If you are in VA Rut must be going on right now. You should get things rolling as soon as possible. Deer are running and chasing. If they are chasing near your feeder the time it goes off they will remember the sound. most feeders sound the same as corn is dispensed. So in many cases deer just need to decide who has the better corn. spend the money and get a timed feeder as well. dusk / dawn feeders are good but they feed just before you run out of shooting light.