Show me yours and I'll show you mine,... BAIT STATION ! (Pic heavy)

[EdinGa]

Loving it already and I'm only on page 4..

[customcutter]

Well I was asleep at my post.  Almost 11:30PM and it went off several times.  I went out the side door in the garage instead of using the sliding glass door that would be too noisy.  Still only have a flashlight, so I got all the way to the edge of the pool enclosure and flashed the light on.  Nothing, I waited a minute or two no eye shine anywhere along the fence line.  I went over to the station and sure enough the apple core was gone and some of the peanut butter was licked off.  Most of the bird seed appeared to be there.

Ordering 2 solar landscaping lights tomorrow from Amazon with multi color or single color function.  I'll put each one in line with possible shooting lanes so that they will blind the target to my presence.

Meanwhile I'll keep feeding the enemy and learning their tactics!  Full steam ahead!

[customcutter]

I checked the bait station again this AM.  Something had gone back and finished licking the PB off of it.  Bird seed was still mostly there.  The wife was up at 4AM and said the DD didn't go off this AM.  I added some left over trimmings off of some breakfast ham.

I ordered these lights from Amazon.  They will be here tomorrow.


Here's a pic of the station and DD eye.  It is near the corner of the fence under a quava bush about 15' past the end of the garden.  I plan to put the lights in 2 possible shooting lanes, one to the west and one to the north.  Hopefully it will blind them when I am trying to sneak into position for a shot.

Station is 2 pieces of 2' square 3/4" T111 paneling with 2 layers of 2X4 heart cut yellow pine.  Don't want any pass throughs, and I can use it for target practice during the day.

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

Those are some pretty cool lights!  The red may illuminate the target without scarring off the rats.  Rats don't like being in the spotlight, so hopefully they aren't too bright.

[customcutter]

Those are some pretty cool lights!  The red may illuminate the target without scarring off the rats.  Rats don't like being in the spotlight, so hopefully they aren't too bright.

I wanted solar and these are 18650 cells.  The heads tilt and color is selectable.  I figure I can move them in or out to an acceptable distance so that I can still see and they don't spook the rats.  I need to paint the 2X4's so that the rats will be more visible. 

[customcutter]

7:50 PM and the alarm went off.  Had the AEA Carbine ready, rushed around to the side of the house.  Lit the area up with a flashlight and nothing...   I waited a few minutes and finally went over and checked the station.  Half of the ham skin was gone.  Back in the house, and at 8:10 same thing and all the bait is gone.

I'm luring them into a false sense of security.  Lights and camera will be here tomorrow. Look out VERMIN! 

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

I got 2 rats and a mouse this weekend!  This morning I was watching 2 more rats at the feed station.  It's going to be cold and rainy the next couple days, so I'll continue to feed them and lull them into feeling safe and secure and hope they call their buddies to come join them!

[customcutter]

I got 2 rats and a mouse this weekend!  This morning I was watching 2 more rats at the feed station.  It's going to be cold and rainy the next couple days, so I'll continue to feed them and lull them into feeling safe and secure and hope they call their buddies to come join them!

Glad to hear you are getting more activity, keep after the cats as far as chasing them off!  Not  sure where the "Redneck Riviera" is.  Yes we had frost this morning, for the first time in 2 or 3 years.  Temps in the low 30's, just east of Tampa.  We've enjoyed chili, potatoe soup, and now vegetable beef soup, in the last week due to low temps!  It's cold running out in the night in flipflops and shorts and a short sleeve T-shirt!   SUCCESS will be mine.  They are in for a hurting!

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

We are in the Panhandle between Pensacola and Destin.  The temps here have been dipping into the 20's the past 2 nights!  Way too cold for shorts and flip flops!     We have seen a lot of frost as well.  Last week, it actually snowed just north of us!  Being close to the gulf help us a little, but when the winds are from the north, the warm gulf is not much help!!

[kbstingwing]

Guess what? I finally had a Mouse and a Rat come to the All Night Free Buffet and Lobotomy center, after what? 3-4 years of nothing since I wiped out the entire population of the rodents around here, finally some action again, I'm going to let them Munch as much as they want and let them bring the family for a few days and when action gets good, I'll give them the free Lobotomy...... I'll go easy on them so I don't deplete the local population too much.... I do want Lobotomy customers....

[Mr.P]

Nice setup!

It looks like some kids are having a good old time in that yard….

BREAKING NEWS > > > From the Department of Homestead Security.
 Intelligence Reports from recent covert surveillance operations, reveal the Dang Rats are attempting another advance.

