what's your opinions on placing a hog trap near feeders? Do you prefer to have them in the general area of your feeder or do you place them away from feeders? Im worried some will get into trap over night and spook deer on a morning hunt before you can remove them. Any experience?

What kind of trap? Be careful you don't catch a deer.

I prefer trails to feed and water vs at feeder. They will eat at the feeder and not go into trap IME. I put thorny brush over the door opening to help keep deer out. I also use an old cattle tub filled with water and sour grain/feed mix inside the trap so that the deer won't try to eat it.

If one gets caught it will mess up a hunt but tie it open if you're not specifically after hogs. I tie it open when not there and let the spin feeder throw corn in it. Hogs get used to going in and out and are easier to catch when I do set it.

I don’t like box traps next to feeders. I did for a few years and ruined a bunch of hunts because of it.

If you have water, that’s where I would put them.

A trap next to a feeder can ruin shots that otherwise would be good shots if the trap wasn't in the way.

Yes, open top is best so the deer can jump out. Guy on my lease was 3 for 3 trapping deer. No hogs.

I'd put it away from the trap. I agree it could ruin good shots.

True.

Me personally, I like to set traps every chance I get year round that includes deer season. Many a time I've had pigs banging around in a box trap in the morning while deer hunting, and I have never once had deer come to a feeder when there's pigs in a trap on a feeder. Move that trap to a water hole or trail a few hundred yards away and it never bothers the deer. They'll look that direction when they hear the pigs, but they'll stay and eat.