Best Gravity Feeder for Deer Under 100 Dollars

Pick One That Feeds Deer, Not Raccoons, And Doesn’t Break In A Month

The best gravity feeder for deer under $100 is the Moultrie All-In-One Deer Feeder Kit with a 30-gallon bucket, because it is simple, steady, and easy to fix in the field.

I have run gravity setups on poor-man budgets since I was 12 in southern Missouri, and I still like them because there is no timer to fail at 5.40 a.m. on the one calm morning you get in November.

Gravity feeders are not magic, but they are consistent, and consistent is how I killed my biggest buck, a 156-inch typical in Pike County, Illinois in November 2019 after a cold front.

Decide If You Want A Bucket Feeder Or A Hanging Feeder

This is the first decision, because it changes how often you refill and how much work you do on site.

If I am walking in on public land in the Missouri Ozarks, I go smaller and lighter, because a 50-pound bag feels like 200 pounds after 700 yards.

Here is what I do on a lease in Pike County, Illinois where I can drive closer.

I use a 30-gallon bucket gravity kit, because it holds enough to last, but it is not so huge that I dread hauling it and it does not stick out like a blue barrel in a bean field edge.

If you are new to deer behavior around feed, I watch movement windows, and that connects to what I wrote about deer feeding times first.

Mistake To Avoid: Buying A “Cheap” Feeder That Wastes Feed

The cheapest gravity feeder is the one that does not spill corn all over the dirt.

I learned the hard way that raccoons and squirrels will empty a sloppy feeder faster than deer ever will, and you will blame “pressure” when it is really just a leaky funnel.

Back in 2007 when I was hunting public timber in the Missouri Ozarks, I tried a bargain cone setup that had a thin plastic neck and it cracked in the first cold snap.

I kept dumping corn because I was stubborn, and I basically baited coons for three weeks.

If you are hunting in a place with hogs, forget about wide-open ground feed and focus on getting the feed off the ground, because pigs will vacuum a site in one night.

That is something I learned messing around in East Texas, where feeders are everywhere and hogs act like they own the county.

My Pick Under $100: Moultrie All-In-One Deer Feeder Kit (30-Gallon Bucket)

I am not a professional guide or outfitter, just a guy with 23 years chasing whitetails who got tired of stuff breaking.

This kit is usually $65 to $95 depending on the week, and it is the cleanest under-$100 setup I have used that does not feel like a toy.

Here is what I do.

I buy the kit, add a gamma-style screw-on lid if I find one on sale, and I hang it with a ratchet strap so I can adjust height without retying knots in the dark.

The bucket is the weak link on any bucket feeder, but Moultrie’s hardware and funnel fit better than most off-brand kits I have tried.

My buddy swears by homemade PVC gravity pipes, but I have found buckets are faster to service and quieter to hang when I am sneaking in at 4.55 a.m.

I wasted money on $400 worth of ozone scent control years ago that made zero difference, and that taught me to spend money on stuff that actually touches deer behavior, like consistency at a site.

If you want a deeper read on how deer use areas, this ties into what I wrote about deer habitat and why a feeder on the wrong side of the cover still gets ignored.

Tradeoff: More Capacity Vs. More Attention From Other Hunters

Bigger feeders feel smart until you hunt public land and somebody else finds them.

On Mark Twain National Forest, which is the best public land spot I have found, anything that looks permanent gets messed with sooner or later.

Here is what I do on public.

I keep it small, I tuck it tight to cover, and I do not make a “corn field” on bare dirt that screams human activity.

In Buffalo County, Wisconsin hill country, I watched pressure change deer patterns in two days, and a feeder site can turn into a nighttime-only spot fast if guys keep walking in and checking it.

If conditions change to heavy pressure, switch to hunting the trails between bedding and the feed instead of sitting right over the feed.

This connects to what I wrote about are deer smart, because they absolutely pattern people around a feeder.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If your feeder site has fresh raccoon tracks every morning, do hang the feeder higher and add a varmint guard before you add more corn.

If you see daylight photos of does and fawns hitting it two evenings in a row, expect a buck to check it downwind within the next 3 to 7 days.

If conditions change to a warm week over 60 degrees in October, switch to smaller fills more often so feed stays fresh and doesn’t turn sour.

How I Set A Gravity Feeder So Deer Feel Safe Using It

I am a bow hunter first, and I care more about where the deer wants to be than where I want to sit.

