Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Do spin feeders spook deer?

I have read and have buddies that say the spin tripod feeders spook deer. Especially big bucks. I have a bunch of trail cam pics and have seen plenty of deer feeding on them. What are yall experiencing with them.

It seems to vary widely depending on the area. In East central Alabama, they have been very very wary of them. I think already mature bucks that are exposed to them usually avoid them. Bucks that are exposed at a young age will continue to use them when they mature, although mostly at night. They have not been legal in Bama long enough to see this play out but it was what we saw in Florida when they first became legal.

I think part of it has to do with where you set then up and how often you go around messing with them. A lot of folks put them out in the center of food plots, put cameras on them, and then constantly go around them. I'd say that's a sure fire way of having mature bucks become leary of them

That is what I hav heard - what daylight is saying - If you raise a buck on them - then you may be able to fool them. When I use to hunt in Ark - Tex and FL - all those states fed and those guys would say electric feeders spook Mature bucks. The electronic or mechanical sound is not natural to a mature wary buck. That is what I hav seen - I hav heard if u raise them on it - u may hav a chance

Also.....shooting deer off of feeders is another sure fire way to get mature bucks spooky of them. You never know when that old buck is just sitting back there in the thicket a little ways watching and listening

I would say it takes a while for deer to get used to them. Many places I have hunted in Texas, where they have been used for decades, you are just as likely to see mature deer at the feeders as you are does.

Placing a new one, it may take several years for the already mature deer to get used to them. If you put it out, plan to run it year round, not just during the season. All the places I have seen that the bucks cam around them fed year round.

Thinking back now - One of the places in TX had mature deer hitting theirs but it had been out for Many years and the pressure was low

Hell no , if it spins while they standing there they will back off a little .

They dont want their eye put out

Some won’t have anything to do with them some will lick the corn off the spinner. Mine are a mix of the two

Some folks like strippers kicking them with high heels. Some don’t.

Very good advice Uncle Huck. I had been running feeders year round in Henry and Barbour counties. I had plenty of pictures of mature bucks feeding around them. Due to Covid and USN base access travel restrictions and my job, my feeders ran out in March and I have been unable to travel there to fill them. My brother went up and filled them up for me and placed cell cams on them last week. The deer are not going near them (just as they did when I first put them in place). Apparently, I am going to have to start all over due to missing 5 months of having them spin feed out.

Agree , if you keep em running year around & the bucks have been exposed to them for years surely helps . However it may takes years to get mature bucks to a feeder . Most will not come around them

The woods are full of lush, green vegetation right now with all the rain we're getting and deer are spread out. That probably has a lot to do with low sighting s at new feeders.

I set one out last year for the first time. Zero pics of big bucks. Lots of does and little ones. My gravity feeders and where I hand spread..... does, yearlings, and some Big Uns!

I never turn mine off. I'll reduce the time it spins, but it runs year round.

My observation is no it does not.

Both really. It scares some and doesn't bother others.

Most things like this with deer are “learned behaviors”…..They’re not born with the fear of feeders….Now bucks may be naturally wary but that’s different. Of course deer are gonna be individuals but I’d say that most pf the deer that don’t come around feeders are likely a result of a negative experience they’ve had with them. You may have shot a doe off of one and never knew that there was a buck lurking in the shadows….That negative experience leaves him skiddish of them while others who have not experienced the same thing may not show any effect. The more you associate the feeder with negative experiences or associate them with humans and humans with negative experiences…..the more the deer will likely be reluctant to use them.

I think timing is about 95% of the equation.

I’ve had some good bucks eating from one of my spin feeders in the past few weeks, and it’s only a few months old.

I make sure it goes off at no later than 2 hours before sunset and 2 hours before sunrise. The deer hit it going to and from their bedding areas so they likely never hear it enough to be spooked anyways.