Wildlife Feeders & Automatic Deer Feeders: The Complete Guide to Steel Outdoors Gravity Feeders & Spin Feeders
A well-managed feeding program is one of the most effective tools in a deer hunter's and land manager's arsenal. Consistent, reliable feed availability keeps deer on your property, establishes predictable movement patterns, supports herd nutrition through the off-season, and creates the kind of concentrated deer activity that turns good hunting ground into great hunting ground. But not every feeder is built to deliver on those results — cheap plastic tanks crack, flimsy motors fail in cold weather, and undersized capacity means constant refill trips that disturb your property at exactly the wrong time. Our wildlife feeder collection addresses all of that with a focused lineup of heavy-duty feeders built exclusively by Steel Outdoors — twelve systems spanning two feeder types and a full range of capacities, from compact supplemental feeders to flagship 2,000 LB high-traffic stations. Every unit is constructed from all-steel materials engineered for long-term field performance, and every purchase is backed by our Lowest Price Guarantee.
Steel Outdoors: All-Steel Construction Built for the Field
Steel Outdoors builds feeders the way serious hunters and land managers actually need them — from the ground up in all-steel construction that holds up through years of field exposure without the cracking, fading, or structural failure that plagues plastic alternatives. Heavy-gauge steel construction resists rust, impact, UV degradation, and the constant stress of wildlife contact and weather cycling that destroys cheaper feeders season after season. When you invest in a Steel Outdoors feeder, you're buying a permanent installation on your property — not a seasonal consumable that needs to be replaced every few years. The lineup spans two feeder systems — gravity feeders and automatic spin feeders — across a wide range of capacities, giving hunters and land managers the right tool for every property size and management objective.
Steel Outdoors Gravity Feeders: No Battery, No Motor, No Maintenance
Gravity feeders are the simplest and most reliable feeding system available. Feed flows passively from the tank through multiple chutes as animals consume it — no motor, no timer, no battery, and no programming required. There are no electrical components to fail, no solar panels to maintain, and no programming schedules to adjust. For property owners with remote feeding stations, limited access during the season, or simply a preference for maintenance-free systems, gravity feeders are the definitive choice. The Steel Outdoors gravity feeder lineup covers five capacities and two chute configurations — plus a specialized bran feeder for fine-particle feed programs — built entirely from all-steel construction for season after season of reliable performance.
Steel Outdoors 340 LB 4-Chute Gravity Feeder
The Steel Outdoors 340 LB 4-Chute Gravity Feeder is the entry point into the gravity feeder lineup — a four-chute design suited to smaller properties, secondary feeding stations, or hunters setting up their first supplemental feeding program. At 340 LB capacity with four dispensing chutes, it provides consistent feed access for multiple animals simultaneously without requiring the investment of a larger system. For properties with regular access and moderate deer pressure, the 340 LB is the most practical, manageable starting point in the collection.
Steel Outdoors 550 LB 6-Chute Gravity Feeder
The Steel Outdoors 550 LB 6-Chute Gravity Feeder steps up both capacity and chute count, adding two additional dispensing chutes for broader simultaneous feed access across a wider area. The increased chute count reduces competition at the feeder during high-traffic periods — important on properties with established deer populations where multiple animals feed at the same time. The 550 LB capacity extends time between refills compared to the 340 LB model, making it a strong fit for medium-sized properties or primary feeding stations where refill frequency is a consideration.
Steel Outdoors 800 LB 8-Chute Gravity Feeder
The Steel Outdoors 800 LB 8-Chute Gravity Feeder opens the large-capacity 8-chute series — the preferred configuration for high-pressure feeding stations on properties where significant deer traffic demands maximum simultaneous feed access. Eight chutes spread the feeding activity across a wider footprint, reducing competition and allowing more animals to feed comfortably at the same time. At 800 LB, this model fits the gap between mid-size properties and large-acreage operations where weekly access is limited but daily feed availability is non-negotiable.
Steel Outdoors 1,200 LB 8-Chute Gravity Feeder
The Steel Outdoors 1,200 LB 8-Chute Gravity Feeder delivers extended time between refills for large properties with established deer herds and limited access windows. At 1,200 LB, this system sustains consistent feed availability at high-traffic stations across multiple weeks without requiring a property visit — reducing the frequency of human intrusion during the hunting season, which matters significantly for holding mature deer on your ground. The full 8-chute dispensing array keeps feed flowing reliably under heavy use.
