Deer Feeder Helper Blog

For those whitetail hunters out there who enjoy to use corn feeders as much as I do, we all know how cumbersome they can become. Hunting in your favorite blind while after that world class whitetail buck, seeing the sunrise on a cold winter morning and seeing the deer herd migrate to an activated corn feeder can be one of the most enjoyable moments in a outdoorsman’s world. But when that particular corn feeder you were expecting to go off fails, it becomes very frustrating. A recently introduced a device called a Deer Feeder Helper saves incredible amounts of heartache and corn  With this feeder accessory you can remove clogs instantly, change timers in seconds, clean your feeder, empty a feeder to relocate it, take corn from a corn feeder to refill your tailgate feeder, remove your timer for safe storage during the off-season, easily make a protein feeder and/or turn off your feeder without changing the timer settings. Personally, I wish this product existed years ago when I first started whitetail hunting.

Here are some pointers I’d like to share with you to help minimize those disappointing whitetail hunting trips. Try to buy re-cleaned corn which has had most if not all of the stalks, rocks, cobs and such removed. This will keep the corn feeder from becoming clogged or worst yet, breaking the motor shaft by trying to remove the clog. There are also screens, which appear to be very effective, being made for corn feeders that will filter out debris. Next, build a quality pen around your corn feeder using hog panels, between 30-32 inches tall, in a circle fashion large enough for deer to feel comfortable and unconfined. This will allow them to jump right in and will keep out undesirables such as pigs and livestock. Cows can lick a deer feeder empty in a day or two, knock it over and destroy the timer by stepping on it in an attempt to get more corn. If you decide against a feeder pen, consider placing and anchoring a hog panel below the feeder to prevent a huge mud puddle from forming. Always anchor your corn feeder to the ground at each leg; empty feeders are easily blown over by the wind or knocked over by livestock. I like keeping a varmint guard around the timer. Varmints will consume large amounts of corn by climbing the legs and turning the spinner plate to feed their comrades down below. Varmints can climb any surface with ease, you cannot prevent it. Plus, they can be quite destructive to the timer by opening latches or by hanging on wiring harnesses causing electrical faults. Squirrels and birds will get their share as well, don’t allow that if at all possible. Using traps can be effective but take a considerable amount time checking and working them. Never abandon a working trap, animal cruelty charges could follow if you leave an animal to die. Solar chargers are a wise investment and will ensure your battery won’t die before opening day. The new, improved way of mounting these panels is not on the barrel or legs any longer, it is directly to the timer housing. Test has shown that this is just as effective as the horizontal method and doesn’t leave any wires exposed. Enure your lid doesn’t blow off - try securing it with springs to the barrel or by using a weighted object, such as a rock. I also believe it’s important to clean out the barrel at least once a year to remove any unwanted debris that prohibits a smooth flow of corn to the spinner plate. Even corn dust can accumulate slowing efficient feeding to the spinner plate. I’ve discovered that it’s better to leave your timer activating when the season is over, even if it is out of corn. This keeps the shaft turning and other components from breaking down or locking up. Similar to an engine, it is not good for either to sit for any period of time.

I hope this information has been beneficial and wish you many outstanding adventures. May yours be the bigger, better buck.

Thank You and Happy Hunting, Chris Nicholes

For a great deer hunting experience using feeders, I encourage you follow these very simple suggestions. First get a metal or plastic barrel. You can buy barrels with timers attached or as separate components. Plastic barrels are becoming quite popular. I prefer the metal ones. Buy a quality digital 6 or 12 volt timer control unit in a metal housing from a reputable dealer. Always place a deer feeder helper between the barrel and the timer. Doing so will save you many hours of time and frustration later. Only use the high quality feeder legs as the lighter, thin walled legs will buckle due to the weight of the corn and force applied from livestock such as cows. If you make your own barrel, buy 4 leg brackets and make a ladder using two of the legs and angle iron for steps. It’s a good ideal to put feet or pads under the legs to keep them from sinking into the ground under the weight and make sure each leg is anchored to the ground. I use rebar and bailing wire for this. Get a quality lid, I tried using plastic lids, but squirrels ate holes in them immediately, leading to storm water spoiling the corn. I like the metal lids that are retained to the barrel by using springs. It will save you two trips up and down the ladder and will keep your lid from blowing off during windy conditions. Always use a varmint guard, raccoons will rob you blind and continually destroy your equipment. Lock or secure any latches you can to prevent bad things from happening. Locks, pins carabineers, and wire all work well. Get a solar charger for the battery; it’s a good investment to keep the battery from going dead which could ruin an eagerly anticipated deer hunting trip. You can fasten the solar panel vertically, directly to the housing using self-drilling screws. Fill it with recleaned corn if possible to prevent future clogs. If not, you can buy a corn screen that installs in the barrel, or take the screen from barrel to barrel if you have more than one deer feeder. The deer feeder helper helps you remove these pesky clogs instantly without you having to jeopardize your equipment in the process. I have seen clogs from rocks, corn bag material, range cubes, dirt duabber nests, corn stalks and cobs, and old clogged feed; remember it is agriculture and you certain to get some debris from time to time. Build a solid pen made from 30″ tall cattle panels to keep out the feral hogs and livestock. Using eight 16′ panels in a circle appears to be the minimum size to ensure that the deer feel unconfined and comfortable. I do have some feeders without pens for hog hunting. If so, make sure your feeder legs are anchored and secure a cattle panel below, flat on the ground to prevent a huge mud puddle from forming. These puddles to become a mess and making very nasty to work on your deer feeder. If you chose to feed protein during the spring and summer, you can remove your timer and place a PVC 3″ tube and PVC “T” onto the barrel. I like to leave the timer on, but place a 5 gallon bucket around the timer then attach the 3″ tube to the bucket. I suggest always perform a fall cleaning before deer season starts to the clean inside of the feeder barrel to remove any debris, even corn/feed dust can cause problems.

We hope these simple directions can help you have a great hunting adventure. Happy hunting!!!