How to Build a Deer Feeder

Deer are abundant in many parts of the country, and hunters travel in droves to find the largest, heaviest specimens for both food and trophies. Abundant food is necessary to grow the most desirable deer, and a well-constructed feeder can bring in deer from miles around. Building a feeder is not difficult, and can be done with a minimal amount of time and supplies.

Things You'll Need

• 5-gallon bucket
• 4 1-foot long, 3-inch diameter PVC pipe
• Measuring tape
• Permanent marker
• Drill
• Knife
• Power saw
• Large zip ties

Instructions

1. Place your bucket on a flat surface and mark a spot 8 inches up from the bottom. An 8-inch deep feeder gives the deer plenty of room to comfortably feed while keeping smaller creatures from invading your feeder.

2. Cut at the 8-inch mark with your saw to trim the feeder base to an appropriate height. Drill five or six small holes in the bottom of your bucket to allow rain and moisture to drain.

3. Use your saw to cut two slots in the bottom of your PVC, one on each side of the pipe. The slots should be approximately 3 inches long and 1 inch wide to allow the feed to be dispensed at a steady rate.

4. Set your pipe, slit side down, in your base and mark where the pipe rests within the base. Use your knife to make small slits in the base and thread a zip tie through the holes. Attach your pipe to the base, pulling the zip tie tight to hold the pipe steady.

5. Select a tree for your feeder. The tree should be in a quiet, clear area to draw in the most deer. Secure your feeder to the tree by placing two or three zip ties along the feeder tube, pulling each one tight and trimming off the long ends to keep the deer from chewing them.

6. Fill your feeder tube with corn or other grain mixture, allowing a few handfuls to spill into the base. The feeder will automatically fill itself as the deer eat, and will continue to draw in deer with the promise of a steady food supply.

Tips & Warnings

• Only fill your feeder with feed approved for deer. Corn is popular, as are a number of commercially produced deer feeds.

• Never spook or intentionally scare off deer at your feeder. Deer are creatures of habit and may stop using your feeder if they are frightened.