Feeder times?

[mfields75]

Specifically in the AM? Before or after light? The reason I ask, is my feeder is set up to go off at 7:00 AM. Saturday, I got in the stand at 6:00 AM and according to my GTC, there was this 8 pt at the feeder. He leaves when we approach the stand but comes back at 6:34 AM. He meanders around the feeder until 7:00 when my feeder goes off and scares him and he runs off. He didn't come back this time. I could see his silhouette but it wasn't light enough to shoot. I have no doubt he's legal but he's a little gimpy on his right side.

There is also this 9 pt that I had an opportunity at about 9:00 AM that same morning. I gave him the pass because from my vantage point he just didn't look legal, or marginal at best. Look at the pics of him I have during the week and tell me if you think he's legal and age. Also, he has a forked G2 on his left side, kind of like a muley.

All in all, I am seeing tons of deer activity around my stand since I shot that pig last week. I had a buck at about 60 yards in some young pines just tearing them up. They are also being VERY vocal. I'm thinking next weekend I might start rattling and hanging some doe scent.

First two pics are of the 8 pt that got scared off and the second two are of the 9 pt I let walk.

[bigtuna]

As the season moves along it will get light later and later. I like to have my feeder go off right at shooting light which for me is about 7:15.

[JBS]

Right now 6:00 AM and 5:30 PM The deer are waiting in the brush for the feeder to go off. No acorns on my place.

[jcar]

6:30 am, 9:00 am, 4:00pm about 6 seconds each time

[AcesAnEights]

6:30 am, 9:00 am, 4:00pm about 6 seconds each time

Do you have to fill it every week?

[Redneck Archer]

mine goes off at 7am 6:30pm and 8:30pm. 6 seconds each.

I wondered the same thing about my 7am timer. wondered if it scared em off or not. good thread...

[mfields75]

Oh it scares them off. It also scares rabbits who in turn scare does approaching feeder Probably should have let my son shoot that rabbit.

Ok, how do I edit the title to include "and scaring off deer"

[jcar]

Do you have to fill it every week?

no

[Redneck Archer]

I know when my feeder goes off it even scares me! I know to expect it, but its the surprise of it when you are good and relaxed and just enjoying the morning. may move the timer a bit earlier...

I fill mine twice a week... 200lbs of corn a week easy. but I have other pvc feeders that are emptied before my big feeder runs out. it would probably last a week. as its half full when we go twice a week.

[westexasagent]

My feeders go off at 7AM-7:30AM then at 6PM-6:30PM and throw 3 seconds each throwing on high RPM. I do this for several reasons:
1) With high winds/noisy days the deer have a hard time hearing the feeder go off. The sound alot of the time is what brings ours in so I want to give them two chances to hear it go off.

2)If it is a quiet morning if the deer heard the first throwing a long ways off they start walking that way...then they hear it go off again and i have literally watched them many times start trotting or running to the feeder.

3) If the deer are at the feeder and it goes off a 2nd time the corn doesn't scre them off long. If i want a good buck to re-position himself for a shot sometimes this has helped by it going off and him walking back in a better position. Has messed me up before too but i know it is going to go off and I try to make the shot before the 2nd throwing.

Just my experiences and how i have tried to keep a work in progress. I dang sure don't miss those photocell feeder days of not knowing when he heck it would throw on a cloudy day!!!!!

[westexasagent]

I also keep a protein block out at each feeder for them to nibble on. Just in case the dang feeder doesnt go off from whatever reason!!! nothing like taking days off work-packing up-waking up early-walking to your blind in the cold-dark morning and the durn thing not throwing after you ahve sat their uncomfy for an hour or two with the sniffles! Been there and hated that! i wanted to shoot the feeder!

[cmeadors]

Best times::: 7:15 am.... 5:30p,6:30 pm.

[mfields75]

Good points westexasagent. I was poked fun at the other day for scattering a bag of corn out at my feeder but it lasts all weekend and I dont' have to worry about the feeder not going off. I'll admit I could have done a little better spreading it out but live and learn.

[cosmiccowboy]

If corn/money is no object, you guys with nocturnal bucks should try a short midnight/noon feed cycle too. Your typically nocturnal deer will still get up and move around a little mid-day and you may get lucky.

[mfields75]

Well a friend of mine hunting not to far from me on the lease is frustrated because he isn't seeing any deer or on camera. Of course, he's only feeding twice a day and for one second each time.