Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders - Do They Really Work?

You have spent good money on a feeder that claimed it was squirrel proof. However, the critters spend an entire day eating your bird seed. So, is there really a squirrel proof bird feeder I can trust? This is probably the most asked question we receive. Have you tried all those feeder that claim to be squirrel proof? Are the squirrels on the feeder all day long? We can help you understand how these feeders are designed and what their purpose really is.

A properly designed squirrel proof bird feeder should thwart the average squirrel 95% of the time. That means less than 5% of the time the animals will successfully obtain a bird seed reward for their diligence. For most people, this is fine. However, some are not pleased with this result and, unfortunately, allow these small number of invaders spoil the marvelous hobby of backyard bird feeding. I know of one customer who literally flips out each time she even sees a squirrel.

When you provide free food for your birds, you are basically offering to any aspect of nature, including deer, fox, raccoons, and yes, squirrels. Learning to enjoy all of nature in it's glory simplifies this hobby tremendously. Birds have learned to live with squirrels and a successful backyard birder can too.

Many of our customers use a humane trap and drive great distances to release these intruders into the wilds. We have one man who has trapped over 75 squirrels in the past two years and is still going strong. Oh well, it keeps him busy and he is having fun doing it. However, for most of us, living with a couple of squirrels is part of nature and we enjoy that as well.

There are a number of excellent feeders designed specifically to keep red, grey, and fox squirrels from monopolizing the bird seed. Each one can satisfy your desire to allow the birds to feed, but not the squirrels. Be sure to inform your local bird store about what squirrel proof bird feeder you choose. Let them know what critters you wish to deter and what birds you wish to attract.

At http://www.WildBirdDepot.com we have been satisfying backyard birders for over two decades. End the war with squirrels. Bird feeding is supposed to be a stress reducing hobby. Do not let a few critters ruin it for you. It is possible to attract between 25-30 different varieties of wild birds in your backyard, if the feeder you choose doesn't become a squirrel feeder. Choose the right squirrel proof bird feeder the first time. Save your hard earned money for the bird seed, not the bird feeder. No more damaged feeders or wasted seeds. Own the world's best squirrel proof bird feeder, the one model that has never been returned to our store!

5 Tips to Building and Maintaining a Deer Feeder

Although it may not be for everyone, hunting is a popular activity pursued by a lot of individuals. For hunters, setting up the bait, waiting for the animal to come close enough and fall for it, and chasing them to hunt them down is a thrill that is unparalleled to any other activity.

Hunting the Whitetail Deer Buck

The whitetail deer is one of the most elusive creatures to hunt down. Therefore, hunters need deer feeders to lure them in before the hunt can begin. And here's a tip: waiting for them in camouflage for hours under the sun and finally having them come close enough to the feeder so that one can hunt them down, is a process that is only understood by those who indulge in such an activity.

Importance of Setting up a Deer Feeder

• Deer feeding equipment is a very useful for hunters and zoo keepers alike. It should be made into an appropriate design in order to attract the animal to it long enough.

• Some deer feeding equipment is reasonably priced. Hunters usually use these feeders to lure one deer at a time. However, if you are looking to attract more than one animal, you might need a bigger deer feeder.

• Make sure that your deer feeder is high enough for tall deer. It is also important to ensure that the food inside the trough used in the feeder is kept free of dirt and water.

• The food should be dry when the animal reaches it. For this, a roof is required which should be high enough to accommodate the animal.

• As long as you can make the area surrounding the deer feeder safe enough for the animal, you should be able to attract deer. A big deer feeder may require a fence surrounding it to keep other animals at bay, though. And this fence should be low enough for the deer to jump over it to enter the feeder ground.

If your feeder requires a stable foundation, then you can dig holes on four corners and fill them with sand, cement and water mixture before fitting in the legs of the feeder into them. See what's appropriate for your area.

Click here for more information on a rut summit and check out: hunting deer secrets for your library of resources.

Deer Feeder Helper

Are corn cob pieces/stalks or wet protein pellets clogging your feeder? Remove them without climbing a ladder and digging to the bottom of the barrel! Just swing the control unit down and remove the clogs from ground level! Need to change your control unit but don't want to bring whole feeder back to camp? Simple!

