Deer not jumping into feeding area
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 10
Deer not jumping into feeding area
I have an automatic feeder set up in the middle of a fenced off square area and the deer don't seem to go into the area. They just kind of eat whatever corn has been thrown around the edge of the fence. I was wondering if the fenced area needed to be larger for them to feel comfortable getting in? The area is a 18-20 ft square. Most of the corn in within the fenced area and they are getting just a little bit around the outside of the fence. The fence is just a standard barbed wire fence. Nothing really high.
Would it be better for me to just remove the fence? There are cows on the land as well and I was trying to prevent them from getting into everything. How large does the area need to be for them to be safe?
Would it be better for me to just remove the fence? There are cows on the land as well and I was trying to prevent them from getting into everything. How large does the area need to be for them to be safe?
#5
20 sq. feet is pretty small. I doubt any deer would want to jump in an area that small. Thats less than 5 ft by 5ft. You could barely fit one deer int there. Deer don't want to feel like they are trapped and with an area that small they would surely feel uneasy. Id say you'd have to go at least 100 sq. feet, thats an area 10 x 10 and I still think that would be too small. Id keep extending your fence until you start to see tracks in the fenced in area.
#7
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 10
I'm thinking about taking the top wire down and using that wire to extend the fence out a bit...then dumping half a bag of corn in the center and pouring buck jam over it to entice them into the fence. Hopefully that will get them feeling comfortable jumping in to get protien and corn. Does this sound like a good plan?
#9
#10
I would take two posts and make a small opening big enough for them to get in and small enough to keep the cows out, and I will bet they come right in. once the other deer see a few of them in there they will start jumping in. Oh yes I would also make the pen a little bigger. Good luck.