Deer feeder history

[sotx]

So I was thinking back to 1979 when my dad had these feeders made of 55 gallon drums and powered by a freaking car battery. So when or what year do you think men started using feeders in Texas? Oh and the ****ed convoluted timers we had back then. I think we used to by them from an old electronics shop down town San Antonio.

[Walker]

Otto Duke was that place.

[JayB]

I remember my neighbor making some in the late 70's and using 12 volt blower fan motors. Dont remember all the details, but corn from one of those flingers, hurt!

[whitetailfanatic]

1st I ever saw was a barrel with a spin cast feeder timer and I think that guy uses That timer to this day 😁👍

[sotx]

otto duke was that place.

yes!!!!!

[Eastwood]

I remember the Sweeney clock timers that you put pins in holes on the dial to set feed times. They also ticked so if you wanted to know if your battery was good, you just listened real close.

[cva34]

Sweeny feeders from late 60s

[sotx]

Sweeny feeders from late 60s

Yes, I wonder if they were the first manufacturer? And who was it that started feeding corn to attract deer? When did feed operations start bagging it in 50lb sacks?

[sotx]

When I was in grade school my dad and his brothers just hunted over food plots. With mostly plywood ground blinds or you just sat next to a tree.

[TexasTK]

First deer feeders I remember was a 5 gallon metal bucket w a hole in the bottom w a wooden stick that the deer would nudge w their nose to get the corn to fall out.

[whitetailfanatic]

I’ve got those 5 gal metal paint cans with a winged blade out the bottom in attic from who knows when

[mikemorvan]

This would be an interesting research project for someone. Not me, but someone.

[Treeshark]

And now I’m back to using gravity feeders

[S-3 Ranch]

I remember the Sweeney clock timers that you put pins in holes on the dial to set feed times. They also ticked so if you wanted to know if your battery was good, you just listened real close.

My grandpa bought a couple in the 70’s
We would push down on the little metal trip lever to test it And a dial for spin time ( I have a hanging 50lbs in my garage)
It was “ high cotton “ to have a Sweeney feeder
It was hard filling because corn came in a 100 lbs bags around here . I don’t remember 50 lbs bags till the 80’s

Lehmen had a feeder also , the feed times had a switch 2, 4 ,8 , 10, 20 seconds

[SaintBlaise]

I remember our first one's. They had some sort of glass bulb that stuck out of the bottom of the barrel. The spinner was activated when it was getting light or losing light. I think they referred to it as a percolator.