Every avid hunter knows the value of using deer feeders to attract deer to the areas they hunt. But like you, they also know the headaches of maintaining their deer feeders. Just changing a timer can take hours and removing clogs every time you go into the field wastes time that you could be using to hunt. Developed by an avid hunter, Chris Nicholes, the Deer Feeder Helper takes away all the effort of maintaining your deer feeder and makes DIY things such as changing timers and relocation quick and easy.

The Deer Feeder Helper is the ultimate accessory for any feeder!

Price: $29.97

Click here to buy from Amazon

Deer feeder maintenance

Deer season can be, but now is the time to start to get ready and one of the most important tasks is to ensure that your deer feeder is in good shape.   If your feeders will be correctly maintained it will succeed in drawing and the holding of wildlife on your property.  Here are some tips for maintaining your deer feeder:

Check the batteries. Check the battery at least once a month and that the battery is fully charged.  Also check the cabling to make sure that rodents or other animals did not get through it.  It should also seek the oxidation of the Terminal and clips.  Clean result with limes or fine sandpaper.Check the engine. Make sure that the engine is running smoothly by what corn is produced in adequate quantities and with the appropriate speed.Check the condensation. With changes in temperature from hot to cold, feeders collect condensation.  You can collect particles of straw of maize in the interior walls and the bottom feeding, which will restrict the corn of flow and also reduce the amount of corn to be held the feeder.Verify the existence of pest. Yellow Jackets, you wasps and hornets often make their home in feeders.  If your diet is to attract raccoons or other varmints, place a cage bug on the engine of the timer.Verify the existence of water. Make sure that their food is not taking on water.  Animals don't eat moldy food soggy and the mould left by wet feed also can damage future batches of food.   Tapas and sight glasses should be resealing.See panel solar. Scan of solar panel and make sure that there is no condensation on the lid.  This can interfere with the amount of light that enters the panel, causing batteries not be reloaded completely.

Get your deer-shaped feeder prepare you for a successful deer hunting season!

If it's time to replace that old deer feeder, then fall and visit with us on our feeders.   Deer carries a variety of corn, protein feeders feeders and accessories to help you manage your diet program and maintaining the objectives of the Administration on track.

Deer management: its Stock of prospecting, nutrition and habits of deer, deer season is around the corner, common errors that deer hunters, deer culling causes controversy

Tags: hunters of deer, deer management

Published Monday, February 7, 2011 at 9: 47 pm in News of Hunter.

View the original article here

200 lb Deer Turkey hunting feeder w timer & ladder NEW

Retail value: $279.99
You are bidding on a brand new 200 lb capacity deer/turkey hunting feeder with a new improved timer that is capable of feeding six times per day and an attached ladder for easy loading. Fill this feeder at the beginning of the season and forget it!! This is a brand new Tundra Quest feeder in the box and comes in a brand new camo brown color!! This sturdy unit has a 200lb capacity hopper that measures 18 1/2" x 18 1/2" x 24". Unlike the others, it has a split hopper design for simultaneous dual grain feeding, an attached ladder in order to fill the feeder and has four strong legs for stability. Feeder is extrememly easy to fill because of the 15" x 16" platform. Don't settle for a wobbely tripod design. The lid latches for easy opening and easy filling. A NEW IMPROVED programmable DIGITAL TIMER is included at no extra charge!! This timer works on two battery types-12 volt or a 6 volt battery. Timer can be set for each individual day of the week and has 6 time settings for your custom feeding needs (battery not included.) Timer also comes with a convenient battery voltage meter. The powerful motor has 3 speeds, and with different feeding durations, you have a unit that is fully customizable for all your wildlife needs.

This feeder uses the OPTIONAL varmint guard (pictured) and can be purchased for an additional $25 which includes the s&h. Please send a note along with your payment if you would like a varmint guard added to your purchase.

Price:

Click here to buy from Amazon

Deer Feeders and Feeding Tips - A Guide to a Safe and Enjoyable Home Hobby

All of us love deer and many people enjoy attracting them to their yards but some do not know how to do it well or at all. I have received many requests in regard to deer feeding and tips to do so properly. To begin with, feeding deer is very simple. Their sense of smell will direct them right to the feeder and your offering. When other food sources are becoming scarce, they will follow the scent of good quality feed over long distances. Once they have found it, they will be more than happy to stay around as long as there is a fairly consistent supply.

