Deer Feeders??

[grassblade]

I plan on puting a deer feeder up somewhere on my land. Should I put it in a conner of some woods and a field. Should I place it in the woods, and how close to deer trails should I place it.
Thanks for the help!<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

[deerhunter5555]

I have a couple of feeders on my farm and I have found that you need to place them in an area that deer already use. You also need to consider placing them in the most remote location on the property that you can still get the feed into. This will discourage theft and poaching and will allow the animals to feel more comfortable using them all day long instead of only at night. I do not hunt over my feeders and would recommend that you use them as a tool to suppliment food plots, crops and native browse that the animals already use. It is also very important that once you begin feeding that you commit to keep it up all year because the animals will come to "depend" on it and many people quit or give up on feeding when the animals could use it most-after deer season. A word of caution on corn for deer feed, deer have trouble digesting it and if they consume large amounts they could become sick. Some of the commercial protein pellets on the market (Antler King, Legends Deer Feed) are a much better source of nutrition, however they do not work well in spin-cast/timer type feeders. The protein pellets work better in gravity flow or trough style feeders but you must keep the pellets from getting wet. In my opinion, your money would be better spent fertilizing natural browse and planting foodplots to start out with. Then after you've taken care of that, worry about feeders. I think you'll find out you probably don't need the added expense and hassle of feeders unless you have a large tract of untillable ground. Hope all this rambling helps by saving you time and money. Remember when feeding wildlife-Natural Is Better! Erich

[gates]

I have a spin type feeder about 150 yrds behind my house for wildlife viewing. It is located in the back corner of a clover and orchard grass food plot nearly surrounded by pines. It has a rechargable battery and solar cell on the 55 gal drum on three legs about 12' high. I have a 80HP tractor and loader I fill it with. I put 300# of corn in it and it lasts about 2 months. I do not feed in the summer because the corn seems to mildew quickly. I feed from early Sept till about June. I have only seen 1 buck under the thing in 4 years. I see the deer and turkey spend much more time in the clover and orchard grass. I do see does before and after fawing and fawns just before they lose their spots. Turkeys use it year round. I also belive the best thing is to fert. and lime natural browze and keep year round plots with wheat, rye, and clover for the deer. A 3$ bag of fertilizer under each oak tree in a particular small area works wonders for fall hunting. I can sit at my dining room table or on my back deck and see the deer and turkey at the feeder. I live in an area that if you put a feeder out away from your house the only thing you will find under it is blood. The people that hunt around my farm tell me I have all the game and wonder why. I don't tell but it is the $1500 worth of lime and fert I put out each year.

To answer your questions I would put it in a place with lots of cover near areas the deer use for bedding. This will help limit the deer movement during daylight to keep others from taking them out. If you want to see the deer more place it in the very back corner of a field where the trees first shade in the afternoon. Deer seem to always come into the fields down wind in the shade. The best place I beleive would be in a 1/2 acre opening surounded by about 40 acres of thick stuff.

Good tip #1. Pour the shell corn through a 1/4" hadware cloth screen to remove and cobs and stalks. I made a screen by cutting 2 2x4's 3' long and cutting 2 2x4's 18" long. Make an 18" square and attach the wire screen to the bottom with lots of staples. Place on top of the barrel and pour the bags through. One piece of cob or a piece of stalk in a feeder will cause the thing to stop up.

Good tip #2. If you use a barrel for a hopper have a sheet metal shop make you a funnel, about 15$, and rivet it inside. corn that sits around the edge of the barrel will rot if you don't.

Good tip #3. If you place the feeder where sun will hit it at least 2 hours per day you can buy a solar cell charger $30 and a rechargable battery 15$. I have had mine for 4 years now and have never opened the feeder to replace a battery and have never had to worry about the battery going out at the wrong time. It will save much $ in the long run.

I use the 30$ all metal game country feeder with a 55 gal drum. It is set to run 12 seconds, 30 mins after sun up and 8 hours later for 12 seconds. This puts out about 5 lbs per day. Just enough to keep them interested. It is like ringing the dinner bell to two does and their fawns every afternoon.

James

[grassblade]

Thanks for giving me some real good advice!! This will help me to better my deer heard.
THANKS AGIAN!!