Today I set up a corn feeder by hanging it from a large oak tree branch. I got it high enough so I can drive the tractor under it. The idea is to make the setup where they can't bend the legs of the feeder and turn it over and mess the thing up. They simply can't get to it hanging from a tree limb.

First I harrowed the ground to make it real soft, hopefully inviting to hogs. I used a double pully setup to make lifting 100 lbs of corn easier, and so refilling is easy too by just lowering the feeder to the ground so I can get to it. I set the timer to go off once a day, just before sunset time. The reason I set it for sunset is because I've never had any luck with seeing hogs at a feeder in the morning. If anyone disagrees, let me know so I can reconsider.

I've seen lots of rooting, and heard them down in the thickets, arguing with each other. So, they are nearby, but so far they haven't shown themselves in daylight.

I'm figuring things will change now that deer season is over. Does anyone have advice about attracting the hogs out while there is still shooting light? A friend told me to sour some corn in a five gallon bucket, using sugar and yeast and mix in a packet of cherry jello, then spread some of it around the corn from the feeder. Plain corn works well in the places I've hunted in Texas, but I've had corn feeders set up most of deer season, and the hogs have simply ignored it, although they have rooted all around one feeder, within fifty feet, but not under the feeder. It seems strange for hogs to ignore plain corn, but so far that's what it appears they are doing. The deer don't ignore it.

Thanks,
KB

The big thing about hunting hogs KB is that hunting them is very much like hunting black bear in that hogs really prefer to move around at or just before dark. Depending on hog numbers in your area, attracting them to your feeders may prove easy or difficult. There are supplements that you can put out around your feeder that might or will help pull pigs in, but it will take a little time to get them used to the offerings you are providing.

One other thing you need to keep in mind is the possibility that the first time you shoot into a group of pigs, they may not come back for days or weeks. It will depend on hog numbers in your area. That is all just from my experience.

Drive a stout stake in the ground chain a democrat to it. To speed things up make him listen to the collected speeches of Ronald Reagan.

Jim

When I wanted to attract pigs I would set up my feeder as ususl and then pile a bag or two of corn on the ground nearby and either sprinkle 3 or 4 packages of raspberry jello on the pile or pour about a gallon of diesel fuel on the corn pile (thats right, diesel) for whatever reason the pigs around here love raspberry jello or diesel fuel. Sound strange but it works. Now I wish there was something to pour on the corn to run them away.

Karl

quote:

Originally posted by arkypete:
Drive a stout stake in the ground chain a democrat to it. To speed things up make him listen to the collected speeches of Ronald Reagan.

Jim

That's funny, but fortunately as far as I know, the pigs around here are not political.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
When I wanted to attract pigs I would set up my feeder as ususl and then pile a bag or two of corn on the ground nearby and either sprinkle 3 or 4 packages of raspberry jello on the pile or pour about a gallon of diesel fuel on the corn pile (thats right, diesel) for whatever reason the pigs around here love raspberry jello or diesel fuel. Sound strange but it works. Now I wish there was something to pour on the corn to run them away.

Karl

Folks do things differently in TX, eh?

I couldn't stand the thought of wasting a bag or two of corn by pouring diesel on it. Besides, part of the reason for the corn out-of-season is to keep the deer on the property and content. Diesel would ruin that. If hogs show up and drive the deer away from the feeder, at least they know it's still there, and as soon as I take care of the hogs, the deer will be back, and so forth.

Today, I'm going to start some sour mash.

KB

Actually, diesel works well. It'll keep all of the other animal species that like corn away and the hogs will enjoy the "enhanced" corn.

I took some pictures this morning. The deer have been there already, but no sign of hogs yet. Remember, this was set up yesterday, and I harrowed the site again after I hung the feeder.

You need to do something about that white rope. It stands out like a diamond in a goat's ass. Hogs don't have the world's best eyesight, but they'll see that, and it is out of context, big time. Hogs are not stupid.

Another problem is that the feeder is free hanging, and as such will swing with wind movement or movement transmitted by the limb it is hanging from. Movement will spook the hogs. Regular feeders on tripods don't move, and animals get used to them because they are still. This hanging set up is not as good as a regular tripod.

Looks like a nice plot. IMO the white rope isn't any worse than a tripod deer feeder!