  The line has been drawn.  The Opposition must be held at the line.
  There will be NO Compromises, We Do Not Negotiate with the Furry Terrorists, There will be NO Treaties.
  Neither Putin, the UN, PETA, Greenpeace, or the Avon Lady will any say in the matter.

  Headquarters (SWMBO) has sent down an Executive Order, with explicit instructions for all Security Forces .
  "Develop all Strategies and Equipment, . . . Deploy all Offensive Capabilities . . . Destroy the Enemy"
  The Commander in Chief (SWMBO) has authorized the use of Full Force . . . Stay tuned for further updates.
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I thought it might be kind of fun, to have a thread for showing your Bait Stations. . . so I'll Show you Mine, and you Show us Yours.
I Just tossed a couple of these together to try for a assault tonight,




hung them on the chicken coop...





and pulled back to take a few practice shots...








It's 22 yds from bench rest to target. Shot a few groups to zero the scope...

First group freehand




Then some clicks for windage and elevation,.... and stabilized on to bench
Shot two more practice groups







 Baited with some fruit, some peanut butter, and sprinkled with chicken feed lay pellets.





Waited for dark, Pumped up the 1322 carbine, and turned on the ding donger... (this might be a "purty tuff" shot I think)...






Come on little donger,.... let me her you sing !

[customcutter]

The game trail cam arrived this AM.  The landscape lights arrived this PM.  Review are in the other threads.

I installed the Camera this AM, and painted the backstop a light beige color so that Rattus is easily identified.  I also re-baited with a potatoe from the fridge that was starting to wrinkle and dry out.  I cut in half, then into 8 smaller pieces of the half and placed 8 pieces on the station.  I have no idea if they will be attracted but figured it was better than throwing it in the trash.

I went out this afternoon to install the light after programming to red, and one of the eight pieces of raw potatoe was missing.   But the ding donger hasn't alarmed all day?  Maybe I got it on the camera!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!  I feel like a movie director, but actually I'm a rat brain surgeon!  Free lobotomies for all RATTUS/VERMIN!  Come one, come all!

Pic of current set up.  I need to smear more peanut butter for scent.

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

Very thoughtful having a handicap accessible ramp for your Rattus/Vermin!     You sure don't want to discriminate against the less viable critters!  Equal Opportunity Lobotomies for all!   

[customcutter]

I had to add the ramp because that part of the yard slopes down probably a foot over a 10 foot span.  I need to shoot over the top of my Collard, Turnip, and Mustard greens also if I shoot from the west.  If I shoot from that direction I will probably have to install my 2 man pop-up turkey blind and wait them out.  Trying to get out onto the porch/pool area and sneak to the door I'm in direct sight line of the station and will probably spook them.

If I go out the garage side door, and attack from the north hopefully I can get to the corner of the pool enclosure (about 20 yd shot).  That's the angle I lined up the light with,  but as stated in my other post by another member it probably won't blind them to my approach as it is red, and not in their visible spectrums.  RATS (hopefully not foiled again)!

I don't have a window available to shoot out of without shooting through my brand new screens on the pool enclosure.  That would probably get me a cast iron skillet to the noggin from the SHMBO.  Sorry wife I meant!

[Rat Sniper (AKA: PaulT58)]

Okay, now I have this vision of you in full SWAT gear skulking around in the dark ready to ambush those dastardly rats!   

[customcutter]

No SWAT gear, I might hurt myself putting it on or taking it off!  

I was properly clothed though.  No shorts, flip flops, and Tshirt tonight.  Tennis SNEAKERS, long blue jeans and a zip up Walmart Realtree long sleeve pull over.  No way the Rastards saw me coming.

The alarm went off at 8:15, I was there in a FLASH.  QUICK LIKE, NOT THE STREAKING VARIETY!  Try getting that mental picture out of your mind without meds.  67 year old, 280# naked man running through the yard with an AEA HP TD CARBINE!

Anyway back to the story.  I got to the edge of the pool on the north side.  The heat pump was running so it covered any sound I was making.  I set up on the edge of the pool and held my position for hours.  (OK 10 minutes,  Alright maybe 2 minutes).  No activity, but visibility was good except for some shadows due to the light being below the deck on the station.  After a couple of minutes that seemed like hours, I advanced on the enemy.  Dang, I had 8 pieces of potatoe this morning, they got one during the day without setting of the ding donger.  This time there was only 6 pieces.

WHAT DO THEY THINK THIS IS A DRIVE THROUGH DASH AND DART?

