Hogs are fenced off, still no deer yet

Hello, hunter friends.

In Southeast Texas where I hunt, hogs frequent our feeder a lot more often than deer.

As an effort to give deer a better chance to the feeder and to prevent hog access, after consulting with experts here on the forum, we have fenced up the feeder with 6 and 1/2 hog panels (size of each panel 16ft x 34in) two weeks ago. Game camera indicates hogs are fenced off, but we haven’t seen a deer inside the enclosure yet. Raccoon activity certainly has increased.

When do you think deer are expected to jump in to access the feeder?

Our hunting area is a little tight, so we build the enclosure an elongated shape. Do you think we need to stretch it more and make it even longer?

Thank you. Your opinion is always appreciated.

To me those panels still look to high they don’t look like they are 34inches tall but maybe it’s just the picture. I think what is hurting you is your not wide enough the pen looks very small to me. If it’s possible try to reconfigure into a big square even if you have to go into the tree line a little.

I'm no expert, but I would not make an hour glass shape. Trim some brush. Looks a bit tight.

I took a grinder and made a few lower openings on each side.

Pen looks too tight. Looks like it needs to be wider and lower. Deer will find it eventually.

Like everyone said, make that a true circle. Trim brush. That would freak me out as a deer. Looks like a planters peanut trap.

Just wondering, but doesn't the feeder sling the corn out past the pen? It does look a bit to small.

and it looks pretty tall...like cattle vs hog panels.

Your pen too small

Try. Dump 2 bags of corn on ground

Try a scent attractant, my favorite is Big & J

Works every time for me

I have the same panels. I cut the top 2 sections/squares down(use bolt cutters) I’m using 6 panels and wish I did 8 to give them more room, they don’t like to be crowded IMO. Took a while for them to start getting in. Bag of corn mixed with a bag of big &J on the ground will help. Im not a tall guy and I cut the panels down to where I can strattle over them to get in to the pen.

Hog panels you have are fine at 34" tall, all you need to do is widen it for it looks to tight as mentioned.
I personally would not cut any of the height off your panels, if you do only take the top one off or you might be inviting a big hog to lean on it then you will have real problems!

After you widen it, put bait/corn or whatever attractant close to the inside edge to entice them in

It looks more like a trap to me. You should use hog panels and make it quite a bit larger.

Too small. Kill all pest.

Put the chainsaw to work and round the pen. Don't cut the top off any panels. Hog panels are not too high for most deer. Spread some corn in the pen, they'll come in eventually.

I've used 34" hog panels X 16' square feeder pens the last ten years and always had deer jump in them. This time of the year there is so much more food sources available for deer. Give fall/winter some time, especially after the first frost and you'll have deer coming to your feeder.

Thank y'all.

You insight is much appreciated.

Just googled Big & J and found multiple products. Which particular product do you recommend?

As others have said the pen is too tight. If you don't want to cut all those trees down build the pen around it. Those look like regular height hog panels but the height really doesn't matter for the deer. I used a section of residential chain length fence for a pen last year the deer cleared it fine.

All good advice above. Southeast Texas is probably as green as it has ever been, right now. After a killing frost you should have much more activity.

Update -

We now see pictures of deer inside the feeder pen.

Still we went ahead and pushed the pen wider. Also added corn with Big & J Deadly Dust. The pen is much more spacious than before. We have decided to leave the panel at 34".

Thanks everybody.

Looks much better, good luck

BTW smart move on leaving the Hog Panels the same height, there is a reason why they are called Hog Panels

Pens we have on feeders are small enough that corn is slung outside the pen. Deer jump in them all the time. You probably have so much food right now that the deer are not coming to corn. I hate feeder pens. We have a mixture of feeder with and without because some lease members like them. One even insists on putting chicken wire around the bottom to keep piglets out. Just exercise pig control and you will not need pens any more.

I love pigs. My pens are to keep cows out. I've got 18"x18" squares cut out of 2 of my panels so hogs can come and go.