Check out this sequence of photos...

[Encinal]

Let me set the scene here... on the evening of 9/28 our ranch had 5 inches of rain...

We have plate feeders... we love them... it seems to give the deer the most opportunity to get to the feed... and has enough spillage on the ground that fawns can get to it... in the short time in their life that they cannot reach the plate.

One of the drawbacks of these feeders is non-target species getting to feed... causing more feed consumption...

Another is when it rains enough... you have to go and clear the feeder spout of water so you get free flow of feed again...

Both of those problems are expressed in this sequence... until you look and see what has actually happened... check it out...














So... The Raccoon opened up the spout for the deer to get feed...

But the raccoon also kept the deer at bay for 20 minutes while it ate...

Is food consumed equal to raccoon + deer or does the 180lb deer actually eat less because the 15lb raccoon is on the feeder plate?

Interesting questions... It's amazing what you can learn from game cameras...

What do you think?

[Atfulldraw]

what do I think?

you have too many coons.

1 is too many, especially one that seems to be angling for your job.

[Montec man]

I think the buck would still eat just as much as he normally would. He was very patient, waiting for the raccon to leave.

[BigD]

i think you need 2 arrows...1 for each

[Jerry Worley]

I think you have a deer infestation. I would be happy to come clear them out for you.

[150class]

How much, equivalent to body weight, does a deer and coon eat? I've always wondered myself

[Bill's Unlimited]

Fine looking bucks you have there, heck of a gene pool!

[Daniel75]

Un-freaking-believable bucks you have there. As for the coons, that sucks.

[NannySlayer]

I think you have a deer infestation. I would be happy to come clear them out for you.

Dead on!

[Todd-ty729]

Well God bless that racoon!

I still would pop it with a .22!

[rtp]

Well God bless that racoon!

I still would pop it with a .22!

Yep.

[papabearclif]

The deer was just being polite. He wanted to let mr. coon get his fill first. LOL

[coon007]

heck and with the first two pictures i tought you had a haunted feeder

[RAGUIRREJR]

Nice deer

[Texantax]

I would gladly come kill those pesky deer off your coon feeder for you