OK, I've got to review my tactics, ADAPT AND OVERCOME!  Maybe I'll use a thin sheet of something that I can clamp down onto the deck after I glue the little morsels to it.

They are much more intelligent and sneaky creatures than I thought.  No wonder they've been around longer than humans.  Probably almost as smart as cockroaches.  Don't tell my wife SWMBO that I said cockroaches.  She hates them so bad she'll make me wash my mouth out with soap!  I once saw her do a triple back flip twisting somersault thingy that would have easily won any Olympic beam dismount, when a roach ALMOST crawled across her foot.

[Tater]

The alarm went off at 8:15, I was there in a FLASH.  QUICK LIKE, NOT THE STREAKING VARIETY!  Try getting that mental picture out of your mind without meds.  67 year old, 280# naked man running through the yard

     

[customcutter]

TATER, EXACTLY!!!     It'll make you want to poke a sharp stick in your minds eye.

[ER00z]

Ken,
Roaches... Lol. Once woke up to a Palmetto bug crawling up my shorts     

Think I jumped 5ft in the air, from a dead sleep. Filled in the crevice above the a/c unit (in the wall) right after that. Something my girl at the time wanted me to do previously.

Anyways, looks like a good setup you got going.

[customcutter]

It was 11:55 PM, you know almost the WITCHING HOUR!  DING DONG, DING DONG 10 seconds apart, as I headed into the garage to attack from the north.  DING DONG! 

No heat pump running this time to cover my approach, so I waited for the sounds of an approaching car.  (Yeah, I'm the first house in the sub-division, next to a busy road.)  I peeked around the 2 1/2" corner post on the pool screen.  Don't ask me how a 280# man can hide behind a 2 1/2" post, it's something I learned from watching Wiley Coyote on Roadrunner in my youth.  It only works if you tip-toe though.  You know how he did it, why am I explaining secret tactics to you.  Nothing, of course I was night blind from staring at the computer screen for hours, waiting on the tell tale DING DONG. 

I waited for hours again (yep, exactly 15 minutes).  I kept raising the gun, bracing against the pool screen, vision was slowly returning.  One time I thought I saw eye shine, so I cranked the scope up to 16X, nope just a twig that was glowing in the eerie red lighting.   

Then, exactly the opposite of suddenly, he was there!  Slinking in, doing a super slow motion maneuver.  I knew exactly how he had gotten the piece of tater earlier.  He tricked the DING DONG motion detector, by going into super slow motion.  It reminded me of my dad's 1961 1 ton GMC stake body truck, 4 speed on the floor, with a double low granny gear.  Seriously it was geared so low you could drop the clutch, get out of the truck, crawl under the truck with a bottle jack and jack it up, and change the passenger side front tire before it would pull off of the jack!

He was HUUUGGGEEE!  Seriously, that same mutation that caused those hot spring diving monkeys on Mt. Fuji to turn into GIGANTA PITHACUS (you know BIGFOOT), was at work here.  He was absolutely large, almost filling the scope.   He made a couple of slow passes in front of the ramp.  Then he made a break for the taters.  Up the ramp he went.  I was debating a heart/lung shot or a brain shot.  I decided that a brain DRT shot was better, I didn't want the neighbor finding a fresh kill in their yard.  As he got to the top of the ramp, quartering at about 10*, he looked to the right.  I was locked in at the base of the skull, I could visualize the pellet making a pass through the brain and taking out his right eye.  I squeezed of the shot off, expecting a THUNK, THEN WHACK!  Instead I got a tink, and a plink.  It was like pulling the pin on a grenade, and getting a PPPPFFFFFFFZZZZZZZ.  It sounded like a Daisy red rider BB gun hitting the fence below the monster.  Not the .25 cal carbine capable of ripping through 2x4's.

I knew exactly how Tom Brady felt when the kicker put the football through the uprights.  Defeat snatched by the jaws of Victory, and firmly in his grasp!   My son called Sunday at half time and told my wife, "If dad's watching the game, take the remote and change the channel."  I am the Bucs kryptonite.  I don't watch and could care less.  (For reasons, I can't discuss here.)  I used to watch and when I did they lost almost everytime.  I watched the first game in years, since before Brady came a few weeks ago, just to see what all the hoopla was about!  Yep, they lost and I told my son I watched, he was furious!   But yeah, that's exactly how I felt DEFEATED!

All that time, all that effort, all that training (especially the tip-toe sneaky maneuver), and the humungous GENUS GIGANTA RATUS GRINNEROUS won the field...