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

[OleTomCat]

I love this old thread, I eradicated most of the Tree Rats around me, they are finally making a comeback as we are getting ready to move...

[customcutter]

I love this old thread, I eradicated most of the Tree Rats around me, they are finally making a comeback as we are getting ready to move...

I found it a few days ago when I did a search for "bait station".  I was looking for ideas on how to set up, and what people were using.  I actually laughed out loud a couple of times.  Trying to revive it.....  Plus I want to be a member of I.F.A.R.T.

Thinking there should be some sub chapters like I.G.U.A.N.A.   (Im'a Gonna Uthenize Another Nasty Animal)  or maybe O.P.O.S.S.U.M.  (Old People Of Simple Skills Until Masters)

[EdinGa]

I really think this one needs to be a sticky. I'm back here trying to catch up on it every chance I get. 😂

[customcutter]

I inspected the AEA HP Carbine this morning.  The write up is here: 

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=195694.0

[customcutter]

I decided to set-up the bait station again today.  Took it down last week before the bad weather rolled in for several days.

I took everything down, lights, camera, eye for the ding donger.  Didn't want it getting wet/ruined on it's second night.  I put the ding donger in the bottom of a laundry detergent bottle.  I had completely forgot about that mod.  So when I started looking for it the SWMBO finally found it out on the lanai.  Good thing she knows where all my junk is when I can't find it.

While I was installing the card back in the trail cam, I noticed there was a piece of clear black plastic broken over one of the IR LEDS.  I'm thinking what the heck, how did that get broken?   Then I remembered the AEA and it's FTK (failure to kill).  The low velocity of the pellet caused it to shoot low, and you guessed it the camera was mounted in line with where I had shot from.  Can't even claim a ricochet.  I'll have to cut some from some scrap and try gluing it over the top to seal it.  Don't want water getting into the electronics. 

Station is baited with the skin off of a baked trout, and a leftover chicken leg. 

Going to load the mag and take a practice shot to make sure the valve is functioning properly.  Who knows maybe I'll get lucky tonight.  No I don't mean sleeping through the night without having to get up to go......

[customcutter]

Ding Donger went off at a little after 8, and almost every hour on the hour after that.  I had left the sliding glass door open, and it has several layers of curtains.   So I tried sneaking out onto the pool deck and out the side screen door.  3 tries and I never saw a thing.  Decided to call it a night and see what was on the camera in the morning.

Pics and video of a single possum up until midnight.  Also a 260# fat rat 5 minutes after each of the first 3 alarms.  Then there was lull until 2:30.  At 2:30 2 possoms showed up and finished off everything up until about 2:50AM.  The next video a few minutes later was a raccoon.  So multiple varmints.  Better check with the game commission and check game laws before proceeding any farther.  I'm pretty sure they can be considered pest, if destroying property.  Don't know if I have an obligation to prove which one is the culprit.

[customcutter]

Checked the FWC site:

Furbearer Regulations
Bobcat and otter may be trapped statewide Dec. 1 – March 1. No bag limits.
Raccoon, opossum, coyote, beaver, skunk and nutria may be trapped statewide year round. No bag limits.
Minks, Everglades minks, weasels and round-tailed muskrats cannot be taken or possessed.
License requirements
A furbearer trapping license ($26.50) is required:
When taking or attempting to take furbearing animals using traps or snares.
To sell the pelts to licensed fur dealers or meat of furbearing animals, whether taken by trap, snare or gun.
Methods of take
Furbearers may be taken with guns (including air guns), live traps, snares (including power snares) and recorded game calls. Live traps and snares must be checked every 24 hours. Hunting raccoons or opossums at night is allowed, but only .22-caliber rimfire firearms (other than .22-magnums) or single-shot .410-gauge shotguns (using shot not larger than size 6) may be used.

[OleTomCat]

Those are hunting regulations, check nuisance animal regs, here in SC I can shoot just about anything that's close to my home and a nuisance.

[customcutter]

Those are hunting regulations, check nuisance animal regs, here in SC I can shoot just about anything that's close to my home and a nuisance.

Yes, I know.  I think here in Fl you are allowed to take any "pest" or "nuisance" animals that are "causing or about to cause damage".  Don't want to have to explain to LEO it was about to cause damage.     According to the REGS, I can take them year round with anything up to a .22cal rifle or .410 shotgun. 

Thanks for the reply!

[Spacebus]

I really think this one needs to be a sticky. I'm back here trying to catch up on it every chance I get. 😂

I've been doing the same. After the thaw I will rig my vegetable garden with a bait station, my rattinator, and a sensor. Last spring we lost half of our garden to terrorist rodents and had to scramble to get some seedlings from the local markets. I trapped 20+ rats last year, but only after the damage was done. We still lost several nice pumpkins and cabbage even after getting the trap. I'm not losing all that food this year.

[customcutter]

Gertrude or any other members:

I am officially applying for I.F.A.R.T. membership!  My wife will swear that I'm a lifetime member if I need any witnesses.

My station is in post #702, and my first vermin dispatch with an air rifle is post #1 in