Okay, it's NOT a crossbow at all... but doesn't it look like one? 

There were bird feeders hanging from the screen room when I bought the house, and my dogs took great delight in chasing the squirrels that were always on them. When I demolished the screen room, I had to figure out a new place to put bird feeders. The back fence line seemed the best place.

I decided that dealing with high-up bird feeders required pulleys. My ten-foot post now has three pulley-equipped arms... two feeders, one suet cake. We'll see if the squirrel baffle does any good.

I used:

• Mayne 580D-BK No Dig Ground Anchor

• Black 3.5” x 3.5” post-topper

• 10’ long pressure-treated 4x4

• Woodlink Wrap Around Squirrel Baffle designed to wrap around and secure to the 4x4” vertical

• Three black wall hook plant brackets - Ocean State Job Lot has a good affordable selection

• Six small pulleys

• Three small cleats

• 1/8” black paracord - also got mine at Ocean State Job Lot

• Three tiny S-Biners to clip the feeders to the rope… I like being able to snap them off quickly without having to fuss with knots, especially in the winter when my fingers are freezing.

• Zip ties or wire wrap to connect the pulleys to the wall hooks

• Assorted bird feeders

• Black spray paint

There are probably rust- and corrosion-resistant alternatives for the pulleys and cleats… but I was putting this together as a proof of concept. Maybe when it rusts out I’ll search harder for different products. (Update May 2021… everything still holding strong!)