Deer Feeder Helper Blog

For those chosing to build pens around their deer feeders, which I do strongly recommend. As these feed pens keep out feral hogs and livestock, which are notorious for destroying feeders and ruining countless hunts due to their presence, and if built properly will have no negative impact on the whitetail’s visit.

First, I now believe one should not skimp on using sub-standard materails such as light weight hog wire or other simliar products as feral hogs can easily negotiate this material. I would buy or other try to acquire between 110′-130′ of hog or cattle panels, 36″s tall. I like buying 16 foot long 36″ hog panels. They sell 20′ panels but don’t transport nearly as easy. Anything shorter than 36 inches will not keep the cows out, I have seen the larger hogs climb pens that were 30 inches tall. Hogs can climb, I sometimes believe they are related to raccoons, as they are nearly impossible to remedy at times. However, pens to tall will make the deer reluctant to jump into, including mature bucks. Though we all know they are certainly capable of jumping 6-8 foot high fences, they will simply not do it as a norm. As stated earlier, 110′ is the minimum, anything smaller will have a negative impact on the deer using it. With the help of a friend, I would stand and connect all the panels together using a somewhat sturdy wire. I found that electric fenceing wire works great as it is quite sturdy and does not rust. Once thet panels are erected and where they need to be in a circular fashion, I would now drive 5′ t-post at each panel joint, on the inside of the fence. You may or may not want to add additional t-post in the center of each panel, 16′ panels do not neccessarily need them, however they can be added later if a problem arises. 5′ t-post also allows a strand of barbed wire to be added if you discover cows are jumping in. Some breeds of cows jump better than others, if your ranch has these types of cows, adding a strand of barbed wire 8″-12″ above the panel will resolve the problem. Adding a gate is as simple as adding an additional two t-post either side where you desire the gate, securing the panels to the t-post, cutting the panels, and using the panel itself to make the hinges. Be careful not to make your gate to wide as the wider they are, the more flexible they become allowing hogs to push underneath quite easily. Deer feeder pens are not free nor do they install themselves, however they provide a great insurance policy towards your investment and helps ensure a successful hunt on your next adventure, the whole reason you put the feeder there in the first place. Happy hunting, Chris

Deer hunting, I feel is a wonderful journey without a final destination in mind. This does not mean we should not set and have goals for ourselves. Mine, and many other deer managers, seek mature animals for the harvesting. If you desire to chase that mature whitetail, one must chose and pursue that class of animal on the right acreage. Currently I share hunting rights with 17 other competent, proven hunters who also have the same goals in mind. Mature bucks are very common, shooting 9 or 10 year old bucks is a frequent sight. Of course not all of them sport the wall hanger type racks, nor do we want that. Hunting and chasing that elusive trophy buck is half the fun. Harvesting cull and management type bucksis also part of the plan and is expected of each hunter to contribute to the quality deer management plan by removing these undersirables. Another route I often participate in the is the Texas Parks and Wildlife Lottery Hunts. Some are better than others, but fortunately you can chose which wildlife management area you want to hunt and which time of the season is your choice. The State of Texas manages these hunting area, some more aggresive than others. I seek the areas that only allow bucks meeting certain criteria to be taken, such as 1 buck with outside spread past the ears. I also only pick the dates that don’t coincide with a full or new moon, as the times have proven mostly unfruitful in my hunting past. Another option is to use an outfitter or hunting service. Outfitters are charged with completing all the neccesary logistics, including finding the right animal for you so you have a successful hunting experience. Not all outfitters are created equal and use one without first getting some references. The other option is to use a hunting service that finds the right outfitter for you who has the type of animals you want to chase. These hunting services check the references for you and will only offer quality experiences as there name and reputation is on the line with each hunt booked. YourHuntFinder.com comes to mind if one is seeking a reputable service. As with anything, there is always more than one way to skin a cat. I recommend you chose the right place carefully, knowing that nothing in this world is perfect, but starting your hunt on the wrong place will certainly dampen the journey for which we all seek.

