Has it become such a necessity to feed the deer? 
Years ago when I started huntin, never even thought about it.
I know, I am not (purposely) spending money to feed the deer.
It is bad enough when they rob stuff I plant for myself!
Now I dont mind sharing the nuts off the trees out back that I dont use, or some grass out in the pastures.
I guess it just boggles my mind how much money people spend to hunt.
Me, I am looking to spend as little as possible when it comes to hunting.
How much is a pound of deer meat costing you?
Deer meat aint that good! Lol
I am estimating my cost this year at less than 5 cents a pound. Put up about 104# in the freezer.
My costs are:
1 reloaded cartridge.
Probably less than a quarter gallon of diesel to get the deer with the tractor.
Zipper bags for freezing.
Few pennies of eletricity to keep the lights on in the garage while butchering.
Years ago when I started huntin, never even thought about it.
I know, I am not (purposely) spending money to feed the deer.
It is bad enough when they rob stuff I plant for myself!
Now I dont mind sharing the nuts off the trees out back that I dont use, or some grass out in the pastures.
I guess it just boggles my mind how much money people spend to hunt.
Me, I am looking to spend as little as possible when it comes to hunting.
How much is a pound of deer meat costing you?
Deer meat aint that good! Lol
I am estimating my cost this year at less than 5 cents a pound. Put up about 104# in the freezer.
My costs are:
1 reloaded cartridge.
Probably less than a quarter gallon of diesel to get the deer with the tractor.
Zipper bags for freezing.
Few pennies of eletricity to keep the lights on in the garage while butchering.
I live in the middle of a smelly city. I miss the wide open spaces and wildlife.
Unfortunately it costs me money to hunt. Just how it is.
Unfortunately it costs me money to hunt. Just how it is.
Has it become such a necessity to feed the deer?
Years ago when I started huntin, never even thought about it.
I know, I am not (purposely) spending money to feed the deer.
It is bad enough when they rob stuff I plant for myself!
Now I dont mind sharing the nuts off the trees out back that I dont use, or some grass out in the pastures.
I guess it just boggles my mind how much money people spend to hunt.
Me, I am looking to spend as little as possible when it comes to hunting.
How much is a pound of deer meat costing you?
Deer meat aint that good! Lol
I am estimating my cost this year at less than 5 cents a pound. Put up about 104# in the freezer.
My costs are:
1 reloaded cartridge.
Probably less than a quarter gallon of diesel to get the deer with the tractor.
Zipper bags for freezing.
Few pennies of eletricity to keep the lights on in the garage while butchering.
I've never hunted out of necessity though, purely for enjoyment. I would say 99.99999999999999999% of all hunters do, including yourself. It's simply cheaper to go to the store or grow/raise it yourself.Has it become such a necessity to feed the deer?
Years ago when I started huntin, never even thought about it.
I know, I am not (purposely) spending money to feed the deer.
It is bad enough when they rob stuff I plant for myself!
Now I dont mind sharing the nuts off the trees out back that I dont use, or some grass out in the pastures.
I guess it just boggles my mind how much money people spend to hunt.
Me, I am looking to spend as little as possible when it comes to hunting.
How much is a pound of deer meat costing you?
Deer meat aint that good! Lol
I am estimating my cost this year at less than 5 cents a pound. Put up about 104# in the freezer.
My costs are:
1 reloaded cartridge.
Probably less than a quarter gallon of diesel to get the deer with the tractor.
Zipper bags for freezing.
Few pennies of eletricity to keep the lights on in the garage while butchering.
Sad thing is… the way land prices are going, before long you’ll have to be a millionaire or friends with a millionaire to even afford to own/share hunting property
Given your situation being it was y’all’s first year out there I wouldn’t worry too much. Give it time. Maybe add protein or something sweet for more draw, etc
Given your situation being it was y’all’s first year out there I wouldn’t worry too much. Give it time. Maybe add protein or something sweet for more draw, etc
I’m fairly certain I could eat wagyu beef steak at least a couple times a day every day and come out better financially than I do hunting for deer that I generally give away.
I’m a trophy hunter, and my life goal is to kill a free range 200” buck off my little slice of NW Oklahoma.
I personally have 6 feeders out on 77 acres ,two of those in hog traps. Have 3 permanent blinds within 150 yards between feeders. Not really hunting more just shooting but I take out a lot of young kids and I want to Control as much as possible which direction they shoot. My opinion I put the feeders within 20 yds or so of thick cover and deer have no problem moving out that far. Heard once (don't remember where) one feeder Per 20 acres but that may be excessive.. I also feed year round And feeders have been in place so long bucks just cruise from one to another hunting does. One thing to think about is if deer know where your feeders are coyote bodcats etc do also. Don't put your feeders in a place like a dense creek bottom where predators can ambush them easily. Move them out on a side hill where there's some cover but it's open enough deer can see. Also if your seeing lots of does and few bucks thin your doe herd. If bucks don't have to leave cover to find does they will never or rarely come to a feeder during rut. One last thing be very cautious of the thermals in your area sit high in morning low in evening if your using portable stands. And don't get yourself in a place you can't see. Also if you can't find a trail make one where you need it. A brush hog or brush mower is a better bet than a feeder often times. Cut a new trail and you'll be amazed at how fast deer will start using it. It not only makes travel easier but the new growth will draw them better than any feed you can buy or plant. Can't plant a food plot? Burn or disc up what you have and walk away. deer are on your property because of what's there year round not because of something that's there for a few weeks or months.
I have two feeders on 160+ acres. One is a 1000 lb corn broadcast inside a hog fence and the other is a 2000 lb gravity feeder with a mix of corn and Buck Seduction. I've only owned the place for about 8 months and bought it specifically for deer (and hog) hunting. During this first rifle season, I harvested a smallish buck (by the corn feeder) and subsequently a huge doe while walking about during the first three days. After hitting the limit, I installed the protein feeder that trip. Based on my limited experience with one camera moved from the corn to the protein feeder, deer like protein much better than corn. I'm going to try to run them year round if about three trips from Arizona is adequate to keep them from running out. This year I want to install one or two more Reconxy (Verizon) cameras, and select and setup an elevated box blind near the protein feeder. FWIW, the two feeders are about 200 yards apart in the most remote and largely forested portion of the property.
So far the cost per pound of deer meat is more than I paid for acre of land, but that should come down over time :-)
So far the cost per pound of deer meat is more than I paid for acre of land, but that should come down over time :-)
