How to Build a Deer Feeder

Getting a deer head is not enough for the ambitious hunter. The deer needs to have a great rack and lots of meat. Training the deer to come to a deer feeding station is one way to get that rack. Deer feeding stations come in sizes from coffee cans to 500-acre ranch timed feeders.

Required Materials

• feed
• wood
• nails

Required Tools

• saw
• hammer
• posthole digger
• tape measure
• pencil/paper

Instructions

1. Location - The main consideration when thinking about a deer feeder is how many deer you are thinking about feeding. If you plan to feed and hunt where there are larger herds, you may want a deer feeder that is a little bit more sophisticated than the ordinary variety. If you want to train just a few deer at the feeder, a backyard feeder may be the right way to go.
2. The Trough – Whether you are building a deer feeder in your backyard or on a huge paddock, you will need a trough for the feed. It does not need to be fancy; it just needs to be large enough for the deer to get at and plain enough not to attract unwanted predators.
3. Roof - When constructing the feed trough, make sure the walls are slightly tilted out and the floor has a few drain holes. Ideally, you want a roof structure to keep the feed dry. If you would like to attach a roof, simply bolt four posts to the trough. On one end, make the posts longer for taller deer. When you do this, you will need to lengthen the roof measurement to account for the rise of the roof and blowing rain.
4. Hangers and Fences - The deer need to be able to get at the feed without feeling threatened. A quick snack is the idea for a backyard unit. In that instance, the deer will be wary of predators and will likely move through the area fairly quickly. For a larger feeding station, a fence will be required. These stations are made for 20-50 deer at a time. They need to be able to get inside the fence by jumping while feeling safe from predators. When they do feed, they will stay around for a while. This makes a timed feeder a good idea. Installing enough fencing will take a considerable amount of effort.
5. Foundation - If you are building a backyard feeding station, your materials will be a coffee can, a clothes hanger, duct tape and some peanut butter; a clothes hanger draped over a branch gets rid of the need for a foundation. If you are building a larger feeding station, a foundation may be needed to keep the station upright. Dig some holes and fill them with mixed cement, sand and water. Use a clip to attach the stations legs to the foundation. As the need to relocate the feeder occurs, it can be unclipped and moved.