Abstract: An autonomus, weatherproof device is capable of providing dry feed material to game animals. This device provides minimal feed “on demand” as the target animal makes contact with the device actuator. Vents in the device alert animals to the presence of the food by releasing continuous scent. A key feature of the device is an internal baffle that mitigates the gravity-fed pressure of a large feed column upon the actuator. The device can be sized to contain any suitable feed material and physically located to encourage or discourage nontarget animals from foraging. While the present invention is designed for hunters to attract game animals, domestic animals could also be fed using such a device.

Abstract: Mesh cells (30) for machine-made netting (51) use pairs of mesh bars (35) made from a continuous length of material and meet at a common coupler (34). Such mesh bars (35) have a lay with a common direction throughout the length of material. In a zig-zag pattern used in knitting machine-made netting (31), the longitudinal axis of symmetry (38) of mesh bars (35) turns at each coupler (34). Towing such mesh bars (35) causes water to flow past pairs thereof in two different directions with respect to their common lay. The directions of water flow are neither parallel nor perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry (38) of the mesh bars (35). As water flows past the mesh bars (35), the cross-sectional shapes of the mesh bars (35) produce a net component of force that is oriented in a direction perpendicular to a combined drag component of force for the mesh bars (35).