npaden

Well, I'm just a week away from closing on my new property and was going to put out a couple feeders the second I close on it.

There are cattle grazing on the property now, but I have a couple spots were I can fence the feeders off so the cattle can't get to the feeder but wildlife will be able to. In those areas there really aren't any good trees to hang the feeders from but I don't really want to spend $400 on a fancy tripod feeder either. Right now my primary goal is to get an idea of what is out there on the property so I don't really care if the feeder is timed or not. I may end up going to a timed feeder that only goes off during the day at some point in the future though.

I was looking around and saw these gravity feeders on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fill-It-Forget-It-Deer-Feeder-350-lb-60-gal-cap_W0QQitemZ130080351993QQihZ003QQcategoryZ52504Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It looks decent and easy and not too expensive.

I'm 100 miles from the property so I can't really go out and manually dump corn out each week or anything so something that lasts a while sounds good.

Anyone have any thoughts or used a feeder like this?

How well do the $100 timer feeders work like this work?

http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=products/outdoors/hunting/feeders&start=0&selectedSKU=0338-00199-0270

Thanks, Nathan

tycteach

Keep in mind the when the deer find the first one, being a demand feeder, the feed won't last long at all. I'll say they will empty it inside a week. They will work well when there is lots of other things the deerlike to eat in the vicinity. After they get used to it, they will visit it, take a few bites and then move on if they have plenty of other native browse and food plots etc. At least that's been my experience. You can make one very easy with a 55 gallon barrel yourself and not have to pay big shipping fees. I'll tell you how mine are made if you are interested. By the way, the raccoons, etc will play havoc with this feeder especially if it's put on the ground like the one in the pictures. If they decide that there might be something in there that they like better than what they see, they'll sit there and dig until it's empty, kind of like a kid looking for the prize in the cracker jack box.

The second one gives you the option of feeding when you want to and how much you want to feed. The two I have feed a little twice each day and last about 2 months the way I have them set. It's not going to feed the masses but it does keep them around a little and allows for some great picture taking. It sounds like it might be a better choice since you are going to be away for a while at a time. You can do this yourself too by buying the same 55 gallon barrel, the timer/feeder of your choice and deciding how you want to elevate it.

The only other advise I'd give you is to feed them something a little more balanced than just corn. It seems that everyone wants to feed corn and while they do like it, it's not all that good for them if they aren't used to it and there are lots of things better as far as protein, etc. All that will be up to you. Do a little internet research and see what is being said about feeding solely corn.

Good luck. You're going to have lots of fun and work ahead of you and don't be afraid to ask question so you save a lot on time/expense/work, etc. Also remember there are lots of experts out there that have lots of ideas that aren't all necessarily correct. Just read and listen and do your internet search homework and then put it all together to work the best for you.

Have fun.

npaden

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate the input. I do think the little 40 gallon timed feeder at Academy sounds like a better choice, but I wasn't sure. For $100 it is just going to be easier than making my own. Maybe down the road a couple years I'll make one but to get something out there ASAP that is what I'll do.

I have read about adding other things to the corn, but I thought that the corn by itself would be more attractive and then if they start eating it well I was going to start adding soybeans and other things to it.

Right now with the cows on it I can't really do much with food plots unless I fence them off and that sounds like a lot of work. The feeder's immediate purpose is to see exactly what is around and I'll start working from there.

Thanks again for the reply.

Nathan

308BLR

About a month ago I bought a #300 solar feeder at BassPro for about $160. So far, so good. It's set for twice a day feeding, and I just refilled it for the first time this week. Pretty well made, and seems to work really well.

Hawgnman

Here's a feeder I made from a pickle barrell.

http://www.racksnspurs.com/images/feeder.jpg
http://www.racksnspurs.com/images/feeder1.jpg
http://www.racksnspurs.com/images/feeder_Bot.jpg
http://www.racksnspurs.com/images/feeder_H.jpg
http://www.racksnspurs.com/images/feeder_Spin.jpg

Holds 300# of corn. I used a New Day sunrise/sunset spinner.

Hotburn76

You need to stay away from the gravity feeders. I bought a stump feeder last spring and it worked to well! The deer could empty it in acouple of days when they were hitting it hard. I will not even mention the damage the coons could do. Sometimes I thought the coons were eating more then the deer! I have a new 230# hanging feeder that I am trying out. Hopefully it works as good as it looks!

timbercruiser

Coons, squirrels, rats, all birds, coyotes, hogsand everything else will help clean out a gravity feeder.

Rebel Hog

You forgot the Bear's! They take itwith them!

the kidd

i love the gravity feeders i currently have a 55 gal drum out there right now that i just recently made but i have them cus i love wildlife and for spring turkeys!!!!! AND TO SEE ALL THE BIRDS AND MAN THAT IS SOME COOL STUFF AND THEN WHEN WE ARE BORED WE COULD ALWAYS GO BOW HUNT SOME PORCUPINES ,RABBITS,SQUIREELS AND THAT IS SOME FUN