Baiting
- Thread starter Cougar Jim
- Start date
spotstalkshoot
Well-known member
3rd last night from this bait location(did not seem interested in bait) came from about 300 yards to mouse squeaker. Liking the thermal, still looking for a mdvr so I can record shots. Male, 204R with 40 gr BIB again at 70 yards.
wildflights
Active member
Nice shooting Pmack & Burnsome. Great videos!
6mm06
Well-known member
Have been doing a bit of reminiscing this evening and viewed one of my old videos shortly after I first began baiting. I have been baiting for 11 years. This video was 10 years ago. Technology sure has come a long way since then.
Being a poor boy I had to start cheap with night vision. That was when the traditional NV scopes were common, and all I could afford at the time was a Gen 1 scope. Many advised me to “save your money and get a Gen 3.” Well, I could have saved for years for a Gen 3 and missed out on a lot of coyote hunting inbetween.
So, I got a Gen 1. It was pretty pitiful then, ancient and antiquated by today’s standards. It was built like a tank, big and heavy as an anvil. I made it work though by using small IR lights mounted at the bait site, and used trail camera IR to my benefit by setting the camera to the longest video seconds the camera would allow. It worked. I dropped coyotes with it, but it left a lot to be desired.
Just thought it might be good to cover the topic of our early bait hunting back in the day to see how far we have advanced in a relatively short time.
After the Gen 1 scope I began experimenting with a home-made scope I put together, getting the design from Youtube. The Gen 1 was put to shame by it, so I sold it and hunted quite a bit with the new home-made deal. I dropped several coyotes with that outfit from my 6x45 Dtech AR and a CZ 527 in .17 Remington. The outfit was cheap to build - about half the cost of the ATN Spartan and had a fantastic view. I still have it.
From then I went to a digital scope. I started with two Photon scopes - still have the 6.5x XT model. Later I went with an ATN X-Sight 2, and now have the 4k Pro. The home-made scope is better than the Gen 1, Photons and X-Sight 2. It is actually better than a Gen 2 scope I had for a short time.
Then the thermal ( or should I say “wallet busting” ) craze came along. Eventually I had to join in. Like Popeye the Sailor used to say, “I can’t stands it no more” so I got one. I love it - coyotes don’t. Then I had to have a thermal scanner, so I got the AGM Rattler 25 thinking it could do double duty as rifle scope and scanner. I mounted it on my 6x45 to test and began dropping coyotes. Problem now is that I can’t stand the thought of removing it. So, looks like I still need a scanner.
It’s anyone’s guess where future technology will go, but I think I can say with confidence it won’t be cheap.
Being a poor boy I had to start cheap with night vision. That was when the traditional NV scopes were common, and all I could afford at the time was a Gen 1 scope. Many advised me to “save your money and get a Gen 3.” Well, I could have saved for years for a Gen 3 and missed out on a lot of coyote hunting inbetween.
So, I got a Gen 1. It was pretty pitiful then, ancient and antiquated by today’s standards. It was built like a tank, big and heavy as an anvil. I made it work though by using small IR lights mounted at the bait site, and used trail camera IR to my benefit by setting the camera to the longest video seconds the camera would allow. It worked. I dropped coyotes with it, but it left a lot to be desired.
Just thought it might be good to cover the topic of our early bait hunting back in the day to see how far we have advanced in a relatively short time.
After the Gen 1 scope I began experimenting with a home-made scope I put together, getting the design from Youtube. The Gen 1 was put to shame by it, so I sold it and hunted quite a bit with the new home-made deal. I dropped several coyotes with that outfit from my 6x45 Dtech AR and a CZ 527 in .17 Remington. The outfit was cheap to build - about half the cost of the ATN Spartan and had a fantastic view. I still have it.
From then I went to a digital scope. I started with two Photon scopes - still have the 6.5x XT model. Later I went with an ATN X-Sight 2, and now have the 4k Pro. The home-made scope is better than the Gen 1, Photons and X-Sight 2. It is actually better than a Gen 2 scope I had for a short time.
Then the thermal ( or should I say “wallet busting” ) craze came along. Eventually I had to join in. Like Popeye the Sailor used to say, “I can’t stands it no more” so I got one. I love it - coyotes don’t. Then I had to have a thermal scanner, so I got the AGM Rattler 25 thinking it could do double duty as rifle scope and scanner. I mounted it on my 6x45 to test and began dropping coyotes. Problem now is that I can’t stand the thought of removing it. So, looks like I still need a scanner.
It’s anyone’s guess where future technology will go, but I think I can say with confidence it won’t be cheap.
baitpile
Active member
Ha, that's some great video out of the archives 06! When I started, I needed snow and a full moon. Used to set up all night with a set of binos and watch the pile in the moon light. That was pretty rare as some nights during the full moon cycle were overcast, or, I had to work the next day... Made for some pretty slim hunting.
Thanks for the post, good stuff.
