Deer feeders are popular with wildlife viewers and rural residents that enjoy drawing whitetails to their property so they can watch them. Hunters find them to be ideal tools to keep deer in designated hunting areas and possibly even lure in the occasional big buck. Just setting one up doesn’t make things perfect, however, as you should know the pros and cons of using these pieces of hardware in your own personal efforts.
The Pros of Using a Hunting Game Feeder
Using a hunting game feeder should have several benefits for you in order to be worth it. The most obvious should simply be finding more deer. Whether you’re hunting a photo, video, meat, or trophy, the more deer that come up to your feeder, the better your odds are of scoring the success you’re looking for.
A great feeder will also set up your shot for you. You might get a few more moments with your camera or time to line up your hunting bow. Every second counts in the moment of the hunt when you’re done waiting and ready to aim and act.
One benefit that might not be commonly known is that using the right feed can help bucks grow bigger racks. Deer breed quite a bit, and that can leave them competing for resources and starving. A buck that finds your feeder and eats a regular, healthy diet is going to show the results over time.
The Cons of Using a Hunting Game Feeder
Whilefeeders have many benefits to offer, they’re not always perfect. Their actual cost-effectiveness can be questionable, as they do require some monetary investment. Some wildlife viewers, photographers, and hunters find it cheaper to simply plant handfuls of crops known to attract deer.
Since automated hunting feeders are a reliable food source, deer might not be the only thing that they attract since various rodents and vermin might also show up and consume the available food supply. This can waste your time and money, and they might even deter your dream buck from showing up.
The worse scenario that might happen is that an automated hunting feeder might train predators of deer. Certain members of the animal kingdom might share your interest in bagging a buck. If they detect the scent of deer regularly around your feeder, then they might stalk it and wait for prey.
Capture the Big Bucks
Whether you’re a photographer or a hunter, you want to capture the biggest bucks you can. Mature bucks have the biggest racks, so they make for the most impressive photos or wall mounts. Unfortunately, as they age, they tend to get more and more nocturnal to avoid stress.
They can be stressed by people or even other deer, but they still need to eat. That’s where the rightdeer feeder can come into play by luring them out to feed while the sun is up. An automated feeder can create convenient possibilities for you.
No matter how committed you are to photography or hunting, you still want to save your time, energy, and money. An automated hunting feeder will have minimal noise and an exterior design that helps it blend in with nature, so deer find it comfortable and safe to approach. You can also use whatever kind of deer feed you prefer, be it corn, protein, or minerals.
Durability is always something to cherish. Many great hunting game feeders are weather-resistant for hunting in all kinds of weather. They can also hold hundreds of pounds of feed and work on a single battery for several months. Look for one that has automated closure at night, so feeding is only available during the day when you’re there. The right deer feeder can be a great way to keep whitetails in your chosen area or draw in more than you have now. If your particular application is hunting, then keep in mind that using hunting game feeders for this purpose is legal in the majority of states but not all. Find out what the specific laws, rules, and regulations are for this where you intend to set one up to make sure that you’re using it properly.