There are various aspects of feeding deer that need to be addressed before setting out a feeder. First and foremost. Deer are beautiful creatures and look to be friendly, cuddly and approachable. This is very far from the fact of the matter. Deer can become aggressive, although rarely, for many reasons and I advise to keep your distance and do not approach them for any reason. If you find a wounded deer, or any wild or domestic animal, call your local wildlife control organization and do not approach the animal. Any wounded animal is potentially very dangerous.

In order to feed deer properly and safely, pick a location away from your home with a good viewing area. Do not set a feeder near a doorway or other area that is or may be frequented by people or pets. If someone walks around a corner or through a doorway and comes face to face with a deer, that deer needs to make a decision. It will go into one of two modes, flight or fight. It prefers to flee and usually does but if it feels it cannot, it may decide to fight instead. Keep your feeders away from any area where people may come into close contact.

With that said, feeding deer is a wonderful hobby and one that can be done safely and enjoyably. Once you have picked a safe location for your feeder, it's time to feed. We highly recommend whole shelled corn as the staple food. Whole shelled corn is the dried corn kernels that have been stripped from the cob as a whole seed. It is a high protein feed, readily available at any feed supply store and is the least expensive to buy. Most importantly, it remains edible for many days under high moisture conditions. When you start looking for suitable deer feed, you'll find many types of deer feed on the market. Some are excellent and some are not. We're often asked about commercial deer chows.

Deer Chow is a manufactured, pelletized product utilizing a mix of various feed types and may contain animal remnant by-products from slaughterhouses or the like. If these by-products are not processed correctly they may contain various diseases that can be introduced to the deer population through a feeding activity. Please do not use deer chows unless you are positive they are tested safe.

Another issue with deer chow, and my personal dislike for them, is their inability to remain palatable to your wildlife once it gathers moisture. Deer chow has no resistance to water and even humidity will render it worthless. Any rain, melting snow or high humidity will "puff" the chow into a mass of sloop. Think of a bowl of bran type cereal. By the time you have reached the bottom of the bowl, the cereal is mush. This is deer chow when it gets wet and your deer WILL NOT eat it. You have now wasted money on an expensive product and it must be discarded. Whole shelled corn is by far a superior food type. The encased kernel of corn protects itself from moisture and will remain edible for many days, wet or dry. Some people use cracked corn in hopes of feeding their turkeys or other large birds such as crows, blue jay and cardinals. Cardinals love my own deer feeder and use it all day long. This is a great idea as long as the feed is consumed quickly, within a day or so. Since the kernel, or pericarp or outer shell of the seed, of corn is "cracked" open, it losses its capability to protect itself from moisture. When exposed to wetness, it too will absorb water and my not be eaten by your deer. Turkeys and other birds have no issue with it though and if you have a good population of turkeys, they will readily consume your offering.

The MOST important rule of feeding deer is to offer one type of feed consistently. Deer are ruminants, like cows, and to properly digest their foods they develop a bacterium in their stomachs to start the process. Many unaware people start feeding their deer when the weather gets very cold or after other food sources are gone. This is a nice gesture but it takes many days for deer to produce the bacteria. Hence, your offering fills their bellies but they are getting little if any actual nutritional value. No matter when you start feeding, keep the same base food type available throughout the year or season. Once your deer have built up the appropriate bacteria, corn will become a premium food source. Its high levels of protein and complex sugars will do wonders in sustaining them through the hard months or helping them grow to their full potential.

Why feed deer? Besides the obvious reasons of our own enjoyment, Doe Deer that receive good nutrition throughout winter will produce the healthiest fawns in late spring. Most Does carry two fawns and it takes a lot of energy to grow them in a healthy manner. Feeding deer throughout the year will help hold them in your area which means they will bring their babies in late spring. Believe me, this is a treat you will not want to miss. Watching a pair or groups of baby deer feeding and frolicking around your yard will warm your heart like few other experiences. It is one of my most awaited wildlife moments of the whole year, I guarantee it will become one of yours too.

I highly recommend adding this new level of wildlife feeding to your home. It is easy and when done correctly, is perfectly safe and extremely rewarding. For more information regarding deer feeders and deer feeding tips, visit the web link below to read the full version of this article which includes some excellent information regarding white-tailed deer and their abilities to survive.

