How to Make a Deer Feeder at Home
Making a deer feeder at home is an excellent way to encourage deer to come and spend time around your house. Obviously this is only an effective tactic if you live in a wooded area where deer already live. Here's what you can do to make your own deer feeder.
Supplies
Make sure you have a bucket, a long piece of four-inch PVC pipe, zip ties or bungee cords for securing, a tree to stabilize the feeder, a saw, a tape measure, a permanent marker, and a drill.
Directions
The bucket will serve as the trough. Place it on level ground. Cutting it eight inches from the bottom will allow deer to feed from it comfortably, while still deterring smaller creatures from eating all the food. Drilling small holes in the bottom will allow the bucket to drain water if it rains, preventing the food from spoiling.
The PVC pipe will make up the feed pipe. It must be a minimum of four inches. It can be larger, if desired, to hold more food. Cut slots on either side of the pipe. The size of the slots will depend upon the size of the pipe you decide to use. For a 4-inch pipe, your slots should be 3 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide, and at least 3 inches from the bottom of the pipe.
Arrange the slotted end of the PVC pipe so that it is flush with the bottom of the bucket. Drill holes in the bucket and the pipe, above and below the 3 inch slots. This is where you will secure the pipe to the bucket with the zip ties. Pull them tight and cut off any excess length.
Location
The best location for your deer feeder will be away from crowded areas with lots of foot traffic. If there is a lot of activity in the vicinity, deer will likely be scared off, and will not eat from your feeder.
Now just fill it with food and watch the deer!
