Ideas for Using Deer Feeders

ATV feeders

• Use ATV deer feeders, which attach to the back of your four-wheeler or pickup, to create a trail of goodies leading to your field or yard. These systems keep you from having to carry heavy feed bags and cover a larger area in a shorter period of time than walking.

Automatic Feeders

• Use automatic feeders to feed deer in an area where you have an open line of sight. Deer have to walk up to the feeder to eat from it, giving you time to snap photos or appreciate their majestic beauty.

  These feeders are usually mounted on a tripod or hang from one and hold hundreds of pounds of food. Once loaded, you are set for feeding without daily maintenance or attention.

  Small, tree mounted cylinders are made to hold only protein feed in small amounts (25 pounds). Use these if you prefer to feed in smaller amounts or want to provide a specialized feed. They are highly mobile, so are easily moved from tree to tree. They are big enough for deer to find without being eyesores.

Components

• Utilize remote control feeder systems (which pair with various deer feeder types) to drop food when you choose. Use gravity feeders to keep the feed flowing without requiring hands-on operation. Fresh feed flows down on its own to fill a chute or tray as deer consume the food.

  Rely on timers to automatically control the occasions when feed is available. They work with many types of feeder. For power in a remote location, take advantage of solar panel kits to operate slingers, timers and other feeder accessories.

  Use these components to control when and how much you feed. Apply the technology to provide supplemental food for seasons when food is hard to come by or when you would like to help provide for better fawn survival or fancier racks of antlers on mature males.

Spread Out

• Try adding a spinner or slinger to your feeder. These fling feed to distribute it over an area around the feeder, rather than requiring the deer to walk up and feed from a funnel or port. This keeps the feeder structure out of your line of sight when taking photos or videos of feeding deer.

Feed Blocks

• Bury feed blocks in the ground by digging a shallow hole and covering all but one side of the block in soil. The blocks melt into the ground and provide a long term source for minerals and salt. Deer will return repeatedly, long after the block has gone, in order to access the supplements trapped in the soil.

  Place a block in an old stump to allow the minerals to soak into the wood for consumption. Place a block in a feeder to allow deer to lick or eat directly from the block.

  Blocks are highly portable and simple to handle. They come in sizes from 4 to 25 pounds. They are made in a variety of flavors.

  Check regulations in your area on the type of feeding allowed before you begin. Call your local Department of Natural Resources to investigate any restrictions that may apply.