I was talking to a guy today that is thinking about mounting a deer feeder on a telephone pole. I like this idea, but I can't find anyone that has done this.

Im thinking dig a 3-4 foot hole. Stick in 10-12 foot pole pole with concrete, mount the feeder to the pole using bolts all the way through the pole.

Benefits would be be cow, and pig proof!!!!! Easy to do, except for digging the hole.......

Has anyone did this? How did it work?
Are there any bad things about this idea?

Can just chain a hanging pole to it without digging or screwing into the pole.

I'm going to have to dig a hole to set up the pole. I may not understand what you are saying?

we use to cut the poles to appropriate height, then a notch from the top down on the pole. Cut the wood out the length of a barrel and deep enough for the lip of the barrel to sit in the new groove. Then we simply strapped the barrel to the pole. This was done 20 years ago and I know hunters are still using them for their sets.

I have several like that and use plastic 55 gallon drums. Works fine.

You don't need concrete around the pole. Just a 3 foot deep hole. Water the soil when you back fill around the pole and let it set before loading the feeder. Cheap 1.5" or 2" wide / 8' long ratchet straps from Harbor Freight work fine and last for years.

The only downside is you need a ladder to fill the feeder (the top of mine are about eight feet above ground level}. Either a six foot A-Frame ladder next to the feeder, or and eight foot straight ladder leaning against the pole works.

Read it wrong, thought telephone pole was already in the ground.

Any way to coon proof that?

Paint the pole with petroleum jelly.

Build a large sheet metal cone around the bottom about 4 feet up

could you put a tin cone around the pole to deter climbers like the have for squirrels, only larger?

Sounds like it would work

Make sure you put It in the ground deep enough if not using concrete. A giant back stretcher for the critters and they might knock it over.

It will. It's the same principle as the rat guards on the ropes they use on moored ships.

Weld up an industrial strength bracket so that the barrel hangs out away from the pole. Winch it up and down for filling.

I would just use a tree.

The phone pole is a fine idea, but it seems to be a lot of work and making it cow/hog proof also makes it rather permanent. Hogs and cattle will rub on it for the creosote and you will want to avoid touching the pole while filling the feeder.

I think if you were going with a permanent setup like that, then I would agree that you to be able to winch it up and down or otherwise you have a permanent feeder than will permanently need a ladder for access...which is a pain.

Better to squirrel/coon proof the motor unit with a cage than to try to proof the pole.

i thought about doing that too as there is a telephone pole close to my feeder setup. It would be easy for me as I built a 10-12 foot tall feeder setup....

Took a 2 inch 12 foot long pipe...welded a frame to the top so that the 55 gallon barrel will fit snug in it and hang down. I then added another support lower close to the bottom of the barrel and used metal straps so it wouldn't fall out...the bottom of the pole has a bout a 4 inch spike on it and a couple 4 inch flat pieces of metal on each side of the pole so when you put the pole in the ground it has a little support....once you get it all setup where you want it...one small ratchet strap around the barrel and tree and it doesn't move!!....

you can kinda see it in the back ground of this pic