Here is what I do on my Pike County lease.

I set the feeder 20 yards inside cover, not on the field edge, because mature bucks hate stepping into open ground before last light.

I pick a tree with one clean shooting lane and one dirty lane, because deer rarely come in like the picture in your head.

I keep the ground quiet.

I rake leaves in a 6-foot circle under my stand tree, not at the feeder, because I want the deer comfortable at the feed and I want my feet silent at the tree.

If you are trying to figure out how deer move in weather, I use the same approach I mention in where do deer go when it rains, because rain changes where they stage before they commit.

Mistake To Avoid: Putting It Too Close To Bedding And Burning It Out

I learned the hard way that “close to bedding” turns into “I bumped deer every refill trip.”

That is how you create a feeder that only runs at night.

Back in November 1998 in Iron County, Missouri, the year I shot my first deer, an 8-point buck with a borrowed rifle, I watched how deer used the same hollow at the same time if nobody messed with them.

That lesson still holds.

I keep gravity feeders far enough away that I can service them without walking through the thickest cover, which matters a lot in the Missouri Ozarks where bedding is usually in nasty stuff.

If you are hunting thick cover, forget about placing a feeder “right in the bedroom” and focus on a staging pocket 80 to 150 yards off it.

Second Pick Under $100: API Outdoors Gravity Feeder Kit (Bucket Style)

If the Moultrie kit is sold out, API Outdoors makes a gravity kit that usually lands around $40 to $70.

It feeds fine, but the plastic feels a bit thinner, and I have seen the mounting hardware loosen if you do not check it.

Here is what I do if I use the API kit.

I add blue Loctite to bolts, and I hang it where it cannot swing and smack a tree in the wind.

This ties into what I wrote about do deer move in the wind, because a noisy feeder in a 18 mph breeze can make deer skirt the spot.

Tradeoff: Gravity Feeders Are Simple, But They Can Create Bad Shot Habits

I am going to say this plain.

If you only shoot deer over a feeder at 18 yards, you can get sloppy when a real woods shot happens at 33 yards and the deer is quartering away.

I process my own deer in the garage, taught by my uncle who was a butcher, and I hate wasting meat.

My worst mistake was gut shooting a doe in 2007, pushing her too early, and never finding her.

That has nothing to do with feeders, but it has everything to do with discipline and not forcing shots.

If you want a reminder on shot placement choices, this connects to what I wrote about where to shoot a deer to drop it in its tracks, because a feeder does not make a bad angle a good idea.

What I Feed In A Gravity Feeder, And What I Avoid

I keep it boring.

Whole corn is fine for pulling does and young bucks, but it is not a nutrition plan, and it molds faster than people think.

Here is what I do for a cheap mix.

I run 50 pounds of whole corn and 20 pounds of roasted soybeans if I can find them, and I stop feeding if it turns into a wet mess under the feeder.

I avoid sweet feed that clumps in humidity, because clumps turn into empty funnels and you will think deer “quit using it.”

If you want a lower-cost approach, this connects to what I wrote about inexpensive way to feed deer so you do not burn $127 a month just to entertain raccoons.

If you are thinking food plots instead, I would rather plant than pour corn, and I cover that in best food plot for deer.

How High I Hang It, And Why Height Matters

I do not guess.

I hang the feed ports about 40 inches off the ground for whitetails, because adult does can feed easy and it makes it harder for smaller varmints to camp under it.

Here is what I do to set height fast.

I stand a 5-gallon bucket under the feeder, and I make sure the port clears it by a hand width, because that usually lands me right.

If I see the ground getting rooted up or beat down too hard, I raise it 6 inches and I move it 10 yards, because a worn-out spot makes deer edgy in daylight.

FAQ

Can I legally use a gravity feeder for deer where I hunt?

Check your state rules and your specific county rules, because baiting laws change fast and some places treat “feed” and “mineral” different.

I have hunted places where it was normal in East Texas, and places where it would get you a ticket on public land in the Missouri Ozarks.

How far from my stand should I place a gravity feeder?

For bowhunting, I like 18 to 25 yards if I can get a clean lane, because I shoot a compound and I want a calm shot.

For gun season, I push it to 60 to 120 yards so deer do not stare holes through my tree the whole time.

Why did deer stop coming to my gravity feeder in daylight?

