Figuring out feeders

Finding the right one can be tricky

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BRYAN HENDRICKS 
Moultrie' slime of Easy-Fill game feeders are durable, dependable an user friendly.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BRYAN HENDRICKS Moultrie' slime of Easy-Fill game feeders are durable, dependable an user friendly.

Many deer hunters in Arkansas use game feeders, but choosing the right feeder can be daunting.

Basically, mechanical feeders have a universal design. They consist of a container to hold feed supported by metal legs. They have a motor with an attached spinner to throw food, and a timer that operates the motor on a schedule.

That sounds simple enough, but subtle differences create huge gaps in quality, dependability and durability.

I have three feeders from different generations. One is an old Remington barrel feeder. It holds about 150 pounds of corn. A steel ring encircles the plastic drum, and the steel tripod legs bolt to the ring. A compression collar secures the lid tightly to the drum.

This feeder has one big flaw. The bottom is flat, so feed accumulates on the bottom. At the end of the season, you have to shake all the feed out so it doesn’t go bad. I solved this problem with an aftermarket insert from Moultrie. It forms a cone inside the feeder that prevents grain from accumulating.

I also replaced its worn-out motor, and I replaced its faulty digital timer with an analog model. In addition, I retrofitted it with a 6-volt solar panel and a rechargeable battery. After all that, I would have done just as well to buy a new feeder.

My second feeder was a brand called On Time. This thing has been nothing but trouble. First, the tall hopper is made of light-gauge plastic. The legs attach with a single bolt. When full, the legs press into the hopper with enough force to buckle the material and cause the feeder to collapse.

I remedied that by drilling a second hole in the leg plates and reinforcing them with second, offsetting bolts.

Worse is the Tomahawk motor and timer assembly that came with the unit. A plastic plate slides down the front to expose the timer. A second plate slides out from the bottom to expose the 6-volt battery compartment. The plates and box material are flimsy and warp easily, which compromises their integrity.

That makes them vulnerable to raccoons, which cannot resist messing with feeders. They love to open timer boxes, yank out batteries and perform all kinds of mischief. I have to reposition the solar panel on my Remington feeder about once every two weeks because coons get on it and make it point at the ground.

Coons constantly jimmied the battery box open on the On Time feeder. The battery fell out and yanked free from the wires. Eventually, squirrels chewed the terminals off the wires. A replacement motor/timer assembly costs about $40, but I consider this to be throwing good money after bad.

Moultrie makes an excellent line of Easy-Fill feeders. They are easy to assemble in the field, and the latest versions can be assembled with no tools, although a pair of pliers does secure things tighter than you can do by hand.

The timer and battery box are in a waterproof, lock box that attaches to the side of the hopper. You can program six individual feed times into the memory, and you can program the run time for as long as you want.

My first Easy-Fill has a folding lid that attaches with a clasp. The lid on my latest one seals by simply turning it one-fourth of a turn counterclockwise.

In addition to tripod feeders, several manufacturers offer large-capacity models made of heavy-gauge steel. Some of these come with attachments that shock coons and other pests that get too handy.

You can also get basic drum feeders that you can hang from a tree. They are small-capacity, and you have to fill them often, but they are very portable.

If you’re a low-tech sort, you can cut a length of widegauge PVC. Put a cap on the top and an elbow or some other attachment on the bottom and fill it up.

It doesn’t use a timer, so deer don’t get conditioned to visiting it at certain times. They can use it anytime they want.

Sports, Pages 35 on 12/01/2013

Upcoming Events