In my mind, the main objective isn’t to shoot deer under the feeder in the first place – rather to catch them in transit in an around the area. Even placing it just inside a tree line beats the inherent vulnerability of open spaces. Keeping the feeder in or very near cover reduces anxiety on the deer’s part especially for vigilant mature bucks. This method may seem logical but, is flawed from the get-go if you consider a deer’s perspective.įeeders in open areas provide no comfort to deer regarding ingress and egress. Heck, I lose count just driving the two hours to my main hunting property. I can’t count the number of deer feeders I see smack dab in the middle of fields. I’ve found them to be of huge importance.įeeder placed within both timber and brush can add security for whitetails.Īvoiding Large Expanses Avoid setting up feeders out in the open. The following approaches may be unpopular with some crowds but are worth consideration. Have you ever considered placing a feeder in a place that’s protected by timber or brush? What about a spot that’s so protected you can’t even see well enough to shoot into it? I can promise you that this makes a difference – specifically with wise old bucks. Either way, it’s always a great idea to use a good cover scent as well. When possible, go into the wind when approaching the feeder. Less field trips means less pressure from human traffic and scent.ĭon’t Smell Up the Joint Whatever you do, manage your scent by taking into account wind direction. Likewise, be intentional about changing out batteries (or even use solar panels). Low-Pressure and Feeder Capacity Consider feeders with larger capacity, hence reducing your frequency in the field to fill them. Once does and fawns feel secure in the area during the daytime, your chances of taking a mature buck greatly increases. High-capacity Texas Hunter brand deer feederĬomfortable feeding around it (and the area in general) is essential – especially for bowhunting. In fact, if you can stand it, don’t hunt over it within a few weeks of setting it up. Why not leverage your scouting and take advantage of a head start?ĭon’t Wear Out Your Welcome For a feeder to be of maximum benefit, you don’t want to over hunt it. Where the Deer Are Pick areas around known trails, bedding areas, and other existing food and water sources (such as creeks and crops). For best results, place them thoughtfully around advantageous locations and land features. Don’t treat your feeders as solely the main attraction. Therefore, when it’s time to hit the farm, hunting club, or lease with feeders in tow, choose your spots wisely. So, what denotes a “good spot” for a deer feeder?ĭeer feeders are meant to attract deer but shouldn’t be viewed as a “build it and they will come” situation. If you have, this isn’t a time to be arbitrary and it’s important to choose wisely. If you are in the process of either buying or building one, you may already have a location or two picked out for them on your hunting property. There are ways to set them up for maximum success. And it’s a viable way to draw and hunt whitetails regardless of weapon. The use of automatic game feeders is currently legal in over 20 states (and growing). After all, this is an article on effective ways to use deer feeders as part of your whitetail arsenal. They couldn’t be more wrong in my humbled and experienced opinion – particularly in free-range hunting conditions. Still, people in many deer hunting circles these days puff out their chests and declare it’s easy, if not cheating. Secondly, deer feeders don’t represent any kind of slam dunk – especially if it’s big mature bucks you seek. With that, I’ll start with a couple of preliminary points įirst, you know all those debates over whether it’s okay to hunt over them? Let me be clear, this isn’t one of them – perhaps that will be covered in another article. They’re also a polarizing topic amongst many deer hunters. Hunting around deer feeders are a huge part of the hunting tradition and culture in many parts of the country. Also, this article is primarily about bowhunting near feeder setups, though it also applies to gun hunting. Disclaimer: Before using game feeders, be sure to check your state’s laws regarding hunting over them.
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