You either pressured it, made it noisy, or put it in a spot with bad wind for how deer approach.

When I am diagnosing that, I start with do deer move in the wind because the wrong wind turns a daylight pattern into a midnight pattern.

What is the best way to keep raccoons from emptying a gravity feeder?

Hang it higher, add a cone-style varmint guard, and stop spilling feed on the ground.

I also keep the area clean, because a pile of corn under the feeder is basically a raccoon dinner bell.

Should I put a gravity feeder on the field edge or back in the timber?

I put it just inside cover, because deer feel safer, and big bucks stage there before stepping out.

If you want to understand why they do that, it ties into deer habitat and how cover controls daylight movement.

Does a gravity feeder help me kill a bigger buck?

It can help you get more doe traffic and more consistent stops, which can pull bucks during the rut.

If you want rut context, I connect that to deer mating habits, because bucks follow does more than they follow corn.

What I Would Actually Buy With My Own Money Under $100

If you want one answer, I would buy the Moultrie All-In-One Deer Feeder Kit and spend the leftover money on a better strap, a lid, and an extra bag of feed.

I hunt 30 plus days a year, and I care more about a feeder that stays working than a feeder that looks fancy in the garage.

Here is what I do after I hang it.

I run it two weeks before I hunt it hard, and I let the deer get used to it without me sitting right on top of them every evening.

I learned the hard way that checking a feeder too much is the fastest way to train deer to come after dark.

Back in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, I watched a nice 10 point swing wide of a bait site three nights in a row after guys walked in there at lunchtime and stomped around.

Decide If You Are Feeding For Photos, For Meat, Or For A Shot Opportunity

This is a decision, because it changes where you put it and how much you mess with it.

If you are feeding for photos, you can put it where it is easy to check and still get what you want.

If you are feeding for a shot with a bow, I want the deer calm, predictable, and close, and that means I get picky about access and wind.

Here is what I do on my Pike County, Illinois lease where I can control my entry better.

I place it where I can slip in with one wind and slip out with the same wind, and I do not cross the main trail the deer use to get there.

If you are trying to time your sits, I start with movement windows, and that is why I check deer feeding times before I ever assume the feeder “is not working.”

Mistake To Avoid: Thinking Feed Replaces Woodsmanship

A feeder does not fix a bad spot.

I have seen guys dump corn in a wide open place and then act shocked when everything shows up at 1.20 a.m.

Deer still need cover, a calm approach, and a reason to feel safe before dark.

That is why I keep coming back to deer habitat any time somebody tells me their feeder “quit.”

My buddy swears by putting feed right on the edge of a bean field because “you can see them coming.”

I have found mature bucks in Pike County would rather stage 20 yards inside cover and smell the edge first, especially when the wind is wrong.

Small Upgrades That Keep A Sub-$100 Gravity Feeder Running All Season

You do not need a $300 setup, but you do need to avoid the weak points.

Here is what I do with bucket gravity feeders so they do not turn into a leaky mess.

I use a decent ratchet strap and I carry a spare one in my pack, because straps rot and mice chew them.

I drill two small drain holes in the lowest point of the bucket rim if water is pooling, because wet feed is the fastest way to get mold and clumps.

I also mark my fill date on the bucket with a Sharpie so I know if I am over-visiting the site.

I wasted money on $400 worth of ozone scent control that did nothing, and now I put that money into boring stuff like straps and lids that keep feed dry.

Tradeoff: Setting It Easy Vs. Setting It Right

The easy spot is usually the wrong spot.

The right spot usually makes you work a little, like stepping off the trail and setting it where the deer already want to travel.

Here is what I do on the Missouri Ozarks public ground where I cannot drive close.

I pick a spot I can reach without crossing a main draw or a bedding ridge, even if that means I carry feed 450 yards instead of 150 yards.

If you are hunting steep, pressured timber like parts of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, forget about the obvious flat bench and focus on the next bench over where guys do not walk as much.

This connects to what I wrote about are deer smart, because deer learn the human pattern around a feeder faster than most hunters want to admit.

How I Keep A Feeder Site Huntable In Daylight

The whole point is daylight use.

Here is what I do to keep it from turning into a midnight buffet.

I only refill midday if I can get in quiet, and I do it fast, like 6 minutes from leaving the truck to walking back out.

I do not stand there and admire tracks, because that is how you leave scent and noise for no reason.

