Readymade deer feeders are easily available online or in stores, but these can be relatively expensive and limited in options. Making your own deer feeder at home is usually a better option. It can not only save you money but also give you customize functionality. Commercially made deer feeders are made for masses, one size fits all, but homemade deer feeders can be precisely tailored according to needs.

Food Bucket or Food Container

Capacity of any deer feeder is decided by volume of its bucket or container holding the feed. In DIY deer feeders it can be something as simple as paint bucket. You can use larger container if you want to feed larger herd or refill it less often but hoisting it on a tree can be troublesome. On the contrary smaller capacity containers can reduce feed wastage and can be easy to handle.

Feed inside, is a huge attractant for raccoon and squirrels. It is necessary to cover the bucket to protect it from unwanted wildlife. Design and material of cover should allow drilling of holes and attachment of latch to allow it to hang.

Whichever container you use its color is really important. It should blend in with the surrounding. It should have shades or dark greens or dark browns depending upon surrounding.

How to Automate a deer feeder?

Feed usually piles up falling under the force of gravity. Piled up feed is not idea to attract deer as it is not natural representation of their food. Buy a readily available mechanism from market that automatically distributes the feed. This system adds numerous functionalities like:

• Spreading feed in wide arc, preventing piling of feed.
• Timer to spread feed at different times for different durations

Opt for attachment that operates on minimum possible power and offers easy attachment procedure. Wider the arc it spreads feeds in the better it is.

How to Mount a Deer Feeder?

How you mount a deer feeder entirely depends on its weight and size. Smaller and lighter feeders are usually hung across branch of any tree with one end of the rope tied to feeder and other to a spot that prevents it from coming down under gravitational force.  It is kept almost 6 feet above ground level.

Larger and heavier feeders are usually mounted on the ground over a platform made especially for them. Platform should be at least several feet high off the ground. It should blend with surroundings as well.

Once feeder is set it is only matter of time till deer come around and get used to new structure.