Deer Feeder Helper Blog

Congratulations to Greg Henderson of Bryan, Texas of winning the Feeder Helper give away of the Texas Parks and Wildlife of 2008. Greg’s response upon learning of his success \

Chris,that’s fantastic, I look forward to installing you’re product on one of my feeder’s.It was great meeting you at the expo, I have read over you’re brochure many time’s. I think the feeder helper will be a great product.Good luck this hunting season. Thanks again,Greg !

Greg, we wish you a wonderful deer season. Happy hunting, Chris Nicholes

For Installation on Existing Deer Feeders:If you’re adding the Feeder Helper to an existing feeder, you must remove the timer from the feeder. Once seperated, simply install everything as stated below.

For New Installation: On a flat surface, place your Feeder Helper upside down to mount your timer. With you timer squared and center on the Feeder Helper, either drill the appropriate bolt pattern or use the self-drilling screws. Timers come in a variety of mounting designs, simply install your timer to the Feeder Helper as you would to any deer feeder.

Separate the 2 halves by removing the 2 hinge screws. Mount the top portion to the bottom of the barrel.

• For metal barrels, use the (4) provided 5/16th head self-drilling screws in each corner square or towards the outermost perimeter as allowed. Do not over tighten mounting screws. The mounting scews may be loosened as needed to assist with correct valve operation, but a slightly tighter fit is preferred.
• For plastic barrels, use the (4) 1/8″ x 2″ toggle bolts and washers, placing one in each corner. A 3/8″ Drill bit will be needed
• For plastic conical feeders with provided threaded holes, use their provided screws for mounting the Feeder Helper, then use our provided scews for mounting your timer to the Feeder Helper.

With the deer feeder in the upright position, join both halves by using the draw latche loops to help support the timer and replace the hinge screws. Do not operate the Feeder Helper if your deer feeder is upside down as the unbalanced, unsupported weight could compromise the hinges. You’re finished.

Attachments: You can add solar panels, varmint guards, feed tubes, etc. to the bottom half making your deer feeder very versatile and functional. Solar panels can by mounted directly to the timer or to the bottom half. Varmint guards easily mount to the bottom half using quality springs. Gravity feed tubes can be added for feeding protein during the off season. Happy hunting.

Well turkey season is upon us for those residing above I-90. We ventured out west to San Angelo this past opening weekend and had a good hunt. Not the best but certainly not the worst. Cold when we arrived and sunburned when we left. One of my favorite hunting buddies was stoked by his first successful turkey kill ever, by 10 a.m. , nothing could bring him down. What a treat to share an experience like that with one of your friends. Throughout the weekend, another 4 birds meet their destination, 2 snuck out the back door due to misplaced shots. Oh well, they had fun trying. The turkey toms were responding to calls, but it was a challenge, and you had better be prepared to alter your tactics quickly if you wanted to be successful. Sunday brought the winds, which by no means helps the turkey callers, but persistant deligence can pay off as 2 hunters proved their capabilities by succeeding on a challenging day. Between removing some turkeys and 3 feral hogs, we were able to move my 2 ton deer blind and feeders. What a mess. Fortunately I showed up with some quality help who gave unselfishly with lots of blood and sweat. I couldn’t have done it without them. They know they will always have a place to pursue their turkey and deer adventures in the future. I feel it’s really quite simple, we take care of each other. Happy turkey hunting.

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.