intake will help maximize feed intake.

The genetic footprint

Genetics, of course, are very important. If a buck is genetically programmed to be average, then the best feed in the world will make him only average. Keep in mind, however, that a lesser feed will allow him to be only less than average. However, a buck genetically programmed to have a superior rack will not achieve that growth without optimal nutritional support. If you want your bucks to achieve their genetic potential, then you must feed them accordingly.

Population density relative to antler growth

Finally, there are population factors that can affect deer antler growth, primarily population density (how many animals are in a given space) and dominance relationships between bucks. Even mild crowding is a stressor that affects hormone levels, impacts feeding behavior, and leads to increased energy expenditure and even injuries due to increased movement and numbers of altercations. Bucks must be managed with their social hierarchy in mind if injuries are to be minimized and desired breeding strategies achieved.

All in all, while nutrition is extremely important, and great trophy racks will not be achieved without optimal nutrition, management and genetics are also critical to achieving superior antler growth.

Before you head to the deer lease, stop by J&N Feed and Seed in Graham, Texas and pick up Purina Antlermax feed and deer blocks. We’ve got everything you need for a successful hunting season.

Source: Purina Animal Nutrition

It’s time to get your deer feeders ready!  Looking for a stand and fill feeder?   The All Seasons 600 lb Stand & Fill Feeder  is now available at J&N Feed and Seed. The 600 lb Stand & Fill Feeder maintains the quality and durability of our traditional 600 lb broadcast, while offering you a much safer way to fill your feeder, from the ground, without ladders!  As always, All Seasons feeders are made right here in Texas.

All Seasons Wildlife Feeders are built to hold up to the harshest environments Mother Nature has to offer. Their exclusive designs are made to deliver feed to target animals, while reducing waste on the ground.

Feeder Features:

• Perforated feed tray to keep feed fresh and dry
• Can feed up to 6 times a day
• Dispenses 12 lbs of feed in 10 seconds
• Skids for easy relocation
•  Hinged door for easy access to control unit
•  Low-profile design to allow easy filling from the ground
•  Feeder stands approximately 6 ft. tall
• Fits between the wheel wells of a pickup truck for easy transportation

Feeder Includes:

• ASF timer with motor speed control
• 12v solar
• 12v battery
• Heavy duty cage to protect your feeder components from abuse of large animals and varmints

If you want to shoot a big buck, you need to get them onto your property. Lure ’em on with Big & J BB2 Long Range Attractant. In this era of food plots and property management, deer will choose to go to the setup that’s best. BB2 is your secret weapon.  Big & J Long Range Attractant, BB2 Granular,  features a powerful and intense get-noticed aroma that draws deer from far and wide. This natural long-range aroma is the by-product of the proprietary refining process. No artificial ingredients or flavors are added. It’s so long range that even humans can smell it from a relatively long distance.

• The intense, natural aroma is created through a proprietary refining process
• Exceptionally high TDN (total digestible nutrition) level
• Protein-based formula promotes antler growth
• Keeps deer on your property during the season and all year long

Pick up Big & J BB2 Long Range Attractants and all your hunting supplies at J&N Feed and Seed in Graham, Texas.

Pick up your Spring Deer & Gamebird Food Plot Mixes at J&N Feed and Seed. Serious deer hunters know how beneficial food plots can be in the health and size of deer. An average adult deer will consume 6 pounds of feed per day. This means that one deer can be supported on roughly 22 acres. However, body size, health and antler size are going to be well under their potential because of the poor average protein content of the native vegetation. Deer need about 16% protein to express their potential, especially during fawn rearing and antler growth. 

It is entirely possible that spring and summer are the times when your deer herd needs you the most! Some would argue that supplemental feeding is enough.  But even if you do it right, it is shown that no matter what you feed or how you feed it deer, will only consume 20% to 25% of their diet from the supplemental feed. So you are not making a big enough impact on their nutritional intake. You cannot assume that you can forget about deer now and they will automatically be big healthy wall hangers next fall.

J & N Feed and Seed has spring food plot seed mixes by MBS. We’ve got the Spring Deer Blend and the Spring Game Bird Blend. Both food plot mix blends are manufactured in Denton, Texas and formulated for this area of the state. Stop by and get ready to plant your seed plot today.

Staying Warm in the Deer Stand

Late deer season can be some of the best hunting. Frigid temperatures without proper clothing and equipment can keep even the most dedicated hunter at home. Tackle the cold, fill your tags and take the buck of your dreams this season!

