Saves time and money
Title Photo: Completed and suspended American Hunter ECON Kit feeder device.
ECON KIT with its protective cover removed, revealing the internal electronic components and control interface.Affordable but Functional
The low price is achieved through a highly economical design. For your money, you get only the dispenser itself. You’ll need to assemble the mounting system and hopper yourself. However, this is a simple task that nearly anyone with basic manual skills can handle. It took me about 10 minutes of work. The classic solution involves creating a hopper out of a plastic container—a bucket, preferably with a lid. Cut an opening in the bottom using a standard drill bit attachment; in my case, I used a 90 mm diameter, though the optimal size would be 120 mm. If necessary, you could even manage with just a knife and screwdriver. The mounting screws and instructions are included. It might look a bit rough, but the functionality is guaranteed—there’s not much that can go wrong. You can either screw the dispenser securely to the hopper using the designated "Flat Mount" holes or use special screws that let you twist-lock the device onto the hopper for easy attachment and detachment.
Next, you’ll need to hang the device, perhaps with a rope over a branch. In my case, I mounted the setup at a height of about 3.5 meters on a custom-made bracket attached to a tree since there wasn’t a suitable branch available. For added discretion, I painted the bucket in a dark color to avoid it standing out in the forest (or someone potentially taking it home).
The system works by pressing feed from the hopper onto a metal tray. The gap between the tray and the top is too small for the feed to simply flow out. Instead, the feed remains on the tray. When the timer activates, the motor rotates the tray, scattering the feed around. The electronic components are enclosed in the bottom section to protect them from the elements, and you can access them without tools—just unscrew the bottom cap. Power is supplied by four standard AA batteries, which are not included in the package.
The hopper assembly and attachment process is very simple, requiring only basic tools. Just take a bucket, cut a hole in it, and attach the feeding device.
An old paint bucket, a drill, and ten minutes of work are enough to get the system operational.
Wide Range of Settings
The setup process is straightforward with the help of the included manual, and all settings are displayed on a large, user-friendly screen. Essentially, it works like a digital clock with additional features. First, you set the internal digital clock and then program the feeding times—up to 1-4 times within a 24-hour period. You can also adjust the duration of feed dispersion, from 1 to 30 seconds.
The bucket I chose holds approximately 8 kg of corn. After dispersal, the feed covers an area of about 3 meters in diameter, which is sufficient to allow a group of animals to feed without crowding. Remarkably, deer found the feed location from the very first day.
So far, I’ve only had to replace the batteries once, approximately two months after the device was activated (and I used the cheapest batteries available). The 8 kg of corn lasted for 11 days of operation, which translates to a dispersal rate of 36 g of corn per second. Naturally, this rate will vary depending on the size and texture of the feed. For extended use, you can attach a larger hopper instead of the small bucket, significantly increasing the time between refills. For instance, the XDE PRO version has a capacity of 113 liters, and there’s no reason a similar hopper couldn’t be paired with the base model. The dispersal mechanism is designed to handle significant weight, making it capable of supporting tens of kilograms of feed, potentially lasting several months without refilling. Online examples show hunters using this ICON model in combination with a standard 159-liter metal barrel.
At the maximum dispersal time of 30 seconds, running four times per day, the device can release 4,320 g of corn daily—sufficient for a substantial group. The disperser works well with almost any dry feed with grain sizes up to 10 mm. Over the entire testing period, the device never jammed. However, issues might arise with certain types of feed prone to clumping or sticking together, which could block the dispenser. If the feed is dry and adequately protected from moisture, such risks are minimized.
No Issues
The device itself is made almost entirely of lightweight black polymer, which admittedly feels rather cheap. On the other hand, it’s quite durable. The tested unit has been in use in a hunting area for over a quarter of a year, dispensing feed twice a day (at 4:00 AM and 5:00 PM) for 10 seconds each time. It has withstood heat, rain, humidity, and the low morning temperatures of autumn, and I believe it will survive the winter as well. While I didn’t toss it around, I didn’t exactly handle it with kid gloves during installation and handling, and so far, everything is holding up just as it should.
Each corner of the device features a Picatinny-style mounting base. While you likely won’t be attaching a riflescope, this interface is also used for some outdoor cameras and trail cameras. Speaking of accessories, it’s worth mentioning the option to install the American Hunter solar charger for 677 CZK. Pair it with suitable rechargeable batteries, find a location with sufficient sunlight, and while it’s not a guarantee that you’ll never run out of battery, it will certainly extend operating time significantly.
I can imagine that a crafty squirrel or a small bird might manage to sneak a bit of feed through the gap above the dispersal tray, but the losses wouldn’t be worth worrying about. If the hopper is sealed from the top, the feed remains secure. However, if you want extra protection, the XD-PRO KIT variant for 1,899 CZK is essentially the XDE model, but with the addition of a simple protective cage around the disperser.
The only modification I made was adding a deflector to direct the scattered corn farther away from the tree trunk and into the open area—just a minor optimization. Otherwise, I have no complaints. For the price, it’s an excellent purchase. I’m eagerly waiting to see how it performs after winter, but so far, the ECON device offers an outstanding price-to-performance ratio.
Due to the lack of a suitable branch and to make the setup less conspicuous, the bucket was painted a dark color and equipped with a suspension system.
American Hunter automatic feeding systems can be purchased from STROBL.CZ s.r.o. For more information, visit strobl.cz.
Additional Variants
If over 4 kilograms of feed per day isn’t enough, you can opt for the more powerful XDE Feeder KIT priced at 1,628 CZK. Essentially, it’s the same as the ECON model, but with a digital timer that allows programming up to sixteen feeding times per day, with durations ranging from 1 to 60 seconds. In terms of numbers, this means it can dispense up to 34,560 grams of corn in 24 hours. You can even set different dispersal schedules for different days of the week. For instance, if you want wild boars to fast on Sundays, that’s no problem. The only critique I have of this version is the battery type used. It is compatible with DE-30045, DE650-S, 4R25, 4R25X, and 4LR25 batteries, which aren’t easily available in our region. However, you can replace them with the "Batcase" holder from GSM Outdoors, which accommodates four widely available LR20 "D" batteries. The disperser’s design is supposedly more resistant to feed clumping compared to the basic ECON model, although I personally didn’t experience any issues with the ECON.
Don’t feel like DIY-ing a hopper? No problem! American Hunter’s portfolio includes ready-made kits, such as the ECON KIT combined with a collapsible hopper with a capacity of 25 kg for 2,442 CZK, and the XDE-PRO (with hopper) for 5,158 CZK. The latter includes the previously mentioned XDE-PRO unit with a 113-liter feed container and three metal legs measuring 243 centimeters in length, making it a freestanding device that doesn’t require hanging. The bottom section responsible for dispersing the feed is fitted with a polymer attachment featuring multiple "tunnels." These channels allow controlled feed flow under the device, which is further protected against external elements. With its overall configuration, this setup is ideal for wild boar feeding.
Another variants, from left: ECON KIT with collapsible hopper, XDE-PRO (with hopper), XDE Feeder KIT, and XD-PRO KIT.
Advantages/Disadvantages
+ Low price
+ Reliable functionality
+ Wide range of settings
- Requires DIY assembly of the feed hopper
- Slightly cheap-looking build (which hasn’t proven to be a problem)
Photo Credits: Author’s archive, manufacturer materials
Author: Tomáš Prachař, Petr Bastl
Originally published in the magazine "Lovec" by Extra Publishing.
Fully assembled and mounted ECON KIT at a height of 3.5 meters. Due to the absence of a suitable branch, a custom suspension system had to be created.