How to get deer to come to your feeder | Sweeney Feeders (2024)

FAQs

How to get deer to come to your feeder | Sweeney Feeders? ›

Attracting Deer with Food

You can use a variety of foods and scents to slowly lure the bucks or does to your feeder – peanut butter and corn piles work best. Once the deer get used to the feeders and are not frightened by it, they will visit it more often.

You'll need to strategically place your feeder in an area the deer already frequent. Also, they aren't naturally accustomed to eating pellets from a feeder. You'll have to “train” them to do so. Once they're comfortable with a feeding location, they'll routinely visit the area year round.

How long should I expect it to take to get the deer to start coming regularly to the feeder? This depends on deer density, feeder location, pressure and other environmental factors, however typically it will take 2-3 weeks before deer become comfortable at a new feed site.

Most are morning and evening, usually about 7:30 or 8 a.m. and 5:30 or 6 p.m. But I've seen earlier time settings, too, and multiple throughout the day. The best time for a deer feeder to go off is when you want it to go off.

Plants to focus on include blackberry, blueberries, grapes, mulberry, raspberries and strawberries. Either find these species naturally growing on your property or plant them to serve as excellent deer lures.

Natural sweet-and-salty flavor and molasses scent pull deer from afar.

Try to place deer feeders near water, bedding and other commonly accessed food sources. These resources ensure that your deer frequent the area and are more likely to feel comfortable there.

Empty feeders are less attractive to deer. Place feed and feeders in locations that are less accessible to deer. Deer can reach feeders up to about 5 feet off the ground or a packed snow surface. Place feeders at least 6 feet off the ground or snow surface to prevent deer from accessing feed.

Deer are most active during the twilight hours of dusk and dawn. Most sleep during the day. They typically feed in the early morning hours before sleeping and then again in the evening and through the night. However, deer can also be active during the day and even midday, especially during rut and around the full moon.

How high should a deer feeder be? ›

The optimal height for most deer feeders is approximately 40 inches, but this can be limited due to a myriad of factors. For example, putting enough legs on the feeder to get it this high may make it difficult to fill the feeder. This height measures from the ground to the port of the gravity feeder.

“Food attractants, which typically have a fairly strong odor to them, can undoubtedly be detectable from hundreds of yards in some cases.” That's how whitetail attractants take advantage of a deer's remarkable ability to smell food sources from great distances.

Use feeders strategically

Consider placing feeders near natural food sources, such as acorn trees or berry bushes, to supplement their diet. Additionally, placing feeders near areas with cover, such as thick brush or trees, can provide a sense of security for the deer while they feed.

Hot summer days stifle movement and usually cause deer to hole up. So if it's early bow-hunting season and 80 degrees out? You should probably bank your expectations of encountering a big buck during daylight. Deer will instead venture out at night when temps cool to a comfortable degree.

It may alter the times they are normally active, but deer still need to feed and will still go about their business as soon as the rain comes to a halt. Whitetail deer will always be active and on the move except if the weather is severe, such as there being a downpour and a lot of wind.

By far the most popular and widely used bait for attracting whitetails is corn. Not only is deer corn highly consumed and well received by whitetails in almost every habitat across the continent, but it's also one of the cheapest options for hunters.

Some of the natural sources of food that deer love are acorns, beechnuts, hickory nuts, and pecans. In terms of fruits, deer love blackberries and blueberries, and apples are a favorite item for them.