How to Build a Gravity Fed Deer Feeder Cheap

Build It Simple Or You Will Hate It Later.

You can build a gravity fed deer feeder cheap with a 5-gallon bucket, a PVC elbow, and a downspout tray for about $38 to $72, and it will work fine if you keep it dry and squirrel-proof.

Here is what I do. I build a bucket feeder that throws feed into a short tray, then I hang it high enough that raccoons cannot camp on it all night.

I have hunted whitetail for 23 years, starting with my dad in southern Missouri when I was 12.

I grew up poor, so I learned public land in the Missouri Ozarks before I could ever sniff a lease.

Decide If You Even Need A Feeder Or If You Need Better Spots.

If you are trying to pull deer from 600 yards away with corn, you are going to be disappointed.

If you are trying to slow deer down for a clean shot on a small place, a gravity feeder can help.

Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, I killed my biggest buck, a 156-inch typical, on a morning sit after a cold front.

That buck did not care about a feeder, but he did care about does and a travel line I did not blow out.

If you are trying to time deer movement, I check feeding times first.

If you are on public land like the Missouri Ozarks, forget about lugging a feeder two ridges back and focus on fresh sign and quiet access.

My buddy swears by feeders in Southern Iowa on field edges, but I have found rut cruising bucks ignore them once the chasing starts.

Pick Your Style: Hanging Bucket Or Post-Mounted Barrel.

This is the first decision that matters, because it changes how much gets stolen and how much gets wet.

I prefer a hanging bucket on East Texas style edges and small plots, and I prefer a post-mounted barrel if bears or hogs are a problem.

In the Missouri Ozarks on public land, a hanging feeder is light and fast, and that is the only reason it makes sense.

In Pike County, Illinois on a lease, I will mount it solid because I am not dragging it out every time the wind shifts.

My Cheap Build List With Real Prices I Actually Pay.

You can build this with new parts, or you can scrounge half of it, which is what I did when I was broke.

Here is what I do when I want it to last more than one season.

1. One 5-gallon bucket with a lid, $6 to $12 at Menards or Lowe’s.

2. One 3-inch PVC 90-degree elbow, $6 to $10.

3. One 3-inch PVC male adapter or short coupler, $4 to $7.

4. One 10-inch to 18-inch piece of vinyl gutter downspout or a cheap metal feed tray, $6 to $18.

5. Four 1/4-inch bolts with washers and lock nuts, $3 to $6.

6. One tube of silicone sealant, $5 to $8.

7. One ratchet strap or chain for hanging, $9 to $18.

8. Optional. One $3 bag of zip ties for a rain skirt or baffle.

I wasted money on $400 of ozone scent control that made zero difference, but I will happily spend $8 on silicone to keep feed dry.

Build The Bucket Feeder In 30 Minutes, But Do Not Skip These Steps.

If you skip the sealing and the angle, you will get a soggy mess and mold.

I learned the hard way that wet corn turns into a stinking paste that deer avoid, and it also pulls every raccoon in the county.

Step 1. Mark a hole near the bottom side of the bucket, about 2 inches up from the floor.

Step 2. Cut the hole to fit the 3-inch PVC adapter snug.

Step 3. Bolt the adapter to the bucket with washers on both sides so it does not crack.

Step 4. Silicone the inside and outside seam, and let it cure overnight.

Step 5. Push the 90-degree elbow on so it points down into your tray.

Step 6. Attach the downspout or tray so it sits under the elbow and catches feed.

Here is what I do for the tray angle.

I tip it just enough that rain runs off, but flat enough that pellets do not roll out, which is about a 5 to 10 degree slope.

Tradeoff: Flow Rate Versus Waste On The Ground.

If you open the mouth too big, you will dump a pile and train deer to clean it up at night.

If you choke it down too small, it bridges and stops, and you will blame the feeder when it is your build.

Here is what I do to set flow.

I start with a 3-inch opening, then I add a short piece of plastic as a lip inside the elbow if it pours too fast.

If you are hunting pressured deer like Buffalo County, Wisconsin hill country public edges, forget about big piles and focus on a slow trickle.

Keep It Dry Or Do Not Bother Putting Feed In It.

Gravity feeders fail for one reason most of the time.

Water gets in, feed swells, and the whole thing plugs.

Here is what I do.

I drill four tiny drain holes in the lowest point of the tray, then I add a simple rain hood over the elbow.

My rain hood is just a cut piece of an old laundry detergent bottle zip-tied above the elbow.

If you want to understand how deer act during wet weather, this ties into what I wrote about where deer go when it rains.

Pick A Mounting Height, And Do Not Set It Where You Cannot Check It Quiet.

If you hang it too low, raccoons will sit on it like a bar stool.

If you hang it too high, kids and shorter hunters cannot refill it, and you will dread maintenance.

Here is what I do.

I hang the tray at about 36 to 42 inches off the ground, then I hang the bucket so the bottom is around 60 to 72 inches.

I learned the hard way that placing a feeder 120 yards from the truck sounds smart until you check it three times and your boots stink up the whole woods.

Because deer pattern people, this connects to what I wrote about are deer smart.

