Just my opinion, I would spend one of those week ends dealing with the pigs, if in fact they do run the deer off. I don't have pigs to deal with at my house. Only ones I've had to tolerate on one lease where Javelina, and they weren't a problem for us.

My area doesn't have "tons" of deer, but I have quite a few using my feeder. More than ever, maybe it's the combination of what I have out? Like 16% pellets, this is the first year they have taken them with any real "gusto", now it's all I can do to put out enough. I also have water out and mixed in some electrolytes, corn, Alfalfa (not getting much attention), mineral and salt.

Deer wont travel as much in the heat, sure, but they have to eat and will likely do what they have to do to find forage. You may have something actually growing on your lease that they prefer right now, dunno. I just think as dry and hot as it has been, if there is food and nearby water, the deer will be there.

My feeder by the house.

Had another thought you may want to try. I would remove the corn from the feeder ( save it) and replace with different corn, may be something in it they don't like.??

I don't know if I am right about this but I know everyone says corn is not very nutritious... has like I believe 6% protein or somewhere around that it's pretty low...but yes deer usually love it it's like candy to them so it's the best bait most of the time! But...it's also considered a carbrahydrate and deer I believe know when they need the peotein like when Bucks are growing antlers and Does are growing babies
and lactating, then when it starts to get cool they know they need the carbrhydsrates to help their bodies to stay warm. That's why I don't think they eat corn as well when it's hot weather plus usually they are getting what they need in forage but with the drought I would have thought they would be eating just about anything they were given. We are still feeding 20% protein and our feeders hold 250 pounds and they are emptying our feeders in one week. It's getting pretty expensive but I'm afraid we are going to be feeding them for awhile after hearing the news tonight... they are saying this drought could last way into next year maybe longer! Sounds really scarey to me especially for wild animals.We usually start feeding corn sometime mid - late September and it sometimes collects under the feeder intil it starts to get a little cool...

Sorry, I've edited my reply because I missread.

My guess would be that the hungry pigs are waiting for the feeder to go off.

Might try some alfalfa hay in a feeder off the ground. Wouldn't hurt.

And I'd put the hay far enough away so that pigs don't scare the deer off if they come out at the same time.

i hunt in coryell county and iam getting 2500 pics a week. i have a group of does that hit my feeder everyday between 1230 and 130 in the afternoon. iam throughing alot of treats out to. carrots and apples. but if you have pigs, sometimes they will run your deer off to. from personal experience. feeder intensifire works real good to.

As long as you have food, water and protection they will be there come winter. Our deer are doing all kinds of crazy things right now. I see them in the weirdest times in the weirdest places!