I hunt in East Texas and have had a lot of trouble keeping my feeder running smoothly. Finally figured out the problem (I think) when I put a trail camera on it and got tons of pictures of raccoons. Even though I only had one actually make it to the spinner, I had coons trying to shimmy up the legs nearly every night.

Any good coon deterrents? I don't want to spend a lot, and I'm thinking some sheet metal cones attached to the legs would keep them off.

Something like a rat guard on a mooring line might work. These supposedly work well as compared to other things people try. They aren't 100%, but I'm not sure anything is with coons.

http://www.bossbuck.com/products/parts/sharkteeth.html

I put vaseline on my feeder legs. I have to apply it 4 or 5 times a year to be effective. Seldom do the coons make it to the feeder motor.

.22

This will WORK every time!!

carpet tack strips on the legs. they wont ever make it past those

golden malrin and big red is something I hear alot about haha. buzzards will love u

http://www.deerfeeder.com/varmint.htm

Solved my problem.

As you can see, it would be pretty easy to fab yourself.

I found one on an old feeder & just swapped it over.

try pvc pipe over the legs!Also sounds like great chance to get some off season target practice with a rim fire or bow!

Thanks for all the great ideas. I'm going down in a few weeks. I'll try something.

Shark Teeth from Boss Buck are supposed to work. I have thought about buying some but, I haven't.

I just started using the marine grease that goes into the hubs of boat trailers. It seems to last longer than general purpose grease. good luck

Large pieces of PVC (3" or larger) will work great...very slick and there feet can not grip

Highly illegal and could end you up with hefty fines and jail time.

To keep coons from accessing your feeders, have some predator guards made like they use for wood duck boxes. You'll never have to worry about coons or squirrels reaching your feeder motor or spin plate ever again.

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/woodduck/wdnbox.htm

I also hunt in East Texas and this is what I use. I made them out of 24" sheet metal flashing found at Lowe's.

get a spintech spinner plate. I have one on my feeder, with no varmint cage, and the racoons climb up and just look at the spinner plate with this stupid look on their face and jump down. Corn is safe.

www.parttimefeeders.com has Varmint Cages for 55 gallon barrels. $20 ea. These are 22"W x 12"D with side door. Using 1x2 mesh for sides and bottom.

carpet tack strips work for our lease when, corn usage dropped 75%

I have used the vaseline thing. I mix it with Cayenne Pepper. You do have to "refresh". They may get up there once and that is usualy the last time

PVC pipes work well

Have used tack strips, they did OK for a little while. Tried putting grease on the legs, didn't do much. I've got the Monarch feeder cages on my feeders, coons just lay around laughing at that.. The round flashings around the legs look like a next try and maybe the pvc pipe..

My coons got too fat off corn to get up my legs. Problem solved.

Get a Conibear 220 trap for each feeder, set the trap up in a five gallon bucket, bait with sardines and you will soon eliminate your coon problems.

The pvc thing works good for us. A sharp broad head does well also.

Tack strips on legs work great if you put them on the topside of the legs