Thanks for the post, good stuff.
wildflights
Active member
Great post 06. Amazing how good that bullet camera setup is. Especially when 850nm lights them up.
6mm06
Well-known member
Wildflights, I do believe the home-made deal will rival Gen 3, only it needs IR light. It is more cumbersome with wires and a 12 volt battery, but for a stationary setup like a bait site, it is all a guy needs.
More of the home-made night vision. The first clip shows the bullet camera alone with a 940nm spotlight.
For anyone wanting a cheap bait site night vision, it's hard to imagine one better than this. At the time I had about $230 invested in the build. Today prices are a little bit higher, but for probably less than $300 you can build this.
More of the home-made night vision. The first clip shows the bullet camera alone with a 940nm spotlight.
For anyone wanting a cheap bait site night vision, it's hard to imagine one better than this. At the time I had about $230 invested in the build. Today prices are a little bit higher, but for probably less than $300 you can build this.
Very nice. I have had three doubles come in over the years and got all of them. I shoot the smaller (female) through the shoulders and drop it in its tracks. Turn the light off and wait then the males come right back. Its odd that has worked for me all three times but it did. A older local coyote hunter with 45 years of experience told me that trick. He said if you take the male first the female almost never comes back.
I am surprised the 2ed one at your bait didn't return unless it was a very large female.
I am surprised the 2ed one at your bait didn't return unless it was a very large female.
I am getting back into hunting over bait. Before I moved 6 years ago I shot 40+ out of my back window over bait with a Chamberlyn door yard beeper. 72 yds worked great.
I had bought a ATN Thor and hated the customer service (or lack of) so bad I sold it and quit night hunting for 4 years. Now, today I am getting a Sightmark and maybe a thermal scanner. A buddy of mine has his ice shack set up on a field with a bait. The coyotes are hitting it very well. He has not had much time to hunt so I will start later this week.
I had bought a ATN Thor and hated the customer service (or lack of) so bad I sold it and quit night hunting for 4 years. Now, today I am getting a Sightmark and maybe a thermal scanner. A buddy of mine has his ice shack set up on a field with a bait. The coyotes are hitting it very well. He has not had much time to hunt so I will start later this week.
weekender
Well-known member
I know this has been asked many times but here it comes again. I have a new property that is really thick woods, no open ground. It has a good number of coyotes. I have a cabin set up there for my shoot house. I can only get there maybe once a week. Coyotes will come to a deer carcass well, but they don't like pork, (feral hogs). Buzzards come in droves, 25+ at the time and can strip a deer carcass in short order. The question is, will dog food in a deer feeder work to attract coyotes? I need something to last a week.
I have spent 7 nights there with only one coyote visit while I was there. Coyotes come in sporadic, and come best when a fresh deer carcass is there. By the time I get back, it has gone "cold".
I have spent 7 nights there with only one coyote visit while I was there. Coyotes come in sporadic, and come best when a fresh deer carcass is there. By the time I get back, it has gone "cold".
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DoubleUp
Well-known member
They will eat dry dog food so no reason why the automatic feeder won't work. I'd set it to go off about 15 minutes after sundown because buzzards may decide to eat that too. It might not be a bad idea to mix a little bacon grease and hand disperse to get them started eating it.
Good to see you back Scalloper. It's been a long absence. Whack em and stack em!
Good to see you back Scalloper. It's been a long absence. Whack em and stack em!
Burnsome...
Active member
Originally Posted By: weekenderI know this has been asked many times but here it comes again. I have a new property that is really thick woods, no open ground. It has a good number of coyotes. I have a cabin set up there for my shoot house. I can only get there maybe once a week. Coyotes will come to a deer carcass well, but they don't like pork, (feral hogs). Buzzards come in droves, 25+ at the time and can strip a deer carcass in short order. The question is, will dog food in a deer feeder work to attract coyotes? I need something to last a week.
I have spent 7 nights there with only one coyote visit while I was there. Coyotes come in sporadic, and come best when a fresh deer carcass is there. By the time I get back, it has gone "cold".
WE - at my shooting range property, we have an elevated deer type feeder and put dog food in it, which works fairly well. Takes a long time for the coyotes to get used to it though. One of my buddies upgraded the feeder and modified it to charge the battery via solar panel and he has it set to spin for 3 seconds spreading dog food around 7pm every evening. We see lots of fox and coons and maybe a couple of coyotes every week via trail cams set up there. We tried a "regular" deer feeder type and it didnt have the horse power to spin the heavier dog food, plus we had to get a dog food brand that was a little smaller than Ol' Roy standard dog food. Cant remember the details too much though, and the whole set up took a lot of modifications to make it work. Kind of a pain overall, but my buddy seems to have figured it out. Actually I dont hunt up there but he does because of his handicap he has to drive right up to the hunting spot and sit behind a shooting bench to hunt at night. Takes a lot of work to make it work but he manages. If I was to hunt there, I'd throw out bacon grease and/or other table scrap type food every evening hunting to add to the temptation and perhaps the smell might attract yotes in easier. If you could get a system to throw the food out while you're not up there it should keep them interested in the area and your trail cams will tell you that. Hope this helps
I have spent 7 nights there with only one coyote visit while I was there. Coyotes come in sporadic, and come best when a fresh deer carcass is there. By the time I get back, it has gone "cold".