Here is an off the wall thought. If you know where the hogs are, try building a 4" or 6" PVC rooting pole for the hogs and stake it out closer to where the hogs are. As they begin to come to it and move it around to root, start moving it closer to your feeder. May or may not work, but it is cheap and worth a shot.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty:
Looks like a nice plot. IMO the white rope isn't any worse than a tripod deer feeder!

When I first put out the feeders (with legs), I noticed that the deer would spook pretty badly at the sound when the timer went off. So I changed the time a little to give it some time before sunset, and sunrise. I don't know if it solved the problem with all deer, but I did start to notice after a while that some deer appeared to hang out or even check the feeder early, say 4:00 pm, as though they were waiting for corn to appear.

BTW, we haven't been "hunting" over the feeders, but merely use them to keep the deer on the property, and set up stands to catch them moving (to wherever they are going, morning or evening.)

It's different with the hogs. I'll "hunt" them under the feeder if necessary, unless I can identify a steady route they use going and coming.

In Texas the hogs learned to come running at the sound of the feeder spreading corn.

BTW, the feeders I'm familiar with in Texas are rather gawdy things, with all kinds of attachments, such as cattle guards, stakes to hold the legs in place, etc. so I'm doubtful that the white rope makes any difference. It's what I had, but I may replace it later. I'm about done spending money on this project. I spend the money and time with these things and my relatives, such as cousins and nephews, ask to hunt with promises to help that is elusive at best. It's not really conducive to good family relations to say no, so I simply don't reveal the location of all my spots. This is one that is my secret.

KB

KB, I think it is just a matter of time before the hogs find the corn. Once they do they will become regulars until you either run them off the feeder with shots or they drift away for some other reason.

As has already been suggested, hogs have incredible noses. I have used soured corn with very good results in years past. It just may be the "trump card" you are looking for, as the smell becomes quite potent in just a few days.

Good luck.

We shall see:

quote:

You need to do something about that white rope. It stands out like a diamond in a goat's ass. Hogs don't have the world's best eyesight, but they'll see that, and it is out of context, big time. Hogs are not stupid.

Don't worry about the white rope, the hogs are not going to pay any attention to it, the deer aren't and the hogs won't. All of our feeders are mounted on metal tripods of varying heights and the hogs love rubbing on them. The hogs are not going to be looking up they are going to be interested in the corn.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:

All of our feeders are mounted on metal tripods of varying heights and the hogs love rubbing on them.

About two weeks ago I stopped by one local hunting club and spoke with some of the guys about their season and other things re local hunting. We talked about hogs, and apparently they have a lot more in their vicinity. (Creek bottom)

They said that in some locations they had to give up on feeders with legs because the hogs would bend them, and knock them down and bust it up to get at more corn. They went to troughs instead. Apparently darn sturdy troughs. They said the hogs will climb up into them and make a muddy mess.

I thought to myself then that there had to be a better way - hanging feeders for example, or reinforced legs for another.

Anyway, the hanging feeder was the least expensive and trouble, (I already had the feeder and rope is cheap) and appears to be a sure thing insofar as the hogs not getting to it.

KB

I have them on my place and they have been in my yard so I have been putting the hammer to them as much as possible. I have a set up very similar to yours, hanging bucket on a tree limb.It is in the woods near a creek. I also have a trap nearby. Once you catch a few pigs out of a group you can forget that group getting in the same trap. I have used similar recipes as listed, I use yeast, sugar, corn "fruit" jello, raspberry, strawberry etc and sometimes a little beer,,,the raccoons really love it when it gets to "cooking" good. I have also used Diesel coated corn. They will keep coming to the feeder but they will not get back in a trap if they have had others in the group caught. Like mentioned,, you shoot a few out of the group, they will move and until a new group moves in you can be hog free. I put up a trail camera and you can pattern their movements,, sometimes their movement is effected by the moon,,Lately they have been hitting the feeder around 2:30-3:30 am,,, way past my bedtime and way before my time to get up. put up a camera and you can pattern their movement and bust them,, good luck !!

A trail camera is on my shopping list. I think I can get one before the end of the month.