4 Tips for staying warm in your deer stand:

Dress Properly

• Head- Keep your head and ears warm with a hat, beanie or face mask to block the wind.
• Neck- Many hunters forget this, but offering insulation on your neck can keep the rest of the body warm. Wear a neck gaiter and you’ll be surprised what a difference it makes.
• Body- Start your layers with a thin moisture wicking layer of clothing. Then add clothing made of windproof, waterproof and breathable materials. Insulate your chest with a down vest, bibs or a quiet jacket.
• Hands- They always seem to get cold first! For bow hunting make sure you have a great pair of thin moisture wicking gloves. For rifle hunting wear insulated shooting gloves or warm quiet gloves you can remove before taking your shot. If you’ve tried these options and your still cold, invest in a hand muff so you can easily remove your hands and keep them warm before your shot.
• Feet- Wear two pairs of socks. The first pair should be made of moisture wicking material and the second pair should be a thick wool sock. Slip on insulated waterproof boots and your ready to hit the cold night air!

Take your time walking to the deer stand

• The last thing you want to do in freezing temperatures is sweat. Give yourself plenty of time to walk to your deer stand and avoid breaking a sweat. You may need to remove a layer on your way to the deer stand or pack your jacket and take it with you.

Move

• Yes, you read that right. Move! Don’t scare the deer away, but try flexing your muscles while sitting and slowly move your hands and feet to increase blood flow. This will also help keep you warm.

Bring a Heater

• There is no shame in running a heater in your deer stand. Safely use propane heaters and make sure they are sturdy to avoid tipping over.

Take these tips with you on your next hunting trip to stay warm. Share your hunting pictures with us and come by for all your hunting needs! Good luck this season and stay warm!

There is considerable controversy regarding the percentage of dietary protein that deer should have. Many people believe that deer cannot tolerate more than 16% dietary protein and that high-protein diets are wasteful or even toxic. This simply is not true.

Research in South Texas has shown that wild deer diets at certain times of the year can be over 25% protein. Many forages highly utilized by deer are over 30% protein. Obviously, the wild deer are unharmed by consuming these high-protein plants. Indeed, excellent antler growth years were those with superb spring forage conditions. The resulting antler growth suggests that not only were the deer not harmed by their high-protein diet, they actually utilized the protein to grow bigger antlers, indicating that higher protein is necessary for a buck to achieve his genetic potential for antler growth.

Pelleted diets designed to supplement natural forage need to be greater than 16% protein because the forage portion of the diet is often inadequate in protein content. Even in a good year, the digestible protein content of major deer browse species often falls well below 10% by late summer and will likely remain there until the spring green-up. In a tough year (late winter, drought, etc.), the nutrition supplied by natural forages can be inadequate even in the spring. Without supplemental protein, deer cannot maintain optimal body condition, which is essential for maximal antler growth.

Deer in confinement being fed complete diets should have at least 16% dietary protein in order to try to maximize health, growth and antler development. Today’s champion bucks are commonly being raised on diets containing 20% protein. Some people even feed diets containing as much as 24% protein with no adverse effects.

Protein is needed for maintenance and growth of all organs in the body as well as for many physiological functions, and the individual needs for protein are affected by many factors such as genetics, environment, disease and parasite challenges, etc. The body has a “priority of life” list, and protein goes first to those functions that are deemed most important to survival. Antler growth, while desirable and important for social hierarchy, is not necessary for life and appears at the bottom of the priority list from the deer’s viewpoint. Therefore, unless there is enough protein in the diet to meet all the priority needs and have enough left over for optimal antler growth, trophy racks will not happen, no matter what the genetic potential of the buck. If you want to see giant antlers, you will need to provide the necessary protein.

J&N Feed and Seed carries the full line of AntlexMax products.  Come see us for all your hunting and feed needs.

Source: Purina Mills

J&N Feed and Seed carries a full line of hunting products from Millennium Treestands.  We’ve got everything from chairs and benches to hunting tripods and trees stands.  It’s not too early to start thinking about hunting season!

Millennium Stands have long been recognized as the most comfortable stands on the market. From Texas to Alberta and South Carolina to Idaho, outfitters and guides know the best way to increase your chances in seeing a trophy animal is to sit in a prime location from sun up until sun down. Millennium stands are engineered for that purpose – to be the most comfortable and quietest stands period. Every angle, hinge and weld has been tested under the most extreme conditions by the most cynical and scrutinizing hunters. Each Millennium is the best compromise of weight, quietness, strength, security and comfort for its intended use.