Add A Cheap Squirrel And Raccoon Fix, Or Accept You Are Feeding Them Too.

This is a tradeoff between money and headaches.

You can ignore varmints, or you can spend $12 and save $80 of feed.

Here is what I do.

I use a simple stovepipe baffle on the hanging chain, about 18 inches long, and it stops most climbers.

If raccoons are thick, I do not use a wide tray, because they can scoop it like cereal.

I make the tray narrow, about 3 inches wide, so deer can eat but raccoons struggle.

Choose Feed Like You Are Trying To Avoid A Moldy Mess.

Corn is cheap and it works, but it molds fast if you get lazy.

Pellets flow better and stay cleaner, but they cost more per pound.

Here is what I do.

I run whole corn early, then I mix in a 50-pound bag of Purina AntlerMax pellets when nights get wet and warm.

My buddy swears by straight protein pellets year-round, but I have found corn keeps deer visiting during season on small places.

If you want an even cheaper approach, this connects to what I wrote about an inexpensive way to feed deer.

Do Not Turn A Feeder Into Your Only Plan.

I have hunted 30 plus days per year for two decades, and I have watched feeders make guys sloppy.

They stop scouting and start staring at a pile like it is magic.

Back in 2007, I gut shot a doe and pushed her too early and never found her, and I still think about it.

I learned the hard way that patience and sign matter more than any gadget, including a feeder.

If you want to place your stand so you can make a clean shot near a feeder, start with what I wrote about where to shoot a deer.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If your feeder site has wet clay soil or stays shaded all day, do not use a wide tray, and drill drain holes plus add a rain hood.

If you see fresh raccoon tracks and feed scattered 6 feet around the base, expect nighttime clean-outs and empty daylight visits.

If conditions change to a warm week above 55 degrees with rain, switch to pellets or a corn and pellet mix so it flows and does not sour.

Gear I Actually Use, And What Broke On The Stuff I Tried.

I am not a guide or an outfitter, just a guy who burned money on gear that did not work before learning what matters.

These are the items that have earned a spot in my garage.

For hanging, I use a 1-inch Ratchet Strap from Stanley or Keeper, about $12.

Chains work, but they are loud, and loud is how you lose daylight movement on small properties.

For sealing, I use GE Silicone 1 clear, about $7, because it sticks to plastic buckets better than the cheap no-name tubes.

For trail checks, I use a Browning Strike Force camera sometimes, but I will not pretend it is required for a feeder to work.

I wasted money on a fancy motorized spinner feeder once, and the battery box corroded in one wet fall in the Missouri Ozarks.

Gravity does not need batteries, and that is the whole point.

Placement Mistake To Avoid: Do Not Put It Where Deer Cannot Stage.

Deer do not like stepping into the open just to eat if they feel watched.

If you put a feeder in a bare spot, you will get mostly night pictures and very few shot chances.

Here is what I do.

I set the feeder 10 to 20 yards off cover, not inside the nastiest brush, and not in the middle of the open.

In Pike County, Illinois I like the edge of a ditch line that lets deer approach with their nose in the wind.

In East Texas, feeders are everywhere, so I like placing mine where hogs do not feel safe standing for 30 minutes.

If you want to think in terms of bedding and travel, this connects to what I wrote about deer habitat.

Make A Refill Plan That Does Not Blow Your Spot Up.

The feeder is only cheap if you are not dumping gas and time into it every three days.

It is also only helpful if you can check it without educating every deer on the farm.

Here is what I do.

I only refill midday between 11:30 and 2:00, and I do it on a wind that blows my scent away from bedding.

If I cannot do that, I would rather let it run empty than stomp around at prime time.

This also connects to what I wrote about do deer move in the wind.

FAQ

How much does it cost to build a gravity fed deer feeder?

I can build one for $38 if I already have a bucket and hardware, and about $72 if I buy everything new.

If you add a baffle and a nicer tray, you can hit $95 fast.

Will a gravity feeder work with pellets?

Yes, and pellets usually flow better than cracked corn if your elbow is 3 inches.

If pellets bridge, your tray angle is too steep or your opening is too tight.

How high should I hang a gravity deer feeder?

I hang the tray at 36 to 42 inches and keep the bucket bottom around 60 to 72 inches.

If raccoons are thick, I go higher and add a baffle.

What is the best spot to place a feeder for bowhunting?

I place it 10 to 20 yards off thick cover so deer feel safe staging before they commit.

I set my stand 18 to 26 yards away with a crosswind, not straight downwind.

Do feeders make deer nocturnal?

Feeders can shift activity to night if the site feels exposed or you check it too much.

If you want daylight, keep it tight to cover and stay out of there.

Is corn enough to hold deer during hunting season?

Corn keeps deer visiting, but it will not hold them if acorns or hot does are elsewhere.

If you want a longer pull, mix corn with pellets and put it where deer already travel.

Next Up: Build A Cheap Gravity Feeder That Survives Bears, Hogs, And Winter Weather.

I have sat freezing in Wisconsin snow and tracked in the Upper Peninsula Michigan big woods, and weather exposes weak setups fast.

I am going to lay out the tougher barrel build next, plus the small tweaks that keep it running in November.