Peter Hurley has been an active nature lover all his life and is the owner of The Hurley-Byrd Bird Feeder Co http://www.hurleybyrd.com His vast experience with wildlife has produced some of the finest bird, deer and wildlife feeders in the world. Visit http://www.hurleybyrd.com/DeerFeederTips.html for more information regarding the white-tailed deer and the enjoyable way of feeding this beautiful animal. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to visit Hurley-Byrd's site and write Mr. Hurley directly. You are also welcome to view some beautiful photos of deer, including white-tailed bucks, does and fawns plus world class mule deer at hurleybyrd.com/DeerFeeder.html

Using proteins for subarctic hunting feeders

Routing season is long and bucks will soon begin to shed their antlers.  With regard to the management of horns is important to consider the five necessary categories for maximum growth; protein, energy, minerals, vitamins and water.  Adequate nutrition during the months of February and March are especially important, because deer which should replace the body fat and muscle lost during the winter months before growth horns can reach their potential.  Now is the time to start thinking about how providing protein to the deer in the ranch or lease.  Inadequate protein intake will reduce development of horns and could affect the development for several successive years.  They help you manage the excellent results during the hunting season to provide protein.

Many hunters, land managers and biologists believe that a 16% protein food source is necessary for that bucks achieved a maximum growth of horns and to achieve maximum production fawn.  Protein levels are of utmost importance at certain times of the year.  For the growth of the horns, this period is late winter until the end of the period of growth of horns. For the production of Fawn, the period when the levels of proteins are most critical for is during fetal development and breastfeeding. And, in general, protein levels are higher in native forage during the spring and fall and are lower during the summer and winter.  It is no coincidence that horns growth and fetal development Fawn coincide with seasonally high level of protein in the spring.

But periods when proteins is limited, as during the summer and winter? Deer can compensate for this seasonality of proteins through recycling of the protein, but this means that the proteins will be used for critical functions in the first place.

Although deer can survive a dry spring, bucks will produce antlers that are smaller than their potential and not overrides fawns before birth or shortly thereafter to leave them. Protein levels are not critical to the survival of deer, but "too much" protein can permanently increase the size of horns, rates of flatterers, and in most cases.

If you are interested in supplementing the white-tailed deer, remember that winter and summer are the critical moments in relation to the availability of protein, but provide additional protein during the spring and autumn will improve the conditions of body of deer on his property and put them in better shape for the difficult periods.

The best practice of deer management is maintaining the population in line with the carrying capacity of the Habitat and provide additional choice food. In this way, the food is really supplementary. A herd of Red Deer well-feed will be very productive, often produce 60-100% crops chamois. This means that 50 can regularly produce fawns for 30-50 each year.

Deer feeders will continue to play a key role in the management of deer in the coming months.   Feeders of corn for feeds protein Exchange will attract deer to its stand and providing adequate nutrition to his flock during this period of growth.  With a single Deputy deer feeders can be easily transformed to meet the needs of corn and protein.  Protein tubes are interchangeable and designed for distribution, ensuring optimum potential for up to four animals with virtually no damage of feed horn.  Our feeders are considered the best in the market due to its unique design and durability.  2000 Standard sizes available in 600 lbs, 1000 lbs, lbs this 2 1 unit offers solutions to provide the nutritional needs throughout the year and maximize the experience of hunting.

Nutrition and feeding of deer habits, numbers count: relationship of Buck DOE, Deer Management: surveying your Stock, deer season is around the corner, deer feeder maintenance

Tags: hunters of deer, deer management, subarctic deer

Posted Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 10: 10 pm at Hunter news.

View the original article here

Raising and Catching Catfish

The channel catfish,one of the best tasting and sport friendly fish made for the rod angler. I believe that this fish reigns supreme in it's habitat. A fish made for fishing by kids of all ages. you can have a good time catching and eating this fish. Watch out for it's fins and have a pair of pliers or skin pullers at the ready and you will be prepared for a great experience. Chicken liver reigns supreme as bait to catch him. There are also many baits ready made by manufacturers to get him on your hook . Since the channel grows to such large proportions,a large hook and tough terminal gear should be used. I have kids and grandchildren who love to fish. Bass need bigger areas of water in which to live and grow large. Sun fish and bream are okay but they do not grow to large sizes. Kids love to catch the smaller fish but are especially delighted to have a change of pace and have a chance to hook into Mr. whiskers.

