Feeders
A deer feeder does something a food plot cannot. It puts feed in the exact spot you choose, on a schedule you set, which is how a camera site becomes a pattern and a pattern becomes a hunt. Gravity feeders trickle steadily and never need batteries. Spin feeders throw on a timer, so deer learn the hour and show up for it.
Our feeders come from American Hunter and cover hanging, tripod, and nesting hopper designs, along with feeder kits for building on a barrel you already own.
Which feeder for your setup
- Big properties, long refills. The 350 lb Tripod Feeder runs weeks between fills, which matters when the walk in is long enough to spook the ground.
- Small acreage. The 30 Gallon Nesting Hopper holds enough for a season of camera work without dominating the spot.
- Quick camera sites. A 50 lb hanging feeder goes up on a limb in minutes and moves when the sign moves.
- Build your own. The 5 Gallon Nesting Hopper with Econ Feeder Kit is the cheapest way to get a timed feeder on the ground.
Height, timing, and the law
Hang the barrel high enough that deer reach up slightly and raccoons work for it, and expect to fight raccoons anyway. Two short feeds around first and last light beat one long one, since a five-second spin scattering corn draws deer without dumping a pile that rots. Check your state and county baiting rules before you set anything out. Missouri restricts feed inside CWD management zones, and the rules change.
Read how high a feeder should be, dial in the timer settings, learn to keep raccoons out, and compare models in our best deer feeder guide.