Coon proof Squirrel Feeder?? any ideas??

[ray1377]

Anybody got any ideas on how to build one?
THanks
Ray

[Bicycleman]

I don't think there is any such thing in existence.  In your attempts to build the first one (and become an overnight millionaire), I would recommend that you not "over think" it.   

[nced]

Anybody got any ideas on how to build one?
THanks
Ray

I had similar experience even with squirrels that are considerably smaller. When living in WV I left a detuned .177 R9 (shot CPLs at 800fps) with my wife and she performed "feeder guard duty" while at work but it was getting old to dispose of the squirrels so did find a bird feeder that was rather squirrel proof. While the "squirrel proof feeder" worked for squirrels (in WV), raccoons would literally bend my shepherd hooks to the ground then tear the bird feeder apart to get the seeds.   I ended up hanging bird feeders from a 4 strand guy wire anchored to the house and a tree with a "trolley system" to pull the feeder back for filling. This worked great.....no more squirrels or raccoon (they can't/didn't walk the thin 4 wire guy line).........now to the NC property.

Since I didn't have raccoons in the feeder issues after moving to NC I again set my squirrel proof bird feeder on a shepherds hook like this........

Worked well for a couple months then I had the Einstein squirrel that defeated it. The feeder is spring loaded so the weight of a squirrel on the cage causes the metal leaves to slide down covering the seed ports. This worked for years in WV however one day I noticed a NC squirrel had figured how to hang from the shepherds hook by the hind legs and scoop seeds out of the seed ports with the front legs since it wasn't putting any weight on the spring loaded feeder cage! Well....I got out my trusty R9 and eliminated the "Einstein squirrel" from the gene pool with a head shot! No more issues till a week later I saw another squirrel doing the exact same thing!  Either the second squirrel also figured out the "trick" or it learned from "Einstein squirrel" but after that a guy wire/trolley system was set up and I haven't had squirrels in the feeder since. Here's a pic of my hanging bird feeder.......


The guy wire is anchored to the framing of an upstairs window with an extension spring to minimize strain on the framind when the tree it's anchored to moves in the wind. Here are a couple pics.......



Hope this helps some!

[Railbuggy]

My homemade bird feeder hangs from a tree limb. Local teen Squirrels have learned to hang by there rear feet to get the seed. I have been dropping bread on the ground to keep my cats skills sharp. Now I have a groundhog eating the bread.

[cpt_sfc]

For my area a steel post about 6 ft high from the ground a steel stove cap is mounted over the pipe (cut A hole) screw in pipe. Put feeder on top. Take a rag and axle grease and every 3-5 months wipe the bottom 2/3 of the pipe. It has to be far away from trees so critters can,t jump to it. This does not work for bears !! they just bend it over.

[Jr_Explorer]

I figured since you posted this in the "Hunting Gate" you had a feeder surrounded by about 10 gun emplacements for you and your friends so no raccoon could possibly survive the gauntlet!  LOL!

[nielsenammo]

I own a rodent control business and we use bait stations to poison squirrels but keep unwanted animals like dogs, raccoon, etc out. You could just fill with normal bait instead of poison.

You have to use anchors to hold the station down or the coon will turn it over and spill out the bait. I buy a lot of trapping supplies from http://wildlifecontrolsupplies.com and they sell the bait stations and the anchors.

The stations are called Wilco bait stations or squirrel stations. Make sure you get ones for squirrels and not rats or they can't get in.

If targeting tree squirrels only they can be placed in the tree and secured down tight as well.

[Always Learning]

If I understand you correctly you want to feed the squirrels.
I throw some seed out in the morning but not more than they eat that morning.

As for keeping out squirrels and coons from a bird feeder: some Folks around here now use a sleeve of PVC plumbing Schedule 20,30. Forty is too costly.
Slip it over the post  (usually pipe) and then install the feeder on top. It is slippery but must be taller than the animals can jump.

Want squirrels to have access? Position it near outer branches of a tree and they will learn to jump. Coons are too heavy to get out there. A small platform might help.

[cpt_sfc]

I leave my feed on a board a couple inch's off the ground with a couple of solar walk lights on both sides and one hanging over it. I would not want the poor critters to eat in the dark.

[ray1377]

I re-read my OP and yes I did say "coon proof, squirrel feeder".
I guess I should have been more informative.
I want to build a squirrel bait station to attract them in the fall during the season.
I only get to hunt on saturdays and wanted to leave the feeder out the whole season.
If the coons can get to it, they will empty it in no time and an empty feeder sort of defeats the main purpose.
I was thinking about building a gravity feed type box and then put some mesh wire around it far enough from the feeding hold that coons can't reach it.
But have the holes in the wire large enough for squirrels to be able to fit through and reach the feed.
That way I can leave it out, the squirrels can get to the feed, and the coons don't eat it all up.
That sound about right?
Thanks
Ray