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Homemade 5 Gallon Hanging Deer Feeder

A hanging deer feeder can be an ideal way to bring deer up close and personal -- whether for hunting, or simply to admire their beauty. A hanging deer feeder can be constructed simply and inexpensively, but must be designed with care. If not built properly, your deer feeder can be raided by squirrels or emptied by the first deer who comes across it.

Bucket and Supplies
- The main component of the hanging feeder is a 5-gallon plastic bucket. The bucket should be sturdy, with a lid and a strong handle. Be sure the lid is watertight and tamper-proof; otherwise, the feed will get wet and rot, or squirrels and raccoons may find their way into the bucket. You may wish to paint the bucket brown or camouflage to make it less conspicuous both for deer and for humans. You'll also need a wooden broom handle, two nails and a sturdy rope.
Making the Feeder
- To make the feeder, drill a hole in the bottom of the 5-gallon bucket roughly 1/4 to 1/2 inch larger than the circumference of the broom handle. Then, nail the two nails into the broom handle opposite each other, about 6 inches from the end of the handle. Leave the nails protruding about 1 inch from the broom handle. Feed the broom handle through the hole in the bottom of the bucket, so that the long part of the broom handle is protruding downwards through the hole. The nails should hold the broom handle securely inside the bucket, but allow the broom handle to swing and pivot as it hangs.
Hanging the Feeder
- Once the feeder is made, it's ready to hang. Thread the rope through the handle of the bucket, and throw it over a suitable tree limb. Be sure to choose a sturdy limb in a sheltered location that the deer will be drawn to. Hoist the bucket up off the ground, then insert the broom handle and fill the bucket with corn. Put the lid on the bucket, and finish hoisting the bucket off the ground. The bucket should be high enough that deer cannot reach it, but low enough that the deer will bump the hanging broom handle with their heads as they feed.
Feeding the Deer
- Scatter some corn under the feeder, and wait for the deer to find the feeder. When the deer come to eat the scattered corn under the feeder, they will bump the hanging broom handle. This will allow a few more grains of corn to fall out of the bucket. The deer will keep coming for this steady trickle of corn, and the broom handle will ensure that only a few grains will be dispensed at a time so you won't have to refill the deer feeder too often.

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