Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

I went to the Buckmaster's Classic show in Greensboro, NC this past weekend. Of ALL the things they had in there....this little gravity feeder (I'll post a pic, tomorrow....after I camo paint it) caught my eye the most.

For you guys with experience.......does it take a little longer for the deer to start using one of these? It's not THAT important....just wondering.

Jeff

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

I also painted this feeder with camo paint, last night. I'm gonna put it in the woods, today......but I'm hoping the smell of the paint won't ALSO keep 'em away.

It's 100 deg. here, today.....I'm sure it'll be DRY!

Jeff

(Before anyone asks....yes...baiting is legal in these parts.....and no...I don't hunt over it. I'm actually not even hunting this tract of land, yet. I just have a mineral lick there.....and now some supplemental feeding....and I want to see what's there ....via game cam, also)

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

One warning about a gravity feeder- coons will rob it blind. Once they set in they'll eat and invite all their kin until there is no more.

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

Sounds like a recipe for an early morning "extend your hunting season" session!!

I've never shot a coon with the bow.......

Jeff

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

I have a slinger , gravity feeders promote nose to nose contact that can encourage the spread of disease , and I don't like feeding coons . When mine goes off all the coons are asleep , you can't set a gravity feeder for a specific time . Gravity feeders are good for nature watching and photography , but not for feeding deer .

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

Fun as hell man, just dont ask my cousin for advice when it comes to killing coons with a bow and arrow, he has a tendacy to hit them right between the eyes and then coons run off with his arrows and he tries to get the arrow back by beating the coon over the head with his Mach10, now upgraded to Mach12 because of just this. Its a good thing PSE has the best warranty out there.

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

I have used both and have given up on the gravity if there is any coons in the area. I can't afford the corn they will go through and I have never seen them at the feeder in daylight hours. I do have lots of pictures w/ up to 7 coons in one picture-all at night. You also have to be sure you keep feed in you slingers as the coons will tear them apart when they run out. The more I think about it, I believe I will set some traps this year and try to rid the country of some of these little thieves.

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

For anyone interested, I just picked up a corn feeder (spreader style) from sportsmans warehouse for $39.99 and it works great...you can program in multiple times, etc and it works like a charm.

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

Also deer like to browse while eating, a spreader is the way to go if you are after deer. I have however seen does/fawn nibble at a "pile" of corn but the bucks are always browsing the corn as they walk. Spend the extra few dollars for a better feeder, You will save money in the long run on not using as much corn.

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

we use the broadcast kind as well. Having the corn spread out allows for more game to eat and also avoids the close quarters that has potentially been linked to spread of disease. I'm not sure where you are located, but where ours are, in the UP of Michigan, coons aren't the problem, it's the damn bears. They can really beat up a feeder. The spreaders are the way to go though for keeping an area baited with less maintainence. Our camp is about 50 miles away, so it got costly to go up every other day to bait, so we went with the spreaders and it has been real nice.

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

Well....I didn't spend much. Should I just use this one at the house to view the deer? I just don't want to bring in any coons to my area......I have labs....and coons have rabies.

Jeff

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

I would use what you have...I have both gravity and broadcast feeders..
For some reason one of the farms I hunt the deer don't like the broadcast feeders...I tried them for 4-5 years, and seldom had a picture of a deer during the day...I wouldn't worry about the coons, they are going to eat corn, no matter how you put it out...I have pictures of coons and deer eating together under a spin feeder...A couple of years ago I caught 10-12 coons during the summer, under my spin feeder...

I would suggest...buy an over the shoulder type seeder...one with a zipper...mine holds about 20 pounds of corn...fill up your pipe feeder and spread the rest in the area with the seeder...then about once a week go in and do the same...Start doing this now and the deer will actually get used to you going in and doing this...I had a buddy that uses his 4-wheeler with a spreader to feed in his back field...A couple of years ago he took his grandson on the 4-wheeler and put him up in the box stand to hunt...He went back to the house on the 4 wheeler and was going inside when her heard 2 shots...Went back and found his grandson had killed 2 bucks...They had gotten used to hearing that 4-wheeler bringing corn to them...

I do like spin feeders because you can fill them up and they will feed every day for about a month or so...But gravity feeders also have their place...Another farm that we hunt we have problems with thieves taking our stands, etc...I use pipe feeders there as well...Because they are cheap to make...

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

If you are using a gravity feeder you should have not wasted your time attaching it to a tree and just dumped out 50lbs of corn on the ground. :-) They are only good if you want to take pictures of the deer with a trail cam... you can get two photos a min for an hours straight.all the woodland creatureswill sit there all day till the well runs dry.

Spreader is the way to go.... Make them work for the food a bit. The will once they know its's there.

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

Here's a photo of the new feeder. I camo'd it, yesterday. I'm gonna go ahead and put it out.....and just monitor it with a game cam.

Thanks, guys.

Jeff

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

Unless it's going in a field, hang it from a tree limb 3-4 ft above the ground. Then the coons can't get to it. They'll come and get the droppings on the ground, but that's about it.

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

I just got through building these 2 broadcast feeders, they will hold appx 500lbs each and are programable to feed various times a day/night and variable amounts.

I have 8 of these now and am planning to build a few gravity/free choice protein feeders soon.

As for the camo, it's not needed, I have a couple of silver galvanized feeders, critters dont care. I just like them to blend in where they are out in the open and are easily seen by others.

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

I'd recomend the American Hunter models. I have one and feel it is really good. I get extra long battery life also. My 6volt Enerizer has lasted 2+ years until I upgraded to a rechargable with solar panel. I installed a remote to activate the feeder when I want to give the deer a little extra. This add on required a solar recharger to keep the battery charged.


Mine is in my backyard. I've had deer, crows, raccoons, mallard ducks, dovesand bear visit it over the years.

It is true, those raccoons will clean out a gravity feeder quickly.

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

Did anyone LOOK at the feeder I posted the photo of? It gravity feeds into the trays at the top of the legs. There would be NO need to suspend it (deer couldn't get to the corn???).

Also...it's ONLY camo'd to keep the PEOPLE from seeing it, easily!!

Jeff

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

I'm not trying to be smart or anything, but you are going to have trouble with raccoons for sure. Being that it is gravity fed, they will empty it quickly.

RE: Gravity feeder vs. "spreader"
 

One trick I've seen that you might consider is carpet tack strips taped to the legs and turned out so the coons won't climb it. Your could layer each leg with them and then try to duplicate the camo patern you've got there with some spray paint.

Another trick is to place 3-5" PVC pipes over the legs and sitting on aspike driven through the lower portion of the leg. This allows the pipe to rotate freely and when the coon tries to climb the leg the PVC rotates and spins them off.

Years ago I was told to use white lithium grease on the legs, didn't works- coons still went right up the legs and anytime I was withing 5' of the danged thing I'd manage to get some greese on myself. Must have been some greesy coons running around my woods:D


If you don't want coons near the house you might consider not feeding them corn in any way shape or form. Put corn out & they will come. It's like yellow crack for coons.