Steel Outdoors 2,000 LB 8-Chute Gravity Feeder
The Steel Outdoors 2,000 LB 8-Chute Gravity Feeder is the flagship of the gravity feeder lineup — the largest no-battery, no-motor feeding system in the collection, built for the most demanding high-traffic stations on large properties and hunting leases. At 2,000 LB capacity with eight dispensing chutes, this system sustains continuous feed availability across extended periods under heavy deer pressure, making it the right choice for land managers running serious wildlife management programs, large hunting lease operators, and property owners who need a set-it-and-forget-it solution for remote feeding locations.
Steel Outdoors 340 LB Bran Deer Feeder
The Steel Outdoors 340 LB Bran Deer Feeder is a specialized gravity feeder designed specifically for bran-based deer feed, mineral supplements, and finer-particle feed products that standard chute feeders don't dispense reliably. Fine-particle feeds — wheat bran, mineral mixes, and powdered attractants — tend to clump, bridge, or flow unevenly through standard gravity chute designs. The bran feeder's construction is optimized for consistent dispensing of these feed types, making it the essential tool for land managers running mineral programs, nutritional supplementation plots, or baiting setups that use bran-based attractants. If your feeding program involves anything finer than standard corn or pelleted feed, the bran feeder belongs in your setup.
Steel Outdoors Automatic Spin Feeders: Programmable Feeding for Hunting Strategy
Automatic spin feeders add a layer of control that gravity feeders can't provide: the ability to schedule exactly when feed is dispensed. A motor-driven spinner broadcasts feed on a timer-controlled schedule, dispensing a set amount at specific times of day. This programmability is what makes spin feeders the preferred choice for hunters — deer and wildlife quickly learn to associate a specific location with feed arriving at a specific time, creating predictable, patternable movement that concentrates deer activity exactly when you need it. The Steel Outdoors automatic spin feeder lineup spans six models across four capacity levels and two form factors: standard tank and tall configurations.
Steel Outdoors 250 LB Tank Automatic Spin Feeder
The Steel Outdoors 250 LB Capacity Tank Automatic Spin Feeder is the entry point into the programmable spin feeder lineup — a compact, cost-effective system for small properties, single stand setups, and hunters new to timed feeding programs. At 250 LB, it's well-suited to properties with regular access for refilling and moderate deer traffic. Program the timer to dispense feed at dawn and dusk, and within a season you'll have deer patterned to specific times at your stand location — exactly the kind of predictable movement that leads to consistent hunting success.
Steel Outdoors 500 LB Tank Automatic Spin Feeder
The Steel Outdoors 500 LB Capacity Tank Automatic Spin Feeder doubles the capacity of the entry-level model, extending time between refills while maintaining the compact standard tank profile. For hunters managing multiple stand locations, the 500 LB model reduces the logistical burden of keeping every station consistently stocked — fewer trips means less disturbance to your property and more time in the stand. The programmable timer delivers consistent, timed feed broadcasts that deer quickly learn to anticipate.
Steel Outdoors 1,000 LB Tank Automatic Spin Feeder
The Steel Outdoors 1,000 LB Capacity Tank Automatic Spin Feeder is the mid-tier workhorse for serious hunters and land managers with high-traffic stations and limited access windows. At 1,000 LB, this system sustains consistent timed feeding across weeks of heavy use without requiring frequent refills — critical for hunters who can't afford to be on the property every week during season. The programmable motor delivers reliable broadcasts on schedule, keeping deer patterned and activity predictable throughout the season.
Steel Outdoors 2,000 LB Tank Automatic Spin Feeder
The Steel Outdoors 2,000 LB Capacity Tank Automatic Spin Feeder is the flagship of the spin feeder lineup — maximum capacity, programmable control, and all-steel construction for the most demanding high-traffic feeding stations on large properties and hunting leases. At 2,000 LB, this system operates at full capacity through extended periods of heavy deer use, making it the right choice for hunting clubs, large lease operators, and serious land managers who need a set-it-and-forget-it solution that doesn't require constant attention to keep running.
Steel Outdoors 500 LB Tall Automatic Spin Feeder
The Steel Outdoors 500 LB Capacity Tall Automatic Spin Feeder introduces the tall configuration — an extended leg system that raises the feed tank and spinner significantly higher off the ground than the standard tank design. The elevated spinner delivers a wider feed broadcast radius, distributing feed over a larger footprint and attracting deer from a greater distance. The raised tank height also positions the feed tank above browse height for larger deer populations, protecting it from deer interference and tipping. For open food plots, fields, and high-traffic areas where broadcast width and tank protection are priorities, the tall configuration is the superior choice.
