Preparing for Hunting Season; Game Feeders

Ok I’m not going to endorse any particular feeder here, but I will share some experiences and suggest a few things to look for in a feeder.

First of all, supplemental feeding laws are all over the place from state to state. For a quick check resource Click Here. Be sure to double check the information on the State website links they provide.

Now on to what I have learned about game feeders. There are many plans on the internet for homemade gravity feed feeders, which are inexpensive to build. As far as functionality goes, they work quiet well and they are also easy to make. Another plus for the PVC versions is their longevity, you will have them forever,,,,,,,,, IF you can afford to keep feed in them LOL.

Deer will flock to these home made feeders, but so will every other grain feeding animal in the forest and the problem with gravity feed, is that the more grain which is eaten, the more grain is supplied. Also as with any feeder that is not easily moved from place to place you will soon be dealing with mud every time you need to refill the feeder.

When it comes to commercially made feeders, beware of inexpressive plastic models! At first the idea of plastic seems great. The thought of never having to worry about your feeder rusting seems like the best thing since white bread, lol, but here again be warned! Squirrels have amazingly sharp teeth. do not be persuaded by claims of hopper thickness, they will get in, trust me. Steel is the way to go without a doubt.

Automatic game feeders are the ultimate when it comes to convenience, so let’s discuss them for a bit. I would suggest a hanging model with a tripod for a couple reasons.

First of all with the hanging models whether you use the tripod or a tree to hang them in the feeder is up off of the ground. This gives you a little protection from varmints like squirrels, and raccoons. And I do mean just a little! These little devils are unbelievable, raccoons came by their mask markings around their eyes honestly. I once sat and watched one hang from a neighboring branch to my feeder and spin the spreading plate to dispense grain. I would not have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself.

To protect your grain supplies and only feed when you want invest in a varmint cage big enough that a raccoon can not reach the spin plate. That 30 or so dollars will save you hundreds.

The second reason I suggest a hanging model with a tripod is their ease of moving locations. Let’s face it, when deer feed on the grain your feeder distributes, they will paw the ground looking for more food. In a very short time you will have a muddy mess around your feeder and you will want to move it. Don’t be tied down to having to find another tree in the area you wish to feed in. Also most well designed tripod models are equipped with either a latter or some sort of lowering device for refilling the hopper.
Here again you do get what you pay for. Well I hope this blog helps you out, and feel free to add your thoughts on this subject.

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