Texas Spring/Summer Thread

jinman · Apr 15, 2013

After the storm stopped, the sun came out. Another storm went just north of us, but we got some of its hail. . . golf ball size. Luckily, it was very random and only a couple hundred stones fell in my complete yard. I'd guess 8 or 10 hit my roof, but my 26 ga metal roof just laughed it off. I'll have to check my car tomorrow. I heard several stones hit and my grandson screamed. He had gone outside to collect stones. What a dopey idea. I got so mad at him I was shaking. I almost hit him when his lame excuse was that he was under a tree. Kids just don't think of the danger. I told him to never go out in a thunderstorm of any kind again and that if he went out into hail again I would beat him within an inch of his life if the hail didn't get him. Kids just don't think anything will ever happen to them. I'm lucky not to be in the emergency room.

texasjohn · Apr 15, 2013

Glad you and g'son are OK, and that you got rain. Sorry about hail and garden.

jinman · Apr 16, 2013

Well, I surveyed the garden today and everything will survive except for a couple of tomatoes that got "decapitated." There are about 1/3 that got pruned also. My little peas and beans got pruned some too and some of the leaves had little half-round divots out of them. All-in-all, not so bad. Why is it that weeds never get destroyed by hail?:confused2:

jinman · Apr 17, 2013

Anybody notice the price of deer corn lately? Wow! A 40-lb bag at TSC is $9.99. It's getting to the point where I have to decide if I eat or the deer eat.

Actually, I've just been buying regular whole corn instead of deer corn. I'll have to check to see what the per-lb price is when I go to buy a few bags today. 150 lb lasts me about two months. I may have to cut back the feed rate so that lasts for 3 months.

texasjohn · Apr 17, 2013

Yep, been going up for months now, cost of feed and drought is reason cow herd is lowest in 40 or so years. This year, after neighbor finishes combining, I plan to walk field and pick up whole cobs still on ground. I picked up a few last year, discovered that deer will stand for a long time and worry a cob to get every kernel. Best if you are attracting deer vs feeding deer. Feeds poorly thru feeder, however:duh:

econometrics · Apr 17, 2013

jinman said:
Anybody notice the price of deer corn lately? Wow! A 40-lb bag at TSC is $9.99. It's getting to the point where I have to decide if I eat or the deer eat. Actually, I've just been buying regular whole corn instead of deer corn. I'll have to check to see what the per-lb price is when I go to buy a few bags today. 150 lb lasts me about two months. I may have to cut back the feed rate so that lasts for 3 months.

I've cut mine off for now. It's spring and there are a lot of nice forbs and vegetation for them to graze on. Plus, they are finally interested in my block feeder again. So they've been gnawing on that pretty good lately, which they usually consume a little slower than the corn.

Western · Apr 17, 2013

Actually I think "deer corn" prices are falling. Cheapest I could find all winter was around $10 per bag and have seen it up to $13 for 50#. I have been blending mine 50/50 with 18% protein pellets since the price difference is negotiable. My deer are still on the protein and some corn, even though it's greening up. They have kept the oat patch mowed down, growing great right now.

econometrics · Apr 17, 2013

Western said:
Actually I think "deer corn" prices are falling. Cheapest I could find all winter was around $10 per bag and have seen it up to $13 for 50#. I have been blending mine 50/50 with 18% protein pellets since the price difference is negotiable. My deer are still on the protein and some corn, even though it's greening up. They have kept the oat patch mowed down, growing great right now.

Yeah, I bought quite a few bags a couple months ago at Academy for $8.50. Not too terrible.

Western · Apr 17, 2013

econometrics said:
Yeah, I bought quite a few bags a couple months ago at Academy for $8.50. Not too terrible.

That is a steal if it's clean!! I know on the Texas hunting forum, guys where looking for anything cheaper than corn last fall. Soybeans, cotton seed hulls, you name it.

econometrics · Apr 17, 2013

Western said:
That is a steal if it's clean!! I know on the Texas hunting forum, guys where looking for anything cheaper than corn last fall. Soybeans, cotton seed hulls, you name it.

Looks like the price still stands! :thumbsup: Academy - Academy Sports + Outdoors™ Deer Corn