Deer not eating from feeders
 

A few weeks ago I built a couple feeders and put them out in the woods. Before that, I was putting corn out in a pile on the ground. I put the feeders in the same place as I had the piles at. I've checked the feeders once a week sinse I put them out and the deer hasn't touched them. Why would they eat the piles as fast as I put it out but won't touch the feeders, same place and same corn? Any ideas?

I'm thinking maybe it's only a coincidence and what really is happening is that the deer located an alternate, more favorable, food source. Don't know where you are at, but there might be a mast drop in your area that is feeding them for now. If that is the case, you need not worry because they will be back.

Out of curiousity, can you describe or post pictures or a drawing/sketch of what your feeders you built look like?

iSnipe

They're probably gorging themselves on acorns!:s4:

well, maybe what was happenin is it wasnt the deer eatin the corn..or the acorns are fallin here so we seen stedy decline at our feeders too..maybe yall don even have acorns i dunno..could be the material ya made ur feeders outta smell like a killin machine to the deer and basically you put a wolf out there insted of a feeder.... is it a manual feeder?, on a timer? hangin or on legs ? did ya spray it with mace?

HALFBAKED why do you spray your feeders with mace? Thanks, Pike

I made them with 2x4's and plywood. I got the plywood from Lowes and it had mossy oak layer on it. The feeder is 2' square and 4 ' tall with a small gap in the front to allow the corn to come through. I did use some black spray paint to paint the edges of the plywood. Thats the only thing I can think of that would run them off.

jus get a piece of PVC about 6 inches in diameter and cut a V in the bottom end to let corn trickle out then put a cap on the top and strap it to a tree...make em about 4 or 5 feet tall and you got a corn feeder that costs about8-10 dollars vs. feeders made in a factory for 50-100 dollars!

Some hunters have mace to keep the bears away or to prevent an attack. I know a couple of guys who use it to ATTRACT bears!

iSnipe

I don't have problems with the deer hitting the feeder here:



iSnipe :biggrin:

Sounds like acorns and something new.Try putting a small pile in front of your feeders.Let them realize they are safe and have food.How long did you let the paint dry before putting them out(could be the smell).

I let the paint dry about 24 hours.

I was going to make similar feeders this summer, PVC pipe, a cap on the top and a elbow on bottom for the deer to stick their snout into and eat but since I live 5 hours away from my property I am not able to fill them every week so I decided to build feeders with feeder kits on them using 55 gallon drums. They cost me $75.00 to build but they allow me to only have to fill them once every 5 weeks or so and they have saved me alot more than $75.00 in the money i have spent on corn, so they have already paid for them selves. Pike

shawnster the smell will only last about a week or so, I painted my feeders about a week prior to putting them in the woods and the deer started hitting them right away. Pike

iSnipe dont worry its just a matter of time before they find and get use to your feeder and start hitting it on a regular basis, I built and put my feeders out around July 4th and the deer are hitting them every day now. Pike

I would put a camera up to see what is visiting the feeders and you may get a good idea of what was eating the piles of corn. When I have put out piles of corn I have had more coons, hogs, and crows visit the piles than deer. I grew some very fat coons and hogs. I finally started utilizing feeders and it took the deer a little while to start visiting. Take a look at a website that has some good products for you and email Mike he might have some good suggestions (www.mikeswildlifefeedersandsupplies.com)

It seems I have better luck at spreading my own corn than relying on a feeder. I have a spot where I have tried both and the spreading brings them in better than the feeder. Could anyone answer this question for me-Why?

why spend $5.00 + shipping for such a small salt brick from that web site when you can get 50lb. salt or mineral blocks at TSC. or any local feed store for $6.00 each? Pike

Feeder
 

Try puting some corn on the ground next to the feeder. If they take the corn on the ground and not in the feeder then you know it's the feeder they don't like.

I was going to build my own. 6" PVC with a cap on top, a Y on the bottom, capped off on the bottom. Ended up $60 to build two.

go to a open parkin lot sweep all the acorns and put em in your feeder.