Game Cameras + Feeders = More Pics
Well, one of my Moultrie Game Feeders went out of commission today. I went out to fill it, and discovered that the cone that leads from the bucket to the motor was missing. I searched the area, and it is flat out gone. I had noticed recently that it had been getting gnawed on, by squirrels possibly - which are seriously overpopulated in this area and had better watch out come squirrel season. Could a squirrel have gnawed off and hauled off that plastic cone? Either that or vandals...
Anyway, without that cone, corn just pours from the bucket straight to the ground. I loved this Moultrie feeder. I couldn't have asked for more than the 6 years of good service it gave me. With any luck, I will find a replacement cone, or fabricate one myself. I'm most impressed by the long battery life that a single 6-volt battery an provide.
When this feeder went out of service, the first thing I thought about was my game cam. "Oh no, less pictures now! ! !" For the game camera hobbyist, it is all about getting lots of good quality pictures. And that is exactly what setting a game camera on or near a feeder can do for you.
A feeder does several things for you. It helps you to control the movement and patterns of deer in your area. The search for food is a big part of a deer's daily routine. Make that search easy for them, and they will alter their activity to visit your feeder. Drawing deer to your feeder helps you position your cameras to maximize photo opportunities. I don't recommend pointing a camera directly at a feeder. If you do, be prepared to sort through tons of squirrel and bird pictures, because they will camp out on your feeder.
A feeder can help you save money. Corn isn't cheap. I shell out $8.50 for each 50 pound bag. If you just dump corn right on the ground, the wildlife will come in and clean it up in no time. Using a feeder 'rations' the corn, and only a controlled amount is dispensed at times you specify.
A feeder will also bring other wildlife (aside from deer) through the field of view of your game camera. I've also captured images of birds, chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, turkeys, foxes, and coyotes. The whole food chain will be drawn to your feeder.
Game cameras and feeders go hand in hand.
So I set off browsing the web for a replacement feeder tonight. That is when I stumbled upon the Wildview 40 LB Hanging Feeder (WVRDE40H). The first thing that caught my eye, was a low retail price of $39.99. This model has a metal downspout, hmm, that solves that problem I mentioned earlier with my Moultrie. As I read the specs, I realized that feeders have come a long way since I last purchased one. This thing can be set to feed between 1 to 16 times per day. It can activate for an adjustable amount of time, from 2 to 30 seconds for each of the 16 separate settings. This thing is totally configurable. It is operates on a 6-volt battery and is pre-wired to accept a solar panel.
Well, I ordered one, and should have it soon. Even if I can fix my Moultrie, you can never have enough feeders, right? I'll let you know how it does.
If you are in the market for a game feeder, then check out these Discount Game Feeders.