I wanted an area where my children could have fun in a clean environment. I had a stock tank built on my property for a reasonable cost. I started to build a fishing pier by myself.The rains came and the pond began to fill up with water. Any ideas that I had in my head about putting post supports in the ground for the pier were dashed. I obtained 55 gallon non metal drums at a reasonable cost and began to work. I built the floating pier next to the waters' edge without the use of any electricity. I used drills that worked off of batteries and hammer and nails, I used treated wood and spiral nails that would not rust in the elements. I used my 6 year old as a pilot to test the stability of my project. After several dunks in the water I added structure onto the pier until it was very stable. I added a box structure on the end of the pier to hold one of my deer feeders. I cut a hole in the bottom and bolted the feeder down. Since I was one person and trying to find the most simple and most efficient means for building, I installed ropes on both sides in two locations. The ropes were secured to trees on the shoreline. The ropes could be secured so that they would not interfere with your fishing. This setup also aids levity in the natural rise and fall of water levels.

I went on a shopping trip to one of the local fish hatcheries, I came away with several hundred channel catfish in plastic bags, The fingerlings averaged from 4-6 inches long. I had already procured cat fish chow from one of the local feed stores. Dog food will do just as well. I put the pellets into the feeder and set the timer to discharge feed early in the morning and about 1 hour before sunset. Monitoring the quantity of pellets released can give you a good idea of how much the fish are actually eating and how much is waste. I changed the batteries in the feeder occasionally and watched as the fish came up to feed on the floating pellets. Catfish do not eat as much in winter months, so adjust the feed output accordingly. I waited until the fish reached a certain length before fishing was allowed.

After 2 1/2 years wait the kids and family were catching catfish that weighed 8 pounds. We had many fish fries where many families were fed. My kids and family looked forward to going fishing at the stock tank and many good times were enjoyed by us all. Outdoor activities like fishing are good ways for kids and adults to spend their leisure time. In this instance we were bringing a lot of food home to the larder. MY son developed an affinity for the outdoors and now my grandchildren are beginning to reap the rewards of my efforts so many years ago.

Stephen Graham-Avid outdoors man has spent his life in Texas fishing and hunting.

http://www.phmnetwork.com

http://huntn-n-fishn.blogspot.com

http://goodstuffintexas.blogspot.com

How to Use a Deer Feeder to Attract Deer

A deer feeder can bring wildlife right into your backyard, giving you a glimpse of this wild animal up close. These tips will help you use your feeder properly, so that you have a view of the best that your local wildlife has to offer.

Choose Your Location

One of the most important things that you can do is to choose a location that is away from the home, with the deer feeder still visible. Deer can occasionally become aggressive when threatened, so make sure that guests are aware of the feeder so that they can maintain their distance. You may also want to restrict your pet's access to the area, since some animals, like dogs, can frighten the deer away. A good option for placement of the feeder is an open field, or the edge of a wooded area with the feeder visible but a good distance away from the home.

Choose Your Food

Deer will eat a mixture of grains, including prepared deer pellets, corn and other types of grains. You can purchase these foods from your local feed and grain shop, or a farm supply store. Typically, you will want to choose a whole grain, such as dried corn, to use in your deer feeder. Not only are whole options healthier, they will also only need to be replaced every few days depending on the number of deer that visit your feeder.

Corn is also a little less costly than prepared deer pellets, which will tend to spoil if left in the rain or snow. You will want to check the corn in your deer feeder about twice a week, remembering to wash your hands before touching the food. This will help ensure deer aren't afraid to come close to the feeder. Also, remember to use the same type of corn or feed on a regular basis to help keep the deer coming back.

When to Feed Deer

Some people only use their deer feeder in late fall and winter, but deer will come to your home year round if you provide food for them. It is often best to begin trying out your feeder in the cooler months, however, since food will become scarcer and deer will be more open to wandering into inhabited areas for food. One of the benefits of feeding deer year round is that in the spring and summer months you will be able to see both parents and offspring come to the feeder.

