Birds taking the bait

andrew7

andrew7

Active member
I may eventually re read all the baiting threads 400+ pages, but thought this could be a topic many deal with and others are looking to cut the bird traffic back a little.

As I write this my cell cams are going wild with crows, magpies and eagles ravaging the bait pile, which in a way is good to draw attention of predators, but when the bait supply/ distance is a pain at times I would like to try to limit the birds a bit.

Do you guys have any great ways or ideas on how you reduce the bait theft by the feathered ones? I have thought about a cage to limit the spread of bait as well as limit the birds getting to the pile some. I wondered about the pile being on the edge more or in the woods.

Using butcher scraps from beef as well as slaughter material.
 
Scraps, I always freeze in 5gal buckets with water , no flying or running off with bait. Taper sided bucket helps, or warm the outside empty bucket at home. Put baitsicle in bag/pack. You can than put some evergreen on top, several inches thick. Carry some water with, freeze the branches on top. If there is snow , bury small pieces(bite size) around the site. The noses will find it.
 
Birds usually are spotting carion from the sky. I know it would be a lot of trouble to do this. Set up the bait pile late in the day,,, then stake out a tarp blue plastic from HF or box store. Use the lightweight Bungie cords. Don't cover the pile tight necessarily but 1 1/2 ft off the ground
Is fine. Paracord or rope is too slow when doing this.
Uncover when ready then cover when you leave
Camo net or leaves on the tarp helps to hide from birds.
 
its illegal to bait in PA if its visible from the sky. the Game commission doesnt want birds of prey getting caught in traps.

maybe place some pine branches over it ?
 
bohunr said:
its illegal to bait in PA if its visible from the sky. the Game commission doesnt want birds of prey getting caught in traps.

maybe place some pine branches over it ?
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May have to try that, just to see if it helps. We have a spot we can put it back in the trees more, but then the approach would really make it difficult to get in and sit with out them knowing you were there.
 
Here is what I am working with for location. About a 260 yard shot without having to be in their travel path or move through the woods to get to a location.
 

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I'm not in an overly heavy coyote populated area, so my bait sites have been pretty slow the past few years. It's been my experience that I need the birds to get my bait site going. It usually isn't until the birds pick the deer carcass open that I will get a coyote on it.
 
wolverines said:
I'm not in an overly heavy coyote populated area, so my bait sites have been pretty slow the past few years. It's been my experience that I need the birds to get my bait site going. It usually isn't until the birds pick the deer carcass open that I will get a coyote on it.
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We usually speed up that process by putting a slit in the belly.
 
wolverines said:
I'm not in an overly heavy coyote populated area, so my bait sites have been pretty slow the past few years. It's been my experience that I need the birds to get my bait site going. It usually isn't until the birds pick the deer carcass open that I will get a coyote on it.
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Yes the birds will definitely bring more attention, but birds bring birds too and they just sit there and eat and eat, so may need to thin some out. Might have to sit at the tree line with a shotgun and get a few more piled up as well as some rifle practice.
 
Open the rear ham area on roadkill deer or hog, about the size of a baseball. Coyote tend to feed forward than. I put them head into the prevailing wind, perpendicular to shooting location. For broadside shots. A frozen 5gal baitsicle can stay solid for several days if temps stay below 40° and out off the sun. More water/ice than scraps in refrig temps, more scraps in freezer temps.
 
Butcher scraps and trimmings is custom made for birds. You need a full roadkill carcass. Birds have a more difficult time with that. If you can't hang it from a tree, stake it down so the coyotes and whatever don't drag it off.
 
Beef guts, hides, heads do well with coyotes and would be easier to steak down, but can't always get those and some times the scraps are more readily available.

I would love to try to make bait Sickles that could be done in 5 gallon or larger buckets and last a while. It really just hasn't been cold enough for long in eastern wa. Or north idaho this winter. At times yes, but fewer and further between.

I talked to my buddy who owns the land and he is a big duck hunter, told him we need to take the full cokes out and knock some birds down and then when they get real weary get further back and run rifles for a bit. He already has a 300 to 350 yard range in another portion of that field into the trees.
 
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