Good Luck, Chris Nicholes

A good friend phoned earlier today seeking if he could get on the deer lease i’m currently on. I had asked before when we had the openings, but at the time he was quit comfortable. As many of you know, leases are very fluid environment. Landowners change, members change, rules change, and a host of other factors. For my good friend, he was no longer enjoying the camp atmosphere, as one should when they excitedly head out on opening day. The spirit of the hunt no longer exist on his lease. His lease was a located in the heart of central Texas, occupied by nice bucks, turkeys, and hogs. However, there is more to hunting than simply pulling the trigger. Deer hunting is a journey to be enjoyed, not a destination. Apparantly becoming dissatisfied with his company, he is seeking a change. He and his son has accompanied me on numerous adventures to my lease with successful outcomes, and now he yearns for the journey that his lease no longer provides. Unfortunately for all, cost comes in to play. His lease is somewhat more affordable than mine, but can one put a price on the enjoyment you and your family get out of something. My lease is certainly fun and my fellow hunters seem to enjoy the same values as I. This enjoyment and satisfaction keeps me onboard, thanks to my fellow hunters. I will try to my best to get his good company on the lease, because Lord knows, everything is what you make it. Surrounding yourself with good people is a win-win for everybody. I suppose there is more to hunting than meets the eye.

Happy hunting and May Yours be the Bigger, Better Buck

Chris Nicholes

I hunt on the Butterfield Peak Ranch in Robert Lee, Texas, approx. 20 miles north of San Angelo. Each hunter is allowed 2 stands not to be closer than 1/2 mile from each other. When I first got on, I made a direct bee line a fast as I could to set-up my stand in the back of the property in the beautiful canyons. Well, what a dud it has turned out to be. After being immediately disappointed, I erected a new stand in the front mesquite flats. And wow has the deer hunting been incredible. So now I have 2 stands completely opposite of each other and what a nightmare it is to maintain 2 very separated locations and to share when each other is located nowhere near the other. After 7 years of being hard headed and disappointing deer hunts. My poor guest and I will move the failure to a new location near my other stand. This will make everything so much easier. Before I decided to move, I feel I know the property better and now know where deer activity is enhanced and where it is not. My new deer stand set-up will have 2 deer feeders placed crosswinded, 80 yards from the stand so my guest can make these relatively close shots without wounding or missing those whitetail targets. This weekend, we will move my 20′ deer blind, 2 deer feeders, 2 bow blinds, and a water catch and trough. We have alot of work ahead of us, but after all, isn’t just being out there a blessing in itself.

Happy Hunting, Chris Nicholes

Keeping the varmint population down can be an effective way to reduce your feed cost and maintenance problems. Unchecked varmint populations can consume the entire amounts dispensed by spincast feeders and wreak havoc on free flow protein feeders. Raccoons are probably the biggest enemy of us deer feeder users. Besides eating all your corn and protein, comprimising your quality deer management program. They can be quite destructive to the feeder timers, causing excessive repair cost, frustration, and disappointing hunting trips due to a malfunctioning deer feeder. Varmint guards surrounding your feeder timer is a must. Some deer feeder timers have guards as part of the housing. I prefer to use springs to keep the varmint guard affixed to the timer as it is easily removed. I set live traps at all my feeders and work them religiously. They have proved effective but require constant time and attention. Never abandon a working trap. One trapper was charged with felony cruelity to animal after leaving several hogs to die in a trap. I have been told that using fly bait mixed with a sweetened medium can be fatally toxic and quick to raccoons. Reducing the raccoons, skunks, armidillos, and opposums is also beneficial to the quail and turkey populations, as these varmints love and seek the eggs of these ground nesting birds in the springtime.

Another deer hunting season has is now behind us and hopefully it proved fruitfull for all those lucky enough to have participated. Fortunately, my friends, family and I had a banner year, harvesting countless whitetails under a quality whitetail management program in San Angelo, TX. , a nice 15 point trophy buck met my accurately placed 165 grain climatic release, leaving behind many smiles and other memorable gestures. My deer feeders are now empty with the help of my feeder helpers and converted to protein feeders. Replacing the yellow deer candy called corn with a protein pellet product mixed with milo. The deer should be healthy coming out of such a mild winter, and hopefully will be awaiting another wet spring and summer, pushed with protein and other solid management practices, and come next Fall, should be displaying even better quality head gear than years gone by. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. In the meantime, find your turkey calls and snake boots, shotguns and decoys, call some friends and don’t forget those kids, write it in your calendar for late March, turkey season is here. Gobble, gobble. The Feeder Helper Guy