According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) black bear sightings are becoming more and more common in eastern Oklahoma. The increased sightings indicates the bruins are expanding their territory. They are moving west and sightings anywhere east of I-35 may become more and more common. Oklahoma’s black bear range has primarily been in the four southeast Oklahoma counties of Latimer, Le Flore, Pushmataha and McCurtain. There is increasing evidence that their range is expanding to other counties in southeastern Oklahoma, including Adair, Cherokee and Sequoyah counties in east-central Oklahoma. In the past few years, black bear have been seen as far north and west as Broken Arrow, Tahlequah, Muskogee, Wewoka and Ada.
Deer hunters who are sharing the woods with the increasing number of black bear are experiencing unprecedented challenges created by the bruins. Rick Nolan, owner of Nolan Outdoors and son Tim - a.k.a Team Nolan has hunted southeast Oklahoma for several years. According to the hunting duo, the only real problem with bears is they act like a 200-pound raccoon. Raccoons rob our corn or protein and try to tear up your feeder; a bear can destroy a feeder quicker than you can say “don’t-do-it.”
If your plans include using deer feeders when bear are present you have to deal with the ever-present nuisance they create or go broke repairing your feeders. Team Nolan began experimenting with deer feeders designed to withstand the bear’s wrath. Working with a dozen other hunters in the Southeast Oklahoma, Team Nolan used trail camera pictures to study the bear in action and the aftermath of the feeders following a visit.
It became apparent to Rick and Tim that first the bear graze on the available corn on the ground. They then follow their nose to the feeders control box that dispenses the corn. Just like a raccoon, the bear poke and prod around the spinner plate on the feeder causing more corn to fall. The harder they poke - the more corn falls. They use their unbelievable strength and tear the feeder control box loose from the feeder. The next thing you know, he has a 300-pound corn feast on the ground and you have a destroyed feeder. Another common tactic is to push or shake the feeder resulting in corn falling. The harder they shake the feeder, the more they are rewarded with corn. The bear are so big and strong they end up collapsing the feeder leaving you will a tangled mess to repair.
Most store bought feeders are made from lightweight steel or sheet metal and are designed to hold corn and are fine under normal conditions, they simply are not designed to withstand a 200-pound plus bear shanking the feeder or grabbing the spin cast control unit. Store bought feeders are long on price and short on performance. They simply do not last in the field.
Drawing from years of deer feeder experience, Team Nolan began developing theories of how to build a bear resistant feeder. After some trial and error their efforts have been rewarded with a feeder that, while not bear proof, is resistant to bear attacks. Team Nolan has designed, built and tested a feeder that the bear have not yet destroyed.
Team Nolan developed what has become known as their Built to Last Feeders. Starting with a strong foundation, the quad-pod feeder base provides a strong and sold foundation for the barrel to rest. The base is all welded, 1/8 inch thick, 2” angle iron. Welded to the base are four 1 ¼” round steel leg brackets set at a 22.5 degree angle, giving a wide and stable foot print. Sliding inside the leg brackets are four 1” round steel pipe legs, also 1/8” thick. The removable legs make for easy set up and transportation without sacrificing strength and durability. The 55-gallon repurposed food grade steel barrels are mounted on the base using three steel brackets designed to allow easy field assemble while holding the barrel firmly in place.
Having a solid feeder base and barrel is only the first step in Team Nolan’s bear resistant feeder design. Store bought feeder control unit housings, while adequate for many applications fall short in bear country. Team Nolan developed a robust control unit and has refined it over the past several years. Starting with a 50 caliber steel ammo can and using 1” steel (1/8 “thick) “T-Brackets” to attach the box to the barrel.
Inside the ammo box is a 12-volt, heavy-duty motor and a reliable and easy to use timer. A swing door scatter plate aids in protecting corn from both coons and bear. Taking their design to the next level, they added additional measures to resist destruction. The control box is mounted to the bottom of the barrel and is further protected by welded steel angle iron braces used to add support to the feeder leg brackets.
You do not have to hunt in bear country to want a robust, well-built feeder. Built to Last Feeders are currently in action in Oklahoma and Texas. For those interested in putting a feeder in the field that will out preform overpriced store bought feeders contact Rick direct at 405-410-1379 or email rick@nolanoutdoors.com.
East Oklahoma deer hunters keep your eyes open this fall. You never know when you will cross paths with a rare but exciting experience - a real live Yogi Bear and Booboo right here in Oklahoma.
