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Well, but if you trap and neuter at least they aren't reproducing, which is important.
My advice to OP is that it totally depends on the cat - and especially the age of the cat. If he's young you'll have more luck - and if he was born to a domesticated mother you'll have more luck than if he was a litter from a feral female.
Like the OP I live rural and see my share of dumped cats. The problem is that if the county highway doesn't get them, the hawks, eagles, racoons, foxes, owls, and/or coyotes will. Outdoor cats just don't survive long here.
All of my cats have been strays/ferals which I seduced with food and warmth and turned into indoor cats. There have been many cats, though, which I haven't been able to save.
Just provide food and a warm place for him to sleep. Co-exist with him, don't force it - he'll get used to your outdoor routine and will learn to come for food at a regular time. He may eventually let you scratch his head. He may eventually want to explore your house. That may be as "tame" as he will get. But if he can't get used to living inside, and many former roamers can't, you may just have to accept the fact that there will come a day when you don't see him ever again.
Maybe if the next time you feed him, slowly get down to his level and hold out the hand you don't have food in. Let him come to you. I'm sure that we look scary to them reaching out with big arms and hands if they don't have a positive background with humans.
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Feral Kitty
