A varmint guard is necessary because only you know that the deer feeder is only for deer. Other animals can at least eat everything and break or harm your feeder as most will do. Raccoons can even bite through your device, even if it is a hanging deer feeder kit (some are good at climbing), so make sure that you have additional proof. It can be a cage or shark teeth or special constructions that you put around the legs, and animals can't break through them.