I'm sure this has been discussed, but I've gone back through a lot of posts and haven't seen it. What is the best feeder hunters would recommend for around $500? I would be willing to pay more if warranted. It is going on a high fenced ranch with whitetail, blackbuck, fallow, axis, aoudad and red deer. I've heard someone recommend Platinum Feeders, but wanted to see other recommendations.

With auodad and red deer you will need a stout feeder. Outback would be my starting place to look for a well built feeder.

For slinging corn the All Seasons 600lb stand and fill.

Texas Wildlife Systems "Old Timer" is pretty slick and pretty heavy duty. I'd give it a strong look.

This.

All season stand and fill 600. Do it

I can usually build my feeders with a Spincast brand feeder for around $250. I use heavy pipe legs. Cows or hogs are never a problem. Only holds 300 pounds but I could get you 2 feeders for the price of one all seasons feeder.

Obviously this one is well liked. Any concerns about the aoudad or red deer beating it up? I've never used a stand and fill feeder before - is the spray pattern equivalent to raised feeders? Meaning, is the area that the corn is spread large enough that smaller animals can come in to eat while larger animals are eating?

what's your location?

The ranch is out of Junction.

The best feeder that we have used are the same as the hang em high feeders (and they may actually be them).

Their website is: http://www.hangemhighfeeders.com/

I saw them at Mumme's feed store in San Antonio for I believe it was $479.

I would like to try an All Season's feeder sometime, but these are very stout feeders, and you can't beat a crank up feeder. I am not a big fan of going up and down ladders, especially with a 50 pound sack of feed on my shoulder!!!

Oh, $479 was just for the feeder, no timer included.

We have several hangem hi's. They are good feeders. I put texas hunter timer kits in them and they have been good.

I will always have crank up feeders. If you have/have had one you know why.

Several people make crank up feeders for less than hangem hi's and you can easily make your own for even less. A well built feeder is a lifetime investment. Skimping out a hundred or two dollars gets you a couple year feeder.

Hang em high and Texas hunter timer is a good combo!

Feederguys feeders hands down the best bang for your buck. Check them out on the forum.
Call me if you have any questions.
Andy
972-935-1209

$80 in materials. You could make you 5 of these and take the better half out on a nice steak dinner with the savings.
http://youtu.be/g-R0b_XZfMY

I have hunted on several ranches, but this is the first that I am responsible for the feeders on a ranch. Crank up feeders just seem to make sense. How many pounds of corn does the hangem hi hold? How long will 300 lbs last if you have the feeder going off twice a day?

Ground fill is where it's at! Suck it down with a turnbuckle in the middle and it's not gonna tip over...

Having owned all types for many years, I recommend a ground fill. MUCH safer that crank up and especially ladder up. Lots of people have been seriously hurt using these types of feeders.

Ramball36 makes a great stand and fill and a great price.

All seasons would be a good choice but more money.

If your not on a budget you can't go wrong with the Capsule 500# or 1000#.

I'm certainly open to a ground fill. No one responded to my question about the area that the corn is spread with a ground fill: Is the area large enough that small bodied animals can get around and eat if a big bodied animals is there feeding? I've been on ranches with tall feeders and the larger animals will push the smaller ones around, but they can still hang around and get something to eat. On one ranch I hunted, they had a malfunctioning feeder that just dumped corn in about a 6 foot circle. Two red stags came out and ate the corn by themselves. I was hunting whitetail at the time and bucks would stick their heads out of the brush, see the red stags and turn around into the brush. I don't want to spend a bunch of money on feeders unless they can draw a variety of animals.

I like that ground feeder Ramball36! I may have to build one of those, looks nice and well thought out. We threw another one together from basic materials again and cost us around $80 bucks.

Check out Triple C Feeders.

My vote is for Hang em high, I build and sell winch feeders, and while I don't totally agree with their design they make very good feeders. They have many characteristics of mine and I often say that mine are designed to withstand attacks from wild hogs & cattle inflicted by "Mad Cow Disease". They may cost a little more than you have currently budgeted but in the long run you will consider it money well spent.

Triple C....

I just bought an All Seasons Stand and Fill 300lb. It better last for the price.