KB

I was in the mood to take pictures today. The first picture is of a feeder set up in a place I cleared last winter for a food plot, but didn't get back from Alaska in time to plant it. My new to me toy is in the background. It's a little beast and I like it so far.

This feeder has been out in the middle of the cleared spot, about 1/2 acre, and has been very popular with does and yearlings since about the first of November. I was really surprised that they took to it so well because it's pretty much out in the open, and they don't wait till dark to come in either.

My brother-in-law set up his trail camera for a short time, and we have a piebald yearling on the farm. We got several pictures of it.

I took one picture of the ground near the feeder, and the tracks are everywhere.

The last picture was taken less than 100 yds from the hanging feeder. There are numerous places around the farm where they have been rooting but I picked a spot with a good limb to hang the feeder.

KB, our feeder legs are made out of either heavy weight 2" x 2" or 1 & 1/2" x 1 & 1/2" square tubing, or 1 &1/2 inch diameter round galvanized tubing like used in putting up chain link fence.

The great thing about using the tripods is, if built right makes filling the feeder easier Instead of having a rope and pulley system, a crank type winch and a pulley is used. I will take some pictures over the next couple of days of the set-ups we use and post them.

+10 on the winch-up feeder. Lots easier and safer than climbing a ladder with a sack of corn over your shoulder or hauling it up in buckets. And, regardless of the strength of the legs, stake them down. I use a t-post at each leg and wire it to the feeder leg with multiple wraps.

As far as jello, diesel, or soured corn goes, never had any better luck with them than plain corn. Also have tried dry dog food and sweet feed--no success.

IMO harrowing the ground doesn't help any. OTOH, it probably doesn't hurt either.

I'd take a bag of corn and dribble a line a hundred yards long in the most likely directions. The lines don't have to be thick, just a few kernels scattered along. Once they find them, they'll follow them back to the feeder and the game will be on.

If you can hear them, get the wind in your face and stalk them. Slow and sure will get the piggies. Scent(wind) and sound are you biggest problems. Hogs can see better than some people think, but if you're moving slowly you'll almost certainly see them before they see you.

Diesel poured over corn is the best. Doesnt take much. Where the wheat harvesters refuel at the end of a row and spill a small amount the hogs will tear the ground up. Dont put any in the spin feeder, just a quart or so on 10 or 20 lbs on the ground.

Just plain corn seems to work as good as anything when you are using the same location to deer hunt.

Game cameras will tell you when to hunt. Hogs will make a circuit as big as 10 miles. They will cover you up on week and be totally gone the next. There will be exceptions, depending on time of year and whether or not they have a lot of little ones with them.

quote:

And, regardless of the strength of the legs, stake them down. I use a t-post at each leg and wire it to the feeder leg with multiple wraps.

Plus 1000 on staking the legs and T posts driven in and wired to the legs is a good idea.

CHC knows what he is talking about...even when the buffalo come in to scratch on the legs with their rear ends. It didn't even budge.

Out in West Texas where you can not drive a t post in the ground the pigs will destroy almost any feeder with legs if they are not anchored. We take a small generator with a long 3/4 inch concrete drill bit with impact drill and drill down in the rock next to the feeder legs, we take 3/4 inch re bar and drive 12-18 inches into the ground and take U-clamps and bolt them to the legs. With this set up we have not had a single feeder leg bent or displaced. A pain in the butt to do but beats getting there and seeing a leg twisted off a feeder and the barrel on the ground and empty.

The picture that Larry posted is one of our feeders that has foot pads welded on the bottom end of the tripod legs. Each pad has a 3/4 inch hole drilled in it and I do as drwes suggested and drive re-bar or sucker rod 16 to 18 inches down thru the hole at as much of an angle as possible and haven't had any turned over.

Just a couple of off the wall observations from an inexperienced person.

IF it was me, I'd get that loose end of the rope up out of reach. You sure don't want something to become interested in playing with it and drop the drum.

Those hogs I shot at the put n take place in Fla. Had hanging feeders like that. Hogs were shot from a blind 30 to 60yds and killed pigs right under them nearly everyday and the hogs still kept coming to feed when it went off. They'd be there in just a couple minutes so they must have been close by waiting for the bell to ring.

