Deer Feeder Helper Blog

The Pros and Cons of Deer Hunting Over Wildlife Feeders

Introduction to Hunting and Wildlife Feeders

I am not certain of the origin of wildlife feeders but I would be willing to bet that the Lone Star State of Texas wouldn’t be a bad guess. As long as I can remember, the famous barrel has been an ever present icon within the Texas hunting industry where I’ve been blessed to have enjoyed for some 40 years. However, there are those among us who question the technique and whether or not it is ethical and sporting. I am a firm believer of “to each their own” and while this type of hunting may not be for everyone, I discovered the value of it a quite some time ago. I will discuss what I feel to be the  pluses and minuses of this tool we call a wildlife feeder.

Wildlife feeders provide an opportunity to judge the bucks and does so that only select ones fitting the management criteria are taken. This prevents nubbin bucks, young bucks and healthy vibrant does from being killed, this may not be quite as achievable while hunting using other means such as stalking.

A wildlife feeder will certainly congregate deer. We all love to see deer when we go to the ranch, especially if we are lucky enough to be accompanied by a favorite hunting partner such as a child. Unfortunately, congregation can lead to an unhealthy situations by increasing the possibility of spreading diseases.

Different species benefit from the food as well; such as turkeys, javelinas, birds, feral hogs and a host of other undesirable varmints can be quite destructive and consumptive of the feed.  Feed pens and varmint guards are probably the most effective means to controlling these untargeted animals.

Wildlife feeders can be used to alter dietary intake. Corn provisions during the winter help replace carbs expended during the rut, which in turn, helps worn-out bucks survive the freezing winter. Protein in the spring and summer will help keep wildlife healthy and improve milk production in does providing a better start for fawns with improved horns in the bucks. I have found that the Deer Feeder Helper is a useful accessory for converting a corn feeder into a gravity type protein feeder for further enhancement.

Wildlife feeders must be constantly maintained. This has historically been the biggest pit fall of the wildlife feeder. The feeding environment is quite a challenge for an electronic product with mechanical parts dispensing organic material.  Wildlife feeders are often surrounded by destructive animals, insects, adverse weather conditions and often are not frequented enough by the owners so that they may keep abreast of any malfunctions. Solar panels have made a huge difference as hunters no longer arrive on opening day to find a discharged battery and a non-functioning feeder.  The  Feeder Helper mentioned earlier reduces most, if not all, of these monumental endeavors to simple tasks. Clogs can be removed instantly avoiding damage to the spinner; timers can be swapped out in seconds allowing broken ones to be replaced with ones that work; it opens to allow draining of the feeder for relocation or to remove old or spoiled feed and dust; and timers can be taken home for safe keeping during the off-season by simply removing a couple of screws. Attention to detail and taking some preventive measures should keep your wildlife feeder working properly.

Neither wildlife feeders nor their contents are cheap. Feeders will cost several hundred dollars so the purchase of quality products is strongly recommended; Premier, Texas Wildlife Supply, and Wildlife Resources come to mind. With the recent demand for BioDiesel, which is derived from corn, has doubled the cost of corn in just three years. Hopefully this trend will stabilize as technology improves and/or more farmers switch to corn production.

All said and done, I love watching the sunrise on a brisk morning, followed by the awesome whitetail  filtering from the wilderness to grab their share of treats from the legendary wildlife feeder.

Happy hunting,

Chris

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