Steel Outdoors 1,000 LB Tall Automatic Spin Feeder
The Steel Outdoors 1,000 LB Capacity Tall Automatic Spin Feeder combines the wide broadcast advantages of the tall configuration with 1,000 LB of capacity for high-traffic open-area feeding stations. The elevated leg system delivers maximum broadcast spread from the programmable spinner, making this the preferred setup for large food plots, open fields, and any property where attracting deer from a distance and distributing feed across a wide feeding zone are the primary objectives. At 1,000 LB, it handles heavy use through extended periods between refills — a critical advantage for remote or difficult-to-access stations.
Gravity Feeder vs. Automatic Spin Feeder: Which Is Right for Your Property?
The choice between gravity and spin feeders comes down to two primary questions: how often can you access the property, and what is your primary objective — year-round nutrition management or hunting-season pattern development?
Gravity feeders are the superior choice for year-round wildlife management programs, properties with remote or difficult-to-access feeding stations, and situations where battery-dependent equipment is impractical. There are no components to fail, no timers to program, and no batteries to replace — feed flows continuously as long as the tank holds feed. This makes gravity feeders ideal for land managers prioritizing herd health, mineral programs, and consistent nutritional support rather than timing-based hunting strategy.
Automatic spin feeders are the preferred choice for hunting-season pattern development. The ability to schedule exact feeding times trains deer to visit specific locations at specific times — morning and evening broadcasts that align with legal shooting hours create the kind of predictable, patternable deer movement that concentrates mature buck activity around stand locations. If your primary goal is maximizing hunting success by creating reliable deer movement at your stand, a programmable spin feeder is the right tool.
Many serious hunters and land managers run both systems — gravity feeders at remote or supplemental stations for year-round nutrition, and programmable spin feeders at primary hunting locations during season. Call us at (888) 884-2234 for help building the right feeding program for your property.
Choosing the Right Capacity: A Property-by-Property Guide
Getting capacity right is one of the most important decisions in feeder selection. Too small, and you're making constant refill trips that disturb your property at the worst possible time. Too large, and you're over-investing in infrastructure that doesn't match your property's actual deer pressure. Here's how to think through it:
Small properties (under 100 acres) with regular access: The 250 LB Spin Feeder or 340 LB Gravity Feeder are practical starting points. With regular weekly or bi-weekly access, smaller capacity is manageable and cost-effective.
Medium properties (100–500 acres) with moderate deer pressure: The 500–800 LB range covers the middle ground — enough capacity to reduce refill frequency without committing to the infrastructure investment of the larger systems. The 500 LB Spin Feeder and 800 LB Gravity Feeder serve this range well.
Large properties, hunting leases, and high-pressure stations: The 1,000–2,000 LB systems are built for operations where access is limited and consistency is critical. The 1,000 LB and 2,000 LB Spin Feeders — or the 1,200 LB and 2,000 LB Gravity Feeders — minimize trips while maintaining uninterrupted feed availability through the entire season.
Standard Tank vs. Tall Spin Feeder: Matching Form Factor to Terrain
Within the spin feeder lineup, the choice between standard tank and tall configurations depends on your terrain and feeding objectives. Standard tank feeders produce a contained broadcast pattern close to the feeder base — the right choice for wooded setups, tightly managed feeding stations, and locations where overhead clearance is limited. The compact profile blends naturally into treeline and food plot edge environments without drawing excess attention.
Tall spin feeders are engineered for open terrain — food plots, fields, open hardwoods, and high-traffic areas where a wider broadcast radius and elevated tank height deliver real advantages. The extended leg system raises the spinner for a wider feed distribution footprint, and positions the tank above browse height to protect it from deer interference. If your primary feeding station sits in an open field or large food plot where maximizing the broadcast spread is a priority, the 500 LB Tall or 1,000 LB Tall is the right configuration.
Wildlife Feeders as Part of a Complete Hunting Property Setup
A feeding program is most effective when it's part of a broader property management strategy. Our Hunting Equipment collection covers everything hunters and land managers need to build out a complete setup — from our full archery collection of compound bows and crossbows from Darton Archery, Conquest Archery, Killer Instinct, Excalibur, and AXE Crossbows, to our clay pigeon thrower collection from Do-All Outdoors for building the shooting skills that convert those feeding station encounters into clean, ethical kills. Every product in our collection is backed by our Lowest Price Guarantee — find it for less anywhere else online and we'll beat it. Reach out through our online contact form or call (888) 884-2234 for help building the right feeding program for your property.
