While Im waiting for the season to start, Im trying to create a couple of rack/antler traps for the upcoming shed season. I know that some sites sell them but they seem overpriced for what they really are. I plan on trying to create something like the actual rack trap, with bungee cords and a feeding bowl. Have any of you made something like this or a completely different design that you could post pictures of? Im just trying to get some other ideas. I might make a couple different ones and see which is better. Any ideas for a design would be great. Thanks everyone.
I personally would not use one. The chances of a buck getting wrapped up in it before he is ready to shed is too high in my opinion. But the bungees area better option.
take a compound bucket and some wire fence material and wrap it around the bucket, then cut a opening big enough for a deer to stick its head but not antlers in, then fill the bucket with some deer food, and when the buck goes to eat it will hit its antlers get scared and in attempt to run away the antlers will catch in the fence and be removed, when setting a site up make sure you secure the fence to a tree so it is not knocked over.
MAN UP DUDE! Run them down and snatch'm off their head. Personaly I would'nt use them either. I've seen a buck with 2 bungee cords tied up in his antlers and a trap is probably where he got them.
http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/trail-cameras/284987-bucks-antler-trap.html similar to this, but if you attach it to a bucket it makes it portable/ reusable.
Never said I would stop shed hunting. I still plan on doing so but thought it would be cool to try something different.
I was thinking of doing one too. My idea was going to be a post in the ground with the black bungees going from the top and staking them in the ground all around it kind of like a tee pee. Then put the majority of corn under the canopy of bungees and having a little bit on the outside to lure them in to take the food infer the bungees. Just a thought!!!
Some sort of bungee cord setup is the best bet. Anything other than that (wire fence) is just plain irresponsible and could injure or cause the deer to injure himself if the antlers aren't ready to come off and he gets tangled. Lightweight bungee cords can easily be snapped if a deer somehow manages to be come tangled and the antlers aren't ready to come off.
Thanks bowsie. That is pretty good idea. If deer got caught up he could break bungee cord easily or pull stake out. I am definitely sticking to bungee cords. Chicken wire or any other fence doesnt sound like good idea at all.
On safe option is to dig a hole under a downed tree and place food back up under the tree so when they stick their head under the tree their antlers are forced to push against it. Not as good as a trap but it works and maybe a little more humane.
ive done this but instead i put two logs on two cinder blocks with a slit in between them. Put your corn/bait in between the logs so it falls underneath of them since they are up on cinder blocks. When the buck reaches his head under neath the logs it knocks them off!
I haven't been sold of rack traps yet. Someday I may change my opinion, but for now the ethics of it are steering me away from using them.
Id like for someone to do a study on the rack trap. See how many bucks do get stuck and when it takes off the antler, does that affect next years growth.
