7 Easy Homemade Deer Feeders

Are you a hunter who likes to make your own deer feeder that attracts deer? If so, you’re in luck – we’ve got some great homemade deer feeder ideas for you!

In this blog post, we’ll share some of our favourite DIY deer feeder designs and tips for making them.

So whether you’re looking for your own DIY deer feeder or just want to try something new, read on for inspiration!

Common Homemade Deer Feeder plans

1. PVC Pipe Gravity Feeders:

Deers love to eat, and they will readily visit a gravity feeder full of their favourite food. The best time to put the feeder out is early morning or evening when the deer are most active.

PVC pipe gravity feeders are simple to make and easy to maintain.

All you need is a piece of PVC pipe (the size will depend on the size of your deer herd), some metal conduit hangers, and a few feet of electrical wire.

Steps:

• Cut the PVC pipe into two sections – a short section for the base and a longer section for the body of the feeder.
• Drill two holes at each end of the short section, then attach the hangers with screws.
• Drill two holes in the body of the feeder, just above the level of the hangers.
• Thread the wire through these holes and tie it off so that the feeder hangs at a slight angle.
• Fill the feeder with corn or other deer feed, and wait for the deer to come!

2. T-Post Gravity Feeders:

Another great option for a gravity deer feeder is to use a T-post. This design is similar to the PVC pipe feeder, but it uses a T-post in place of the PVC pipe.

Steps:

• Start by pounding the T-post into the ground at the desired location for your feeder.
• Next, attach a T-post cap to the top of the post, and screw on a flat piece of metal or plastic.
• This will be the base of your feeder.
• Cut a section of PVC pipe to use as the body of the feeder, and drill two holes in each end.
• Thread a wire through the holes, and tie it off so that the feeder hangs at a slight angle.
• Fill the feeder with deer food, and enjoy watching the deer come to eat!

3. Buckets or drums feeders for deer:

You can make homemade buckets and drums feeders for deer by using a 55-gallon barrel or a 5-gallon bucket deer feeder.

Steps:

• To make the feeder, you will need to drill holes in the bottom of the barrel or bucket. The hole size will depend on what type of food you plan to put in the feeder.
• If you are using corn or other types of grains, you will need a hole about 1 inch in diameter. If you are using hay or other types of leafy greens, you will need a hole about 2 inches in diameter.
• Once the holes have been drilled, use a zip tie to fasten a metal bolt to the outside of the barrel or bucket. This will hang the feeder from a tree or other structure.
• Next, fill the barrel or bucket with the desired food and close the lid.
• Finally, use a rope or chain to hang the feeder at least 5 feet.

You’ll need to drill some holes in the bottom of the bucket or drum so that water can drain out. Otherwise, the food will become soggy and unpalatable to deer.

4. Tripods deer feeders:

Tripod deer feeders are a great option if you want to move your feeder around easily. They are also relatively simple to make, and they can be adapted to hold a wide variety of different types of food.

Steps:

• To build a tripod deer feeder, start by cutting three pieces of PVC pipe to the desired length.
• Next, use a T-connector to join the three pieces of pipe together at the top.
• Now, drill a hole in the centre of the T-connector, and thread a length of rope or chain through it.
• This will hang the feeder from a tree or other structure.
• Next, use a 90-degree elbow connector to attach the fourth piece of PVC pipe to the bottom of the tripod.
• This will be used as the base of the feeder.
• Now, drill two holes in the side of the base piece of pipe, and thread a length of wire through them.
• This will be used to attach the feeder to the tripod.
• Finally, fill the base piece of pipe with the desired food, and then screw on the lid.

The barrel feeder is now ready to be hung from a tree or other structure.

5. Protein trough feeder:

This simple design is sturdy and can last for years. It is made from a 55-gallon drum cut in half and mounted on a covered platform.

The platform is made with 4″ x 4″, and corrugated metal roofing panels, making it easy to construct. Little carpentry skills will go a long way, and access to the proper power tools is required.

This design is perfect for those who want to attract deer to their hunting grounds.

Steps:

• The first step is to cut the 55-gallon drum in half.
• Once it is cut in half, you can construct a frame using two upright posts mounted on beams, with a crossbeam at the top.
• Now build a roof frame on the platform using 2″ x 4″.
• Finally, you can attach corrugated roofing panels to the frame, making sure that the roof covers enough to protect the feed and brace the posts with 2″ x 4″ sections.

6. Poor Man’s PVC Feeder:

This design is just what it says. All the materials can be bought at your local hardware store for $50 or less, and the only tools needed are a drill and a hacksaw.

You simply pour your corn or whatever feed you’re using into the top of the tube, and gravity keeps it moving downward as it gets eaten.

This design is perfect for deer hunting, as it provides a convenient and easy way to dispense feed. All the materials can be bought at your local hardware store for $50 or less. The only tools you’ll need are a drill and a hacksaw.

These feeders work by simply pouring the feed into the top of the tube, and the gravity keeps it moving downward as it gets eaten.

Since the feeder is elevated off the ground, it will not become mouldy no matter how much rainwater gets in. The deer will have no problem getting their snout into the pipe to retrieve the feed.

Steps:

• Begin by cutting the PVC pipe to the desired length using a hacksaw.
• Next, clean up the ends of the pipe with a file or sandpaper to remove any burrs that may have been left behind from cutting.
• Apply PVC primer to both the inside of one of the end caps and the outside of one end of the pipe.
• Apply PVC cement to the primed surfaces and attach the end cap to the pipe. Repeat this step for the other end of the pipe.
• Next, take the Y coupler and apply PVC primer to both the inside and outside surfaces.
• Apply PVC cement to both the primed surfaces and attach the Y coupler to the centre of the pipe.
• Drill holes through the sides of the pipe at evenly spaced intervals using a power drill.
• Insert eye bolts into the holes and tighten them down.
• Hang the feeder from a tree or other sturdy support using rope or wire attached to the eye bolts.
• Finally, camouflage the feeder by spraying it with a camo pattern of your choice.

7. 2.5 Gallon bucket deer feeder:

This is a super simple, inexpensive feeder to make. It uses 5-gallon plastic buckets to keep the food, with a tiny hole cut into the bottom. A wooden bridge is placed across the bottom of the bucket, two inches from the bottom, and a length of all-thread rope is threaded through the hole.

The feed is pushed down using a large tin can attached to the bottom of the pole. The wind or nudging deer may cause the food to fall from the hole.

The feed is kept in the bucket until the can is moved by a washer slightly larger than the hole, which suspends the feed in the bucket and allows just a small amount to drop to the ground when the rod is moved.

Steps:

• Cut a hole in the bottom of the bucket large enough to fit the tin can snugly.
• Drill holes through the bucket handle, washers, and board, and thread them onto the all-thread rod.
• Place the rod through the hole in the bottom of the bucket, and screw on a nut to secure it.
• Fill the tin can with feed, and place it inside the bucket.
• Secure the lid to the bucket.
• Hang the feeder from a tree or other support.

Final lines:

No matter which type of feeder you choose to build, be sure to place it in a location that is away from your home, as deer can carry disease. Also, keep an eye on the feeders and refill them to prevent attracting rodents. You can easily build your deer feeder and enjoy watching the deer in your backyard with a little effort.