We are planning to build some troughs this off season. Anybody that has had good luck with the troughs would like some recommendations. How high off the ground? 18"? And how high above the trough should the roof be for deer to be comfortable using?
Should I put screen or mesh in the bottom to allow any water that does get in to drain? Etc. Any other proven ideas?
Thanks for any input.

Make sure the base is wide enough so hogs can't knock it over.

Bob here is a picture of ours. We have been using it for probly 10 years now. The deer dont have any problem using it. However the coons, possums, dogs, coyotes, squirrels, and even bobcats, don't have any trouble using it either. For that reason I have been thinking of using some different type feeders, like maybe the boss buck brand.

I think ours is 12-18" off the ground. The trough 2'x6'. Ant the top about 5' off the ground. If your interested I will pull the exact measurements the next time I go over there.

Thanks, that confirms my thoughts.

Thankfully we don't have hogs.....yet.

https://www.bossbuck.com/category/poly-lower-unit-55-gallon39.html

I have been thinking about getting a few of these lower units and putting them on the bottom of 55 gallon plastic drums, just make 3 legs out of something. It would probably be cheaper than building out of wood and they would last longer without wasting a lot of feed to other critters..

I agree. I dont like feeding coons, crows and coyotes and this would take care of that for the most part. A 55 gal drum of corn or pellets should last a lot longer also than with a spincast feeder.

If you want to build a trough, google "Auburn Deer Feeder".

If you have hogs then you may want to consider putting up some fencing around the feeder. I have heard of people doing this to keep most everything out but deer.

I used to use them but stopped because the coons and turkeys would get up in the trough and eat until they were about to pop.