Wildlife feed and wildlife feeders are popular purchases across Texas. That’s especially true in the Texas Hill Country.

Dale Garner, general manager of Wheeler’s Feed and Outfitters in Boerne, told the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network that deer feed is the number two selling product in the store, behind only horse feed.

He said there are several feed choices available, and the type of deer feed purchased depends on the goals of the landowner or wildlife manager. Are they supplementing for maximum antler development, improved body condition, or perhaps, some of both?

Feed choices range from deer corn to high-protein formulas.

Wildlife feeders are also evolving to meet users’ needs, he said.

“Some of the things we’ve seen with deer feeders in the last couple of years is the stand-and-fill feeders. They stand about six feet tall. They’re created for people like me who are tired of climbing up and down ladders,” Garner said. “That’s really been where we’ve seen the market go is lower-profile deer feeders, where you can put in six to 12 bags.”

Garner added the mechanism in feeders has also changed a lot.

“We’re carrying a new dual feeder this year. In one 55-gallon drum you could put corn. On the other side you could put milo, perhaps, which is great for quail, or maybe protein, for a protein-corn mix. It just depends on what you want,” he said.