Give Feeders A Little Pre-Spring TLC

Spring is arriving in the Southeast in fits, with temperatures in the upper 70s and mild nights giving way to the occasional blast of chilly lows in the 30s or 40s.

by Alan Clemons

For our friends in the upper Midwest and Northeast, well, I can’t say we feel your pain. We don’t know much about snow, ice, snow, cold temperatures, snow, frigid winds, snow and all that. Spring will arrive in a few months for you … we think.

With deer hunting seasons in the Southeast closed for the next six months or so, many landowners are filling up feeders. It’s a critical time in some parts of the country where the spring greenup hasn’t occurred yet but deer need a boost from supplemental feeding. A little corn for energy from carbohydrates and some protein pellets mixed in to kick start a more diligent protein regimen later in spring and summer is a good way to help right now.

Before filling the feeders, however, it’s a good idea to take time to give them a thorough checkup. Spincast feeders are built to withstand the elements but Mother Nature does have a way of throwing a quirk into the mix now and then.

If your spincast feeders hung from a tree limb or tripod for the last winter or two (or more!), take a tool box with you on your ATV or truck to handle any quick fixes.

Check all the nuts, bolts and connections on the tripod to make sure they’re secure. If the lid hinge is rusty or difficult to open, give it a shot of oil or WD-40. Replace any batteries, if necessary, and check electrical connections. For feeders hanging under or near trees, remove any limbs that may be knocking around or could slam into it from high winds in springtime storms.

After filling the feeder, check the timer and give it a test run. You darn sure don’t want to leave without making sure it’s operating properly. Otherwise, your efforts to help the deer and your chances with any trail camera surveys could go for naught.

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