Deer Feeder Tips

By Nancy Fulton

Instructions

Pick the Right Deer Feeder

Step 1:
A deer feeder is, in most cases, little more than a drum that is propped up on tripods or hung from a tree. The drum is attached to a mechanical assembly that allows the deer to reach the food without allowing rodents like squirrels or mice to contaminate it.

Some deer feeders release food at specific intervals. Some feed on demand. Which type of feeder you choose depends on whether you want to control when the deer eat or if you wan to make food available to them year-round.

Pick the Right Food

Step 1:
There are many commercially available kinds of deer food. Many, but not all, provide great nutrition. The one downside of these foods, beyond the fact that they tend to cost more, is that they are composed of ground-up food from many sources. They may contain corn, soy and grains. They may also contain animal byproducts from slaughterhouses that are frequently used to increase the protein content.

You may find it cheapest to put dried corn and soybeans in your feeder. This food is nutritious, high in protein and is safe for deer to eat year-round. It also handles damp weather well. Unlike processed foods, it does not become soggy in the drum when it rains or snows.

Pick the Right Place

Step 1:
Deer have an acute sense of smell, so you can put the feeder almost anywhere. You may want to put it some place you can see from inside your house or from your front porch. It should be more than 100 feet away from your house, in a location that humans do not traffic in. Deer have powerful legs, and they can be dangerous if threatened. The sudden leaps they make when startled can cause injury to nearby humans, as can the kicking they do when injured.

Fun Gift for the Family

Step 1:
Deer feeders can be a great gift for the family. They bring nature close to home, and they remind people of a world outside school, outside business, outside the everyday cares that occupy so much of our time.
It is important to note that deer feeding is not allowed in all localities, so check with your local police before setting up your deer feeding station. Some areas do not allow deer feeding because it may increase the occurrences of Lyme disease, carried by the deer tick, in the area.

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