WE - at my shooting range property, we have an elevated deer type feeder and put dog food in it, which works fairly well. Takes a long time for the coyotes to get used to it though. One of my buddies upgraded the feeder and modified it to charge the battery via solar panel and he has it set to spin for 3 seconds spreading dog food around 7pm every evening. We see lots of fox and coons and maybe a couple of coyotes every week via trail cams set up there. We tried a "regular" deer feeder type and it didnt have the horse power to spin the heavier dog food, plus we had to get a dog food brand that was a little smaller than Ol' Roy standard dog food. Cant remember the details too much though, and the whole set up took a lot of modifications to make it work. Kind of a pain overall, but my buddy seems to have figured it out. Actually I dont hunt up there but he does because of his handicap he has to drive right up to the hunting spot and sit behind a shooting bench to hunt at night. Takes a lot of work to make it work but he manages. If I was to hunt there, I'd throw out bacon grease and/or other table scrap type food every evening hunting to add to the temptation and perhaps the smell might attract yotes in easier. If you could get a system to throw the food out while you're not up there it should keep them interested in the area and your trail cams will tell you that. Hope this helps
Originally Posted By: weekenderI know this has been asked many times but here it comes again. I have a new property that is really thick woods, no open ground. It has a good number of coyotes. I have a cabin set up there for my shoot house. I can only get there maybe once a week. Coyotes will come to a deer carcass well, but they don't like pork, (feral hogs). Buzzards come in droves, 25+ at the time and can strip a deer carcass in short order. The question is, will dog food in a deer feeder work to attract coyotes? I need something to last a week.
I have spent 7 nights there with only one coyote visit while I was there. Coyotes come in sporadic, and come best when a fresh deer carcass is there. By the time I get back, it has gone "cold".
Cut a shooting lane 15-20 yds into the brush the birds dont like close tight areas and they will not clean out your bait this way.
I have spent 7 nights there with only one coyote visit while I was there. Coyotes come in sporadic, and come best when a fresh deer carcass is there. By the time I get back, it has gone "cold".
Cut a shooting lane 15-20 yds into the brush the birds dont like close tight areas and they will not clean out your bait this way.
Originally Posted By: DoubleUp
Good to see you back Scalloper. It's been a long absence. Whack em and stack em!
The bait is about 70 yds from the shack. I can only see 150-160yds tops total. Will the Seek thermal cel phone adaptor be adequate for scanning and seeing a heat signature at these ranges? I am not concerned with identifying the target I can do that with my rifle scope after seeing a "heat signature".
I am also considering buying a Sightmark Wraith. Do you have any experience with these?
Good to see you back Scalloper. It's been a long absence. Whack em and stack em!
The bait is about 70 yds from the shack. I can only see 150-160yds tops total. Will the Seek thermal cel phone adaptor be adequate for scanning and seeing a heat signature at these ranges? I am not concerned with identifying the target I can do that with my rifle scope after seeing a "heat signature".
I am also considering buying a Sightmark Wraith. Do you have any experience with these?
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DoubleUp
Well-known member
Scalloper, I don't know anything about the Seek. I did see this thermal which attaches to a cell phone talked about over on the Texas Hunting Forum. I don't know if it is called the Seek or not but seemed pretty impressive at $419 and would probably work okay for shooting over bait from an enclosed station.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2TvsRxJ_K0&feature=youtu.be
As to the Wraith, I purchased the Wraith Mini 2x16 back around the time of the Black Friday sales. I haven't shot anything with it, but it would be plenty adequate for your shooting setup. Actually purchased it to record some daytime videos, but it will be fine for a setup at night with the IR that comes with the unit. When calling coyotes I use the Bering Optics Super Yoter so I probably won't be using the Wraith for any night calling of coyotes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2TvsRxJ_K0&feature=youtu.be
As to the Wraith, I purchased the Wraith Mini 2x16 back around the time of the Black Friday sales. I haven't shot anything with it, but it would be plenty adequate for your shooting setup. Actually purchased it to record some daytime videos, but it will be fine for a setup at night with the IR that comes with the unit. When calling coyotes I use the Bering Optics Super Yoter so I probably won't be using the Wraith for any night calling of coyotes.
spotstalkshoot
Well-known member
You will need a clear path out to the bait with IR lighting and digital scopes. The IR will reflect back to the scope off brush,grass,fog,snow,rain. This will degrade the image, falling snow can completely block the image. The field of view is larger when base magnification is lower. Keeping a tight focus beam can help.