Make It Last One Full Season Before You “Upgrade” Anything.

Here is the part most guys miss. A cheap gravity feeder works best when you stop tinkering and start running it the same way for 30 days.

Here is what I do. I hang it, fill it, then I only change one thing at a time if it plugs or gets robbed.

Back in the Missouri Ozarks on public land, I watched a buddy move his feeder three times in one week and then blame “pressure” when deer quit showing.

Deer did not vanish.

He just turned that ridge into a gas station parking lot with human scent.

I hunt 30 plus days a year, and I have learned one rule the hard way.

If you mess with a site nonstop, you will train deer to feed after dark.

Decide If You Are Feeding Deer Or Feeding Problems.

This is a decision, because a feeder can help you, but it can also create the wrong kind of traffic.

If your goal is daylight bow shots, you need calm, safe movement, not a midnight buffet.

When I am trying to keep deer on a pattern, I look at basic behavior first, and it helps to remember what I wrote about deer mating habits so I am not expecting feeders to beat the rut.

In Pike County, Illinois, that November window is about does and travel lanes, not corn.

If you are hunting a tiny property in Kentucky style cover and fencerows, a feeder can slow a doe group down just long enough.

If you are hunting big timber like the Missouri Ozarks, forget about “pulling” deer and focus on getting close to where they already bed and feed.

Mistake To Avoid: Building A “Bear-Proof” Setup That You Cannot Maintain.

I see guys weld contraptions and then never refill them because it is a pain.

A feeder that never gets filled is just yard art.

I learned the hard way that maintenance is the real cost.

When I was younger and broke, I built stuff heavy because I thought heavy meant tough.

Then I had to haul it and hang it by myself, and I started hating the whole idea.

If you truly have hogs like East Texas or you have bears, you are better off with a post-mounted barrel and a steel cage.

But if you are in most whitetail country, a simple hanging bucket with a baffle is the sweet spot.

My “2-Minute Check” Routine So I Do Not Educate Deer.

Here is what I do. I walk in quiet, I check the tray, I look for tracks, and I leave.

I do not stand there scrolling trail cam photos and breathing all over the site.

I look for three things.

Feed level, wet clumps, and what the ground tells me.

If you want to get better at reading who is actually coming in, it helps to keep straight what I wrote about what a male deer is called and what a female deer is called, because buck sign and doe group sign look different around a feeder.

Does make it look like a daycare yard.

Bucks tend to skirt, swing downwind, and leave fewer “party” tracks.

If you see one big set of tracks circling downwind at 8 to 15 yards, that is the deer you should plan around.

If you see 40 tracks straight in and straight out, you are just feeding a group.

Tradeoff: Trail Camera Over The Feeder Versus Hunting Pressure.

This is a real tradeoff, and guys get weird about it.

More info can mean more intrusion.

My buddy swears by running two cameras on every feeder.

I have found one camera is plenty if it is not flashing and you do not check it like a teenager checking texts.

Here is what I do. I put the camera 12 to 15 feet high, angled down, so deer do not stare at it.

I check it when I refill, and that is it.

If you are trying to predict movement, tie that camera data to what I wrote about deer feeding times instead of guessing.

If your pictures are 1:10 a.m. every night, that feeder is not a daylight plan yet.

Do This With Kids Or New Hunters, And You Will Actually Enjoy It.

I take my two kids hunting now, and I have learned something I did not understand at 19.

If the process is a hassle, you will quit doing it.

Here is what I do. I keep the feeder refill simple with one 5-gallon bucket of feed and one small step ladder in the truck.

I do not haul 200 pounds like I am stocking a grocery store.

If I want to teach a new hunter, I set the stand where they can see the feeder and also see the approach trails.

That is how they learn to watch ears, posture, and how deer use cover.

If you want to keep expectations realistic, it also helps to know the basics like how much a deer weighs, because a 120-pound doe can empty a tray fast.

Then you think something “stole” your feed when it was just deer being deer.

One Last Hard Lesson: Do Not Use A Feeder To Make Up For Bad Shots.

I have lost deer I should have found and found deer I thought were gone.

A feeder does not fix sloppy shooting or bad angles.

Back in 2007 I gut shot a doe, pushed her too early, and never found her.

I still see that blood trail in my head sometimes.

If you are setting a feeder to help with shot chances, you still need to pick your angles and pick your moment.

That connects to what I wrote about where to shoot a deer to drop it, because the feeder just gives you time, not magic.

Wrap It Up And Run It Like A Hunter, Not A Hobby Project.

You do not need fancy parts, batteries, or a $400 scent gimmick to make a gravity feeder work.

You need dry feed, a smart spot, and the discipline to stay out of there.

In Pike County, Illinois, I use feeders as a side tool for does and for kids, not as my main plan for big bucks.

In the Missouri Ozarks, I would rather walk another 350 yards and hunt fresh sign than babysit a bucket.

Here is what I do. I build it simple, I hang it right, I keep it dry, and I treat it like a trap that only works if I do not touch it.

If you do that, a $38 to $72 build will put deer in front of you, and it will do it without turning your fall into a constant repair job.