Are you looking to improve your deer heard? I understand how hard it can be, growing a healthy heard, and managing them to increase your results. Deer Hunting Feeders will make all of these problems an easy fix! From attracting more deer to your stands, using them for surveillance on your deer herd, or giving your deer the right nutrition they need to survive the harsh winter, and help them to grow into Mature deer the next season.
The Top 11-Deer Hunting Feeders in 2019 with the Purchase Guide will show you the way!!!
Top 11-Deer Hunting Feeders 2019| With Guide
These are our top recommendations for deer feeders in 2019:
1. BEST TRIPOD FEEDER: Moultrie 30-Gallon Tripod Feeder
2. BEST TAIL-GATE FEEDER: Foreverlast Tail-gate Feeder
3. BEST HANGING FEEDER: Moultrie 5-Gallon All in one Hanging Feeder
4. BEST GRAVITY FEEDER:Wildgame /Ba Products Treehugger Gravity Feeder
Product Name: | 30-Gallon Pro Hunter Tripod Deer Feeder | Foreverlast Tail-gate feeder | Moultrie 5 gallon All in one | WGI Innovations Treehugger |
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Image: | ||||
Capacity: | 200-LBS | 50-LBS | 50-LBS | 80-LBS |
Controls: | Digital | Remote Control | Digital | Gravity |
Type of Feeder: | Tripod Feeder | Tail-Gate Feeder | Hanging Feeder | Gravity |
Price: | Check Pricing | Check Pricing | Check Pricing | Check Pricing |
1. Moultrie 30-Gallon Tripod Feeder
Moultrie Feeders are on the rise! The Moultrie 30-gallon tripod feeder is contracted with a rugged metal barrel, that can hold up to 200-LBS. This Feeder is a programmable spin casting feeder with a quick disconnect on the motor, that allows you to remove the motor and place it on another barrel or Hopper. The Height of this tripod is 9-ft so a ladder, ATV, or truck bed will be needed to refill this feeder! Since this feeder in so High, you will want it in an easy to access area.
Features:
- 30-Gallon Barrel, which holds 220-LBS of Feed
- Digital Control
- Dispenses Feed up to 6x a day!
2. Foreverlast Tail-Gate Feeder
This Feeder has a different approach to feeders, this innovative feeder goes on the back of an ATV or truck! It holds up to 50-LBS and comes with an awesome remote that allows you to control exactly where the feeder dispenses right from the ATV or Truck!
Features:
- Holds 50-LBS
- Solid galvanized Steel
- Attachable to Truck or ATV
- Powerful 12v Motor
3. Moultrie 5-Gallon All in one Hanging Feeder
The Moultrie 5-gallon Feeder is great for the times that you go off of the beaten path! This is perfect for thick areas with a lot of tree branches! This is easy to hang off of a low hanging branch for the best feeding area. This feeder compacts down to 1/3 of its operating size, so you can easily carry it, and with 4 AA batteries, this feeder will be ready to attract Big Deer to your feeding sites!
Features:
- 5-gallon capacity, which is almost 50-LBS of feed.
- Spin Caster
- Collapsible
- Sollar panel ready
- Batteries Included!
4. Wildgame Quick Set 225 Tripod Feeder
Wildgame is very proud of this feeder! It can dispense up to 30ft/360-degrees. That is a great range for a feeder! It only take about 15-minutes to set up as you can see in the title, it’s the quick set. This is very easy and simple to set up! Another Highlight feature about this feeder is that it has a trail camera mounting bracket.
This feeder also holds up to 225-LBS of feed! It can support this weight with the heavy-duty 12-piece leg set. Wildgames also included a funnel with this feeder so you can reduce feed waste!
Features:
- 15-minutes easy set-up
- 30-Gallon Barrel that holds 225-LBS if feed
- You can program up to 4-feed times per day
- Steal spinner Plate
- Digital Power control Unit
5. Wildgame /Ba Products W50P Hanging Feeder
This is a very affordable feeder that is great for any level hunter! Again this is a hanging feeder so it can go almost anywhere you want. This Feeder hold 50-Lbs and is discharged with a 6v photo cell power control unit. This feeder has some awesome options for the price, and it is very durable! You can have 2 feedings per-day, and you can control the amount of feed that is discharged with a 1-20 second discharge time.
Features:
- Holds 50-LBS of feed
- Controllable discharge times (1-20 sec) and feedings per-day (1-2)
- Very Affordable
6. American Hunter Tripod Feeder
This Feeder was created with all hunters needs in mind. This awesome feeder holds 225-LBS of feed, with a very simple set-up makes its easy for every hunter to set-up. This digital feeder gives you the ability to set feed times. This is a great feeder for Newer-Intermediate hunters!
Features:
- 225-LBS capacity
- Automatic dispenser with the option to set feed times
- Made with heavy-duty materials
7. Wildgame /Ba Products Treehugger Gravity Feeder
This is a very simple feeder, all you do is pour the feed into the bag and strap it to a tree. The feed will continue to dispense itself as the deer eat from it (Using Gravity). This feeder is integrated with straps for strapping onto trees or posts. This is actually a really durable feeder as it is made out of long-lasting PVC material. A weather tight lid is included for keeping rain or snow out of the feed. The feeder is very light and easy to move to other hunting sites. These gravity deer feeders are starting to become a little more popular, but they are still not as popular as the digital feeders.
