Have been thinking about doing it this winter after the season, and just wondering what everybody's experiences with it are. If Im going to do it, Im going to get a big round rubbermade from walmart or target, and fasten 8 or 10 bungees to it and filling it with corn, and suspending it from a tree. Ive seen fence models, and I would be worried that the animal would get its rack stuck in it and it would be harmed.
The bungees are a must otherwise they will surely get tangled in the product and either break there neck or hurt them self badly. You have to have something that will break away if they were to get entangled in it. check out The Rack Trap - Home this is a cool product that works very well.
Last year I screwed a eyelet in my PVC feeder about 3' up and ran bungees out about 2 feet from it in a semi circle. Worked out pretty good, got this guys sheds this past winter.
In the past, I took a couple bales of straw and put them against a tree or another natural backdrop. Then put corn right on the edge of where the bales meet the ground. That way when they bend down to get the corn they hit their rack on the bales. I like this way because you dont have to worry about hurting a buck and it costs slim to nothing to make. Got 4 sheds last year with this "trap".
Not sure they are legal here but either way, I prefer to walk in the woods and look for them. It is more like hunting and gets me in the woods to scout and get some excerise.
I don't. The setup is as simple as it sounds. As long as you put the bait against something that they will bumb their head on id say its a good a setup as any.
I made one by using an "A"-frame biult from scrap 2x4s and bungees. Found a giant 5 point side. I was so proud. Found out later that a couple buddies pulled a fast one over on me!
I get what your sayin, but I live an hour and 20 minutes away from my land, and with work and helping my fiance plan a wedding while shes studying for the cpa, my weekends are limited and I cant just go over after work every night. So its just eaiser for me to try and find some by doing this. I did find 3 last year walking. But I figure I can get 2 birds this way, feed them and get their racks, and put a trail cam on it to see if i get any new visitors.
I'm not a fan of them, they can cause pedicle damage which causes antler growth issues and defects. Is it worth going through all that trouble with a potential bad outcome when they can be found just by scouting?
A few years back I took about 8 4' lengths of rebar and put them in the ground about 2' and continued to put corn on the ground through out the rebar. As they would feed on the corn they would knock there horns off. I found one side of a ten point a match set of spikes and one side to an eight point! I have not done this for a while now.
Ive tried it with no luck a few times, id just rather walk to find them. helps you with scouting anyways
Why couldn't you just put some corn or whatever you want to use up against a big tree that has fallen or a tree stump? They will bump there antlers while eating and may knock them off there.
I put this together to try this year for the first time. I have 5 different bucks using this feeder right now. They have ate 50 pound bag outta there so I know they ain't scared of the straps. It may work then again I may not get anything but heck I'm only out like $15.00.