Have a question for you folks that use feeders. I convinved the in-laws to let me do some improvements on their property so they can enjoy the deer and bears. Really was my way of getting to hang a stand. We cleared all of the underbrush and a few trees giving me a 25 to 40 yd yard open shot at an area where two runs intersect. However in order to do this I had to place the feeder so they could see the wildlife from their deck about 50 yds away. The feeder is located off to the side of my stand about 10 yds from the base. The bottom is about 5 feet off the ground. My questions are is this high enough off the ground and ballpark idea of how long before they will realize it is there? We are useing cracked corn.
Deer Feeder Question
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I'd go a little higher, depending on the type of feeder. Are you talking about one with a spreader motor or one with a rope they can 'bump into' to let some corn trickle down?
If the former, higher is better. If the latter, figure a deer's back is about 3 ft. off the ground on average, so you're about right.
As far as when they'll know--put some on the ground to get their attention. They'll find it ASAP and keep coming back as long as there is food.
If the former, higher is better. If the latter, figure a deer's back is about 3 ft. off the ground on average, so you're about right.
As far as when they'll know--put some on the ground to get their attention. They'll find it ASAP and keep coming back as long as there is food.
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When I bought my last KENCO feeder, they enclosed a package of what they called " starter feed ". It was ground up peanut shells. 1 cup/ 50lbs.
It must work, within a day the deer usually are hitting the feed. It might be different this time of year with all the natural food around.It must be the smell. I can remember my Dad smearing peanut butter on the base of a tree to attract deer. Sometimes they would chew the bark right off the tree.
It must work, within a day the deer usually are hitting the feed. It might be different this time of year with all the natural food around.It must be the smell. I can remember my Dad smearing peanut butter on the base of a tree to attract deer. Sometimes they would chew the bark right off the tree.
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We usually hang our feeders from a limb w/ chain about 12 feet up. As far as how long it takes for them to find it, thats gonna vary depending on the area you are hunting and the time of year. I have one spot where 50lbs of corn will last for a few weeks and another where they will devour 50 lbs in like 3 days.
Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions. We figured it would take a week or so to find it on their own. We virtually clear cut a 20yd x 25 yd area. The feeder is a motor fed Moultrie. We figured we would have to raise it another 3 feet or so due to bears. Right now up at the camp there is plenty of deer smogarsboard available with all the rain. We have yet to see them in the area we worked this year. However with all of the droppings and the various stages they are in they are moving in and out on a regular basis. Some fresh bear droppings as well. The feder will have competition in the fall as there are two wild apple trees within a few yards of it. The bears love to gorge on the apples as we have a carpet of puke up there in October. We are only about 1/2 hr from the Canadian border so the green season is short. When I bought the feed the guy at the feed store was talking and I told him the location of the camp he told us that there are more deer on top of that hill than anywhere else in the area. Probably due to limited acess and many 2 to 5 acre camp lots. Perfect for my bow. Thanks again.
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one day and they will check it everyday after that. They will stop looking when they die... I have a spot that I bait on the ground and the deer are still hitting it looking for food I stopped put corn out in Feb 2005.
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NHBuck; ever think about a food plot? put the plot closer to the house then the feeder then your tree stand. Only hunt it in the late afternoon. this will feed deer, bear, rabbit, and anyother game out there.
mystic; food plot is in the works. Part of why we brushcut and cleared the area is for future plantings. There is already plenty of natural clover in the gr [no swearing please] around the camp. Once the stumps and saplings die off we will be tilling an area to plant some buckwheat and either clover or rye. It is a very short growing season up there. On my way home yesterday there was accumulating snow on the higher peaks. They typically are frost free in that area from Memorial day to mid to late August. Food plot will go in next year as for now they will have to dine on the cracked corn from the feeder and the apples, blueberries and grasses in the area.
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Nows a good time to start. The youinger deer get accustomed to and unafraid of the feeder. Good way to take a early season doe or in my case an "earn a buck" doe. It took me 1 week and i had deer all over a spot i was putting feed at. They came to the feed even in feburary. I mean once they get used to it being there they realize that its not there for long so you can really see alot of deer if you position yourself correctly in relation t the wind with suffcient cover.
Another thing to consider is making the on the ground pen with a cople stacked logs around it. This way when they stick their heads in to feed their eyesite is blocked by the log and you can draw undetected.
Another thing to consider is making the on the ground pen with a cople stacked logs around it. This way when they stick their heads in to feed their eyesite is blocked by the log and you can draw undetected.
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