Features:
- Holds 80-LBS of feed
- Naturally replenishes the feed
- Great for hard to reach areas, because of how light it is
- Included straps with a heavy-duty Buckle
- Very Affordable
NOTE: Moultrie also has a version of this feeder Check it out Here!
8. Moultrie 15-Gallon Directional Hanging Feeder
This feeder comes ready to go right out of the box! It can’t get anymore convenient than that. Moultrie also included some ratchet straps with this feeder for strapping to trees or posts. This feeder is designed to dispense the feed at a 30-degree angle, which is perfect for placing the feed right where you want it.
Features:
- 15-gallon capacity
- Directional feed pattern
- Includes mounting bracket and ratchet straps for installation
- 6-volt battery
- 30-degree broadcast angle
9. Wildgame Flat Box Tripod Feeder
This is another great product from Wildgame innovations, it is made out of heavy-duty galvanized steel. This feeder also has a metal cage that protects the feed from any pests. The wild game flat box feeder can disperse feed up to 30-Ft, and with the digital controls you can program 4-feeding times each day! If you look at this image closely, you will see that there is a lid on the top that locks so that birds and other animals that may try to eat your feed can’t get in.
Features:
- Made out of galvanized steel
- Digital control
- Dispenses up to 4x a day
- Dispenses feed 30-ft
- Varmint guard and locking lid
10. Boss Buck “All in” Tripod Feeder
This feeder is an easy maintenance free feeder. With the hopper design on this feeder, it gives you the ability to gravity feed protein in the spring & summer and you can easily convert it to the automatic feeding system in the fall & winter. This is one of the most advanced feeders that are easy to use (user-friendly).
Features:
- Converts from Gravity feeder to Automatic feeder in just seconds
- Tough roto-molded plastic is what this feeder is made out of
- 200-LBS capacity
- Two in one leg system for easy conversion
11. Rhino Outpost Stealth Hanging Feeder
The Rhino Outpost Feeder is for hunters on the move, as it holds 20-Lbs which makes it very easy to transport from one hunting location to another! This feeder fits perfectly in thick areas where a traditional feeder may not be useful! This is a great way to enhance you success in a spot that is off the beaten path. This feeder has the capability to change the feed times and the number of times that it dispenses per day (Up to 4-per day).
Features:
- 20-LBS capacity
- 1-4 feed times per-day
- Easily concealed
- Only weighs 25-LBS completely Full
- This takes only 4AA batteries
Purchase Guide:
Why Feed Deer?
There are a few reason to feed Deer, First, you are trying to attract deer to a certain location that you plan on hunting or observing. When you are feeding, you are tying to train deer to come to that area for easy food in a safe location. The second reason is to help them through the harsh winter. You can give them some extra food that can help them out last those harsh winter months, when food is scarce.
There are negatives to having a feeding site on your property. The biggest one is having large herds of deer in a small location can cause disease to spread rapidly (CWD). The other one is Acidosis, this is when deer or animals in general consume large amounts of carbohydrates that are low in fibers.
This increases the lattice acid in the animal, which can lead dehydration as a build up of lattice acid, and it can cause death within 24-48hrs. Make sure that you lookout for the animals well-being before over feeding deer. This is where a programmable deer feeder comes into place, as you can schedule lower amounts of feed dispersed but at 3 or 4 different times of the day.
Feeding Program
The Biggest interest focused around a Feeding Program is the obsession with growing Big Antlers. The age, nutrition, and genetics are of most importance when determining antler size, and the score of Bucks. Nutrition and Age are what most Deer Managers focus on. This means shooting deer when they have reached the majority of their potential growth, which is around the age of 4-1/2. Nutrition is centered around a 365-day feeding program that ensures a healthy deer heard.
Most management efforts go into making Food plots, creating better habitat, and supplemental feeding. The best times to feed the deer minerals is in the spring & summer as the Bucks are growing their antlers, and Doe are feeding the Fawns. This will give them the minerals they need to generate maximum antler growth, and give health minerals to the fawns.
Requirements For Deer Feed
A Study done by MSU Deer labs was done that concluded, Bucks that were fed a 16% Crude protein diet grew antlers that scored 20-inches higher than bucks feed 8% crude diets. The MSU Deer Labs study also showed that it helps balance protein intake that is in lower portions that deers diet. Older deer do not need as much protein as the young deer, and fawns.
You should ask yourself a few questions when trying to create an effective plan for feeding deer on your property.
- What are some limiting factors that my deer herd is facing? Food? Cover? Water?
- What can I do to improve these limiting Factors?
- What are some additional factors that I can add to my property to make my deer herd even better? More mineral sites? Food plots? Watering holes? Adding Cover/ Bedding?
It is very important to make sure that your deer are receiving the basic minerals, which are calcium and phosphorus.
