How to Hang a Deer Feeder
Enjoying wildlife from your back porch or a deer stand in the fall is enhanced by using a deer feeder. You will see more than just deer at most feeders. The constant supply of food can attract wildlife of all sizes. Small quail, turkey and even large bear will frequent a well-established feeder. Bears are tremendous opportunists and will visit the feeder until the container is empty. If the feeder is not properly hung, the bear will go to lengths to tear it down to ensure an empty container.
Things You'll Need
- Extension ladder
- 30 feet of 3/8 inch diameter steel cable
- 2 - 12 inch by 48inch 1/16 inch thick rubber sheets
- 2 -- 36 inch long bungee cords
- 4 -- 3/8 inch cable clamps
- Crescent wrench
- Helper
- ½ inch pulley
- ½ inch diameter poly rope
Instructions
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1
Scout the woods for an area of wildlife traffic. Actually this is not needed, as the critters of the woods will become attracted to the food source in less than one month's time. Find an open space with two large diameter trees, 12 to 18 inches wide and 15 to 20 feet apart.
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2
Stretch the cable between the two trees on the ground to ensure the spacing is correct. Lay the extension ladder against one of the trees to a reachable height of 15 to 20 feet from the ground.
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3
Wrap the rubber sheet around the tree at a height of 16 to 20 feet from the ground. Hold it in place with the bungee cord. Center the sheet in such a way that the cable can be wrapped around it. The rubber sheet will keep the trees' bark from being injured.
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4
Grab the cable, two of the cable clamps and the crescent wrench. Climb the ladder and encircle the tree twice with the cable. Secure the cable to itself with the cable clamps and tighten with the wrench.
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5
Slip the eye of the pulley though the steel cable. Run the ½ inch rope through the pulley to the halfway point of the rope. In other words, you will want 25 feet of the rope hanging on either side of the pulley wheel.
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6
Move to the other tree and perform the same procedure for attaching the cable to the tree as in step 3 and 4. Garner a helper to aid in lifting the cable to the desired height. Secure the cable in place around the rubber sheet with the clamps.
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7
Secure the deer feeder to one end of the ½ inch rope. Grab both ropes to adjust the position of the pulley assembly. Center the pulley in the middle of the suspended cable.
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8
Fill the feeder. Raise it to the desired height. Height requirements will be dictated by the type of feeder. Automatic feeders may be raised to the full height of the cable and pulley assembly. Nudge-type feeders will need to be lower so the deer can activate the dropping mechanism.
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9
Place a deer stand in one of the two trees. Attach the other end of the rope to the same tree above or below the stand. Secure the rope high enough so wildlife cannot come into contact with it.
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Tips & Warnings
The rubber bungee cords can be removed after the cable is fastened around the tree. The cable should be readjusted annually to accommodate for yearly tree growth. Replace the ½ inch rope with a steel cable greater in diameter than 1/8 inch. The rope can be chewed in half if left in the woods for longer than a few months.