I keep my stand setup off the feeder line of sight, so deer are not staring at my tree while they feed.

If you are hunting wind-prone ridges, I plan sits based on wind first, and that is why I lean on do deer move in the wind when I am choosing which evening to hunt the site.

One More Product I Trust Under $100: Wildgame Innovations Quick-Set 225 Tripod Feeder

If you want something that is not hanging from a tree, the Wildgame Innovations Quick-Set 225 tripod style is usually $70 to $100.

I like it for places where there are no good limbs, and it is faster to move if you need to relocate 40 yards because the wind is wrong.

I learned the hard way that hanging feeders can turn into a loud mess if they swing and tap a trunk in a 15 mph wind.

The tripod helps with that, but the tradeoff is you have more parts to haul and more steel for a thief to see.

Here is what I do if I run that tripod style.

I stake it or wire it to something solid so a raccoon cannot tip it, and I brush it in a little so it does not look like a shiny signpost.

Decision: How Much Feed Should You Put Out So You Don’t Create A Mud Hole

More feed is not always better.

If you dump too much, you get a churned up dirt circle that smells like a barn lot, and deer get weird about it in daylight.

Here is what I do for a normal whitetail spot.

I fill enough for 7 to 10 days, and I would rather refill twice than create a nasty spot once.

If you are seeing the ground turn black and slimy under it, forget about adding more corn and focus on moving it 10 yards and letting the old spot rest.

This also helps you avoid pulling every critter in the county to one stinky dinner table.

Decision: Are You Feeding Does On Purpose During The Rut?

This is a real tradeoff, and guys argue about it.

I want does comfortable near my kill tree, because bucks follow does.

That is how I killed my 156 inch Pike County buck in November 2019, on a morning sit after a cold front, watching doe traffic and waiting for the check.

But feeding can also stack does up and make a young buck hang there and pester them, and then the mature buck circles downwind and never commits.

Here is what I do when I want rut value without turning it into a circus.

I hunt the downwind trail 40 to 80 yards off the feeder more than I hunt the feeder itself.

If you want the why behind that, it ties into deer mating habits, because bucks are checking does first and corn second.

One Last Thing I Will Say About Ethics And Expectations

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

My worst mistake was a gut shot doe in 2007, and pushing her too early, and I never found her, and that still sits on me.

A feeder does not make shot choices easier, it just gives you more chances to mess up if you rush.

If you want to keep it clean, I still lean on basics, and that is why I point people to where to shoot a deer to drop it in its tracks before they get excited about “easy feeder shots.”

FAQ

Will a gravity feeder work in freezing weather?

It can, but clumping is your enemy if snow melts and refreezes in the funnel.

In colder places like the Upper Peninsula Michigan big woods, I would rather run smaller fills and keep it dry than stuff it full and hope it flows.

How often should I check my gravity feeder?

I check it based on how fast it is emptying, and that depends on raccoons, deer density, and how much you spilled on the ground.

On low pressure ground I try for every 7 to 10 days, and on public land I stretch checks longer so I am not educating deer.

Do I need a trail camera on a feeder site?

You do not need it, but it helps you avoid guessing and over-hunting the spot.

If I do hang a camera, I keep it high and angled down so deer are not staring at it at 10 feet.

Is corn the best thing to put in a gravity feeder?

Corn is cheap and it works, but it molds fast if it gets wet and it is not a miracle attractant.

If you want more detail on keeping cost down without getting dumb, I connect that to inexpensive way to feed deer because the goal is consistency, not going broke.

Why am I seeing small deer but not mature bucks on my feeder?

Pressure and wind are the two big reasons, and mature bucks do not like walking into a spot that smells like humans.

I back off, hunt the downwind edge, and I stop walking in there every other day like I am checking a mailbox.

Can a gravity feeder pull deer away from natural food?

It can pull them a little, but in farm country like southern Iowa, deer still focus on the big groceries like beans, corn fields, and standing plots.

I use a gravity feeder more like a stop sign and a photo tool, not the main meal.

Where I Land On Gravity Feeders Under $100

If you want a simple, cheap gravity setup that holds up, buy the Moultrie kit, hang it right, and stop messing with it every two days.

That is the part most guys get wrong, and it is also the part that actually decides if deer use it in daylight.

I am still the same guy who learned on public land because I could not afford leases.

Simple gear that does not break, in a spot that makes sense, will beat fancy stuff every fall.