Deer Feeder Placement
You likely have an ideal area picked out for your feeder at this point, but if you don’t we are going to show you some good spots to put them. We will help you determine the perfect spot on your property for a deer feeder. We have Deer Hunting Feeders listed above that will allow you to be prepared for any situation.
First, you will want your feeder in an easy to access area. A lot of feeders are high and that requires you to be on top of a truck or ATV in order to refill it. It is also great when you have a spot that you can access easily, because you can create a bulletproof hunting strategy to hunt that spot!
Second, The best place to put your deer hunting feeder is in high traffic areas such as, water sources, food sources, and near bedding areas. So above we talked about it being an easy to access location, but sometimes that just not possible especially near thick bedding areas. This is where I suggest a hanging feeder like the Moultrie 5-Gallon All in one Hanging Feeder or the Wildgame /Ba Products W50P Hanging Feeder! These Two feeders are perfect for a secluded, thick area hunt.
Deer Hunting Feeder Bonuses and Key Features
When it comes to a Deer Hunting feeder, there are tons of bonuses over dumping your feed directly on the ground and coming back 2 days later and its all gone. Deer Hunting feeders offer feed protection, and allows you to schedule times of day to dispense feed. This will maximize the $50 of feed that you put into the feeder. You can get 2-3 weeks use of a bag of corn, compared to 3-4 days when you just dump it out on the ground.
Here is what makes a great Deer Hunting Feeder:
Storage: A feeder should be able to hold large quantities of feed. This will feed the deer for longer periods of time and reduce the pressure on that area, because you aren’t in their refilling the feeder every week. This will decrease the amount of Deer in that area, because you are leaving your scent in that area every time you go in their.
Dispenser: A dispenser with a timer is definitely preferred when you are looking into a good feeder.
Durable: Any feeder that you are looking to purchase should be durable. It should be able to make it through rough weather conditions and any pests that will be trying to break into it.
Locking lid: This will help make the feeder waterproof and keep any pests out. This Is a very important feature to look for on a deer hunting feeder.
Waterproof: This will keep all of your feed dry and prevent it from molding. If you think about all of the money you spend on feed each year, it adds up to a good bit of money. Having a waterproof feeder will protect that feed.
Deer Hunting Feeders & Hunting tactics
There are some states that don’t allow baiting deer, this would make a deer hunting feeder irrelevant so we included some alternative ways to create some social hubs. This will concentrate the deer movement to this area, by creating social hubs you can easily define the deer movement.
Most social hubs take place in food plots, and crop fields. By adding factors like water Feeders (If allowed), and scrapes can make a spot even more popular to your deer herd. These factors will cause the deer to visit these areas frequently, even if there is no feed or active scrapes. When an area is defined as a social hub, it is an area that the deer obviously go to socialize. When you create this environment, it will bring you consistent deer movement for a long time.
By creating two social hubs in different areas, you can start to pattern deer and you can have a great spot to hunt no matter the wind direction. Wind dictates the success of hunting. Most hunters live and die by this simple rule. If you have two hubs that you can hunt from, it allows you to hunt wind directions “East or west” at one hub and “North and South” For the other Hub. This allows you a great spot to hunt no matter the wind direction.
Lastly ask yourself if it will work with your hunting tactics. Here are some things to make sure you have though out.
- Accessible for trucks or Atv
- It is in a High Traffic area
- Human Pressure is low (Secluded area)
- Close to Food sources
- Close to Bedding areas
This just goes to show how many factors you need to consider before setting up a feeder.
Deer Hunting Feeder Sites
What do you think the ideal set up for your dee hunting feeder is? Think about some critical needs. Trail Cameras are a must at a feeding site, with deer consistently coming into these areas you can start to patten them and create a hunting plan to harvest that deer.
Adding some incentives like mineral blocks and scrapes like described above in the social hub section, will make a great spot for trail camera survallience so make sure to utilize them. For more trail camera tips read our Summer Trail camera tips
The last couple of tips that I would like to give is fist, spreading some feed on the ground when first setting up the deer hunting feeder, because deer Maybe a little skeptical of the feeder at first. Spreading feed on the ground at first will allow them to get comfortable with the feeder.
Last, I highly recommend wearing gloves and scent elimination spray, because you do not want to leave your scent behind when attracting deer to a feeding area. I Highly Recommend the Cuddelink Trail cameras or Wireless trail cameras as you can get the pictures taken at the feed site send right to your phone (With wireless cameras) or have all of the pictures sent to a home unit that you can check (Cuddelink Cameras). This will still keep the pressure low in your areas, even though you will still have to check the camera.
Conclusion
Should you use a deer hunting feeder? Well that depends on if it fit in with your deer hunting strategies. Can a deer hunting feeder enhance your hunting success? Definitely! Will a feeding program using the correct supplements benefit you and your deer herd? Yes! You will want to make sure with your state regulations before going out and setting up a feeder. We don’t want to see you get in legal troubles.
Make sure to pay close attention for more articles on deer hunting feeders and more deer hunting strategies on the FeatherNett Outdoors Blog! You can always sign up to our email list, and receive our newest article before anyone else, and get exclusive products and discounts!
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