He'd haul in a load of fresh pigs about once a month,k or whenever the trapper called with a load. It was a small place of only 43 timbered acres. I didn't know the setup and let a buddy do the arranging before I flew there from CO.
I was having back problems so walking was a real torture for a couple months. The blind worked and I got hogs like I wanted. Guess I can't bitch too much, right? Sure there's better ways to go about it but, that's my story and I'll stick to it.

Wish you well KB, they'll find it then you'll be happy again.
George

quote:

IF it was me, I'd get that loose end of the rope up out of reach. You sure don't want something to become interested in playing with it and drop the drum.

Now there is a valid reason to do something with the rope. The color won't make any difference, but depending on what you might have on your hands/gloves when handling it a hog might find it interesting enough to chew on.

KB, here is a picture of one of our set ups. The feed mechanism is about 7 feet off the ground, with the barrel going up about 32 inches or so above that. One thing I had not mentioned or noticed anyone else mentioning, two things actually, raccoons and squirrels. Once those characters figure out where the corn is coming from they go to some pretty extreme measures trying to get to it.

Thansk for all the info and feedback.

CHC, Thanks for the pictures. I have some old pipe so I plan to go to the welding shop and see what the guy will charge to make a tripod. Yesterday, I went to a big farm supply store near Tifton, and while there I noticed they had some good looking feeders designed to be hung, and at a better price than those I have already bought.

I'll think about it again later. Right now we are doing a controlled burn over the entire place, except for the wet places. Don't yet know what that will do to the presence of pigs. We'll see, since I've let the feeders run, and replentished the corn, and moved them to spots that didn't burn. The hanging feeder was OK, of course, where it is.

Re coons, one feeder near the hardwood bottom had a well worn coon trail to it. I didn't mind.

KB

You will mind about the coons once they figure out how to get to the feeder. I don't know if I have any pics on file, but we have had pics of 8 to 10 coons under and on our feeders eating the corn off the ground, and if they can find a way to hang on, they will turn the spinner plate and empty a feeder. As far as the burn, the hogs will move out for a time but once new growth starts and they find the feeder they will be back.

Just an opinion here, but as has been mentioned, if you are looking at having a tri-pod built for hanging a feeder, you might want to look around on the internet and look at the ones that have been built that have a winch to raise and lower the barrel. It makes life easier on one's back.

You might consider making a "pig pipe". Basically a pvc pipe containing corn with a few holes in the side to dribble kernels out when rolled. It has and eye bolt and chain or cable on one end to stake the thing out, cap on the other. Once they find your site they'll spend hours rolling the thing around, pigs seem to like having to work for their grub. There should be instructions over on the texas boars website on how to build one they can't tear up. GW

There was a thread on AR,Search"Pigpipes"

and don't kid yourself,

six inch schedule 40 pvc pipe with rubber shock washers on either side of eyebolt, swivels and 1/4" aircraft cable are no match for a big ol' boar with an appetite nothing but time.

If you even find your pipe, it may be two hundred yards away.


Best,

GWB

Years ago in Brooks County, a couple of guys got the bright idea to band a 55-gallon drum to a tree and form a funnel out of the bottom of the drum. They used the stainless steel bands that are common in industry.

There was just one problem: they banded the drum too close to the ground. Within a week, the hogs had broken the stainless bands and rolled the drum about 300 yards through the prairie til' they got every single kernel of corn out of it.

The 'coons have arrived, but no hogs yet. Looks like the deer aren't really worried too much about the 'coons.

Looks like the bucks are dropping antlers. If this guy has returned, he's antlerless.

KB:

What are you doing between times?
Looks like you're having lots of fun.
Coons n deer live with each other so it's
not surprising. You'd also be surprised at
how little cattle pay attention to coyotes too. Unless they're calving.

Another member and I called for coyotes after they'd been eating newborn's and older small calves for a buddy. Blasted cows circled to within 10 feet of us so we couldnt' get a shot off even if they'd come in. we had to give it up. OF course he lost more calves. Nothing we could do about it.

Enjoy yourself,
George

Coons...you probably will come to despise them, they can climb anything that is not hovering and will figure out a way to empty the corn out of your feeder in no time. We try and trap them but can't set traps on the ground because the pigs spring or tear up the traps. The coons have also figured out how to open my Bushnell game cameras, too. I don't like coons!