Does usually give birth to their fawns in the spring, when many homeowners stop using their deer feeder. While it isn't necessary for the survival of the deer to use a feeder year round, if you love watching these spectacular creatures, it is well worth the extra effort to feed them year round.

A deer feeder can bring you hours of entertainment with a little planning. You will find that the deer feeder will have regular visitors, which you may come to recognize within just a couple of weeks. You will love being able to see these deer grow and have their families each year.

This piece was written by Anthony Meyers, who is an avid outdoorsman and promotes the use of tripod deer feeders and hanging deer feeders.

Universal replacement digital hunting feeder timer NEW

Retail value: $49.99

You are bidding on a brand new Tundra Quest hunting feeder digital timer. This digital timer is brand new and has never been used!! Tundra Quest digital timer is A NEW IMPROVED programmable DIGITAL TIMER!! This timer works with a 12 volt battery. Timer can be set for each individual day of the week and has 6 time settings for your custom feeding needs (battery not included.) Timer also comes with a convenient battery voltage meter. This is a universal digital timer as it comes with alligator clips to connet to your existing unit.
* "Battery-type" auto detect feature- detects what voltage battery is connected to the timer.
* 12v battery operation.
* Extremely large, easy to view, liquid crystal display.
* Adjustable (lo, med, hi) motor speed control.
* Large, silicone rubber buttons are weather resistant and easy to use.

Price:

Click here to buy from Amazon

Hunten Outdoors Digital Tripod Feeder

Have a need to spread some feed? Hunten Outdoors Digital Tripod Feeder does it on your timetable. SAVE BIG! Feed game on your schedule! Hunten Outdoors Feeder encourages deer to keep in the neighborhood by offering food during natural feed rhythms. Easy-program digital controls let you set the times feed is distributed in order to coordinate to your convenience. Built-low design makes it a lot easier to reach, too. No ladder required. Excess stock feeds you savings! Eat up: Simple assembly will have you up and running in minutes; Poly feed bin has a cube-like design to resist weather and damage; Black powder-coat frame shrugs off corrosion; Wide-throw legs support up to 40 gallons of feed; "Varmint Guard" keeps squirrels and other rodents from reaching the feed; Built-in feed window lets you monitor levels; Locking lid with spring-top joints seals out moisture; Tripod legs; Digital control unit has large LCD display with speed control, feed times and battery indicator (requires a 6V lantern battery, not included).; Measures 6'h., weighs approx. 35 lbs. Act Now! Please Note: Feeder does not include foot pads on the legs. Hunten Outdoors Digital Tripod Feeder

Price: $150.00

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Moultrie Feeders - Feeder Kits

Moultrie Feeder Kits Pro Hunter, Schedule up to 6 different feed times a day. New up-to-the-minute timer lets you precisely program feed times. Customize feed amounts with variable feed settings (1-20 seconds run time). Metal spin plate and funnel protects against varmints. Throws feed in a 40-ft. diameter circle. ABS plastic housing is durable and user friendly. Battery level monitor. All hardware is included that is needed to complete your feeder. Operates on one 6-volt battery (not included)., Mfg No: MFH-PHBK, Manufacturer: Moultrie Feeders, Warranty: One year warranty

Price: $69.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

American Hunter Digital Feeder Kit And Varmint Guard

American Hunter RD-KIT - Digital Clock Timer & Guard, feeds 1 to 16 times per day, Can feed different days of the week, Adjustable feed rate (1 to 30 seconds), Varmint guard built in, Easy to install, Fits most any feed container, Pre-Wired for accessories, Weather resistant housing, Requires 6 V Battery which is not included

Price: $69.99

Click here to buy from Amazon

Plans For Building a Homemade Deer Feeder

Feeding wild deer has become a very popular hobby and over the years my company has literally provided tens of thousands of these feeders. It is not uncommon for us to receive requests from woodworkers and others who wish to build their own feeders. Unlike most companies, we are glad to help anyone wishing to make their own homemade feeder since often times we receive replies from these same people with ideas for improvements, or more than likely new product ideas.

