I'm building a couple of protein feeders. I'm using 55 gal drums and then going to put a gravity fed four way feeding tube on the bottom. My question is how far off the ground should the feeding holes be and how far should the feeding holes be from the bottom of the drum? I have no live stock or hogs in the area just freaking coons, lol; so I don't have to worry about anything but making the deer happy.

Thanks,
James C.

The feeding ports need to allow enough room for bucks antlers to clear with out rubbing or damaging antler growth. So I would have the down at least 24" from the bottom of the barrel. I would not put the feeding ports more than 32" above the ground. You can not coon proof a feeder if you do it will be deer proof. Trap your coons with Duke Dog Proof traps and they will not be a problem

If you do not live close to the lease do yourself a favor and get a bigger feeder 55 gal drum is not big enough if you have a high deer count. But then again I'm no expert on deer but I do grow some pretty good ones from time to time.

If only you could kill one of those big deer

If your going the 55 barrel route I would suggest a 3 port feed tube. center them between the legs. I assume your using a 3 legged feeder. If your using a 4 legged feeder then the space between the legs are going to be tight for a deers antlers to get in there. Three legs opens things up a bit but you need 3 ports. trying to center 4 ports around 3 legs does not match up.

Yea yea I know my guiding skills where not that good this year LOL!! I was only focused on my sons first buck but we did get him after days of hunting. I'm going to put one of those big boys on the ground this year.

The bottom of the ports should be 42" from the ground.

I use the all season 1000# protein feeder. And once they start hitting it they can empty it in three weeks. So like auctioneer said hope you live close. I would say 36" or around there will be fine

Better put hog panels around it..cause they will bump it till its empty..

Ya'll have convinced me to put some panels up... I suppose this is the stuff to use?

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/feedlot-panel-hog-16-ft-l-x-34-in-h

Would (4) of these be enough around one feeder?

Charlie

I would go 7 minimum, more would be better. Will keep hogs away from the feeder a bit more and give the deer more room to get around the feeder.

"Ya'll have convinced me to put some panels up... I suppose this is the stuff to use?

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/feedlot-panel-hog-16-ft-l-x-34-in-h

Would (4) of these be enough around one feeder?

Charlie"



Those are them and I went with 10 panels. Sometimes wish I would have used a few more. I have deer spinner and protein feeder in mine. Make sure your corn does not throw outside the fence. Hogs will root arount fence which you don't want them doing. Cut a fawn entry area in 2 or 3 areas around the fence. Cut top wire about 48" wide. Still tall enough to keep the hogs out but helps the little ones jump the fence. Mine pen is round, not square. I don't think its that big a deal but they have some studies where a dominate buck has "pinned" another deer in a square corner. So I made mine round.

42" from protein head to ground

The object of a feeder is to feed all deer. A pen will keep hogs out and you can not make a feeder coon proof. So put the feed ports at a height that all deer can reach from fawns to adults. I prefer a flat plate style feeder at 24" height to plate if a port style feeder 32" from the ground is about right.

and buy some dog proof Z traps..start thinning the coon heard..we got 9 more this past weekend..

x2