They are flat hammering my feeder. Corn and goat feed mix. I watched 2 bucks under my feeder yesterday morning, and the bigger buck kept chasing the younger buck off of it. Also my protein tube feeder is getting hammered with the protein pellets in it
I have learned over the years that feeders are nothing more than a tool. Most people set up a feeder, then put a tree stand 40-50 yards from it and sit there and watch it. To me, that is the complete wrong way to do it. You will very very rarely see a mature buck feeding under a feeder in daylight in hunting season. I've killed a lot of deer, but never shot one under a feeder. The best way is to set yourself up on a travel area leading to the feeder, 100 yards or so away. The 7 pt I killed Thanksgiving morning I killed 100 yards away, downwind. He was standing there sniffing the air looking for does at the feeder. Had I been up by the feeder, I would have never killed him.
You will see more deer away from the feeder than you will under it
Do bears mess with the goat feed or the protien pellets?
I don't know but my buddy swears that hogs and bears don't eat soybeans and deer do.
As a rule bears wont eat soybeans. Our lease last year we mixed 75 soybeans and 25 corn and the bears did mess with them and yes they ate soybeans they had no choice. I think if you run straight soybeans the bears wont bother it but I also know it wont attract deer like other foods will. If they happen upon it they will eat it and remember that it is there,but I dont think it has the attracting power of some other things
I was in a lease for 5 straight years with a heavy bear population. They will eat soybeans but usually not as heavily as corn. I heard they swell in their stomach and give them a severe belly ache. Don't really know but I have personally watched them eat soybeans.They won't eat protein pellets for some reason. However, they will scratch every one out of a gravity feeder to see if any corn is in there. They are a nuisance. If you have bears on your property, you are better off not even having feeders. They will find a way to get to it and tear it down. Trust me