To build your own 36" trough style deer feeder in the Hurley-Byrd fashion you first need to gather some materials. You will need lumber of course and all Hurley-Byrd Deer Feeders are crafted from western red cedar. You are welcome to use pine but only expect it to last a few years. Purchase one 1x8 piece of lumber that is eight feet long and a 2x4 with a minimum length of three feet. Keep in mind each piece of lumber will need to be ripped to narrow widths. Some lumber yards will be glad to assist if you do not have the tools capable of performing this task. While at the lumber store, also purchase 14-#8x1 ½" wood screws. We use brass screws in our feeders but any good wood screw will be fine for a short term feeder. Also buy four ¼" x 20 x 3" carriage bolts, matching wing nuts and washers. These are used to attach the legs to the trough.

Once the lumber is home, it's time to build the vee shaped trough. Cut your 1x8 into 2-36" lengths. Leave one piece its full 7¼" width and rip the other to 6 ½". Take the remaining two feet of the 1x8 and rip it to 3 ¾" in width. This piece of lumber must be cut into two triangles with a miter saw. Since these four pieces of lumber get attached to one another at their edges, screw holes must be drilled first or the lumber will soon split. On the 1x7 1/4"x 36, drill two holes at each end 3/8" from the end and 1 1/2" from the sides. Along one long edge, drill six equally spaced holes 3/8" from the edge. On the 1x6 ½"x 36, drill two holes in each end 3/8" from the end and 1 ½" from the sides. Take the two triangles and drill two 5/8" diameter holes perpendicular to the short point that are located 1" and 2 ¼" from the long flat edge.

Now that the lumber has its screw holes in place, it is time for assembly. Lay the 1x6 ½" board on a flat work bench so that one edge is close to the bench's end. Stand the 1 x 7 ¼" on its edge next to the 1x6 ¼ so the screw holes are closest to the bench and aligned with the 1x6 1/4. Secure the larger piece of lumber to the smaller one using the wood screws making sure the ends of each board align with one another. Once all the screws are in place, turn the trough over and set it on one the triangles so that the triangle sets flush with the trough's end. It's a good practice to predrill the screw holes for the triangle using the holes you previously drilled in the long length lumber. This will keep your triangles from splitting or breaking prematurely. Attach each triangle to the trough. Drill out four 5/8" drain holes in the trough's vee bottom. Your trough is now complete and can be sanded if desired or left rough but we suggest a little sanding to remove any sharp edges.

Now it's time for the legs. Gather up your 2x4 and cut it to 36" in length and rip it into two equal halves. Using the triangles as your guide, drill two 5/8" holes in one end of the leg on its center line. Each hole will be 1" and 2 ¼" from the top of the leg respectively. Once you have done this, you can apply an exterior grade finish to the whole feeder or leave the lumber raw. We use a high grade penetrating oil finish to enhance the feeder's beauty and add longevity to the feeder. If you apply a finish, allow it to dry appropriately and you are now ready to set out the new feeder.

To set the feeder outside, you will need to attach the legs to the trough using the carriage bolts, washers and wing nuts. Once it is assembled, it is time to set it up. Find the location you desire for the feeder. See my eZineArticle "Deer Feeders and Feeding Tips - A Guide to a Safe and Enjoyable Home Hobby" for setting the feeder in a safe and proper location. For this type of feeder, you will need to dig two holes 12" deep and 36" apart. Once complete, stand the feeder in the holes and backfill the holes enough to hold the feeder. Stand back, look at the feeder and level it in all directions. Once level, completely backfill the holes and tamp down the fresh dirt. Fill your feeder and within a few days you will start enjoying the deer on a regular basis. Read my previously mentioned article regarding safe feeding locations and proper feeds for your deer. Enjoy and contact us with your success stories.

The author, The Hurley-Byrd Bird Feeder Co. and EzineArticles.com is not liable in any way for any person(s) who builds or uses this product. By building and using this item you are accepting all liabilities regarding your own personal safety in building said item and that of all other persons and property and are fully responsible in regards to all federal, state and or local laws regarding the use of this item in any way.

Peter Hurley has been an active nature lover, wildlife enthusiast his entire life and is the owner of The Hurley-Byrd Bird Feeder Co. His vast experience with wildlife has led him to produce some of the finest bird, deer and wildlife feeders in the world. Visit http://www.hurleybyrd.com/DeerFeederTips.html for more information regarding the white-tailed deer and the enjoyable way of feeding this beautiful animal. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to visit Hurley-Byrd's site and write Mr. Hurley directly.