I have this feeder, and it is the only feeder I don't have penned. We have cattle, but I have not had any issues (almost two years). I took two large stakes with semi-circles at the top and cinched them down on the angle iron skids on each side. I see more deer and better bucks at this feeder than I do my penned feeders. We have a fair amount of pigs, and sometimes those come in and run the deer off, so that has been the biggest negative to date.

My pens are ten cattle panels (circular) with a few spots cut down, the deer have always seemed uneasy about jumping in. I won't pen my All Seasons until something knocks it over.

I have about 15 of these feeders, none in a pen, for 2 years now, & no problems.

I have both penned and unpenned. Eventually the hogs become a problem when things get dry with the unpenned feeders.

I have found if you make the pen big enough, all bucks will get comfortable with it. 10 panels is way too small IMO. I would go with 18-20.

Pen for sure.

Pen it.