Local Sanctuary

lakngulf · Mar 4, 2013

I am fortunate to live next door to 1600 undeveloped acres on the Lake. My next door neighbor to the east is a 10 minute boat ride. I have a corn bucket next to my house to give the deer a quick snack and some safety. These guys showed up recently

This one has already lost one side

Western · Mar 5, 2013

Nice body on those deer! Never seen a feed "bucket" like that either.

Avondale · Mar 5, 2013

Nor have I ever seen a feeder like this. How does it work?

lakngulf · Mar 5, 2013

Avondale said:
Nor have I ever seen a feeder like this. How does it work?

Hole in bottom of bucket is slightly larger than the rope. Rope is attached to a board at top of bucket. When deer shake the rope, the corn falls out. Or when it is really windy the corn will fall out. I have had this particular one (which is actually a metal trash can) for 10 - 12 years.

creekbend · Mar 5, 2013

I enjoyed the pictures. Thanks for posting.

lakngulf · Mar 5, 2013

Western said:
Nice body on those deer! Never seen a feed "bucket" like that either.

Our deer in Alabama do not typically have big bodies, just normal. I thought these were larger than I have seen in the area. Maybe they are just full of corn.

Avondale · Mar 5, 2013

lakngulf said:
Hole in bottom of bucket is slightly larger than the rope. Rope is attached to a board at top of bucket. When deer shake the rope, the corn falls out. Or when it is really windy the corn will fall out. I have had this particular one (which is actually a metal trash can) for 10 - 12 years.

Thanks, learned something new (again) today. How'd you teach the deer to shake the rope?

lakngulf · Mar 5, 2013

Avondale said:
Thanks, learned something new (again) today. How'd you teach the deer to shake the rope?

It is fun to watch how different deer will get the corn to fall. Check this out:

Some deer actually bite the rope and swing it, others stick their mouth right at the hole in the bucket.

sam5570 · Mar 5, 2013

yeah thats neet i will be trying the trash can deal, i;m surprized they still got ther horns this late nice pics

lakngulf · Mar 5, 2013

sam5570 said:
yeah thats neet i will be trying the trash can deal, i;m surprized they still got ther horns this late nice pics

The 2x4 board is right at the top of the can, held there with screws from outside in.
The rope has to be replaced often. The squirrels and racoons fray it in a hurry
When I buy new rope, I get extra and wrap a good bit around the 2x4. When the current rope has a frayed end, I just cut it off, and unroll some from board.

Western · Mar 6, 2013

I've seen them in 5 gal. bucket with a "flapper" like that, a friend of mine bought one back in the late 80's, had hard time keeping it filled it was so small.

lakngulf · Mar 6, 2013

I made some out of 5 gal plastic buckets, but they do not last as long. One more note, the tie for the rope can also be a pvc pipe. Cut holes in both sides at top bucket, slide in piece of pvc, place elbows or something on the end of pvc.

And I am not sure how well this would work in remote areas that were not visited often, because there is a limit to amount of corn the bucket will hold. My trash can will hold 50 lbs, however.

Western · Mar 7, 2013

Saves having to refill every few days! I bet you could do the same thing with a 55 gallon drum. Do you have B bear there where you are?? Just wondering, they can be quite destructive.

lakngulf · Mar 8, 2013

Western said:
Saves having to refill every few days! I bet you could do the same thing with a 55 gallon drum. Do you have B bear there where you are?? Just wondering, they can be quite destructive.

Do not have bears in the area, but I have been amazed at what raccoons can do to a bucket.

lakngulf · Mar 10, 2013

THEY'RE BACK
This time I threw out some corn in the woods near my house, I thought for the turkeys. I threw out a half bucket full among the leaves, next day it was gone. Threw out some more, same story. So I put the camera on the spot to see who was eating it. Here are the results

Avondale · Mar 10, 2013

Do the deer not shed antlers in the winter down there?

jerrybob · Mar 10, 2013

Nice pictures....thanks for sharing.:thumbsup:

lakngulf · Mar 10, 2013

Avondale said:
Do the deer not shed antlers in the winter down there?

Yes, they do shed. One of the pictures earlier in the thread showed one that had lost one side. I googled the timeframe for Alabama and several sites indicated well into March before they shed. As a matter of fact, Alabama Conservation Dept is considering extending hunting season on into February for some counties in south Alabama because they have scientific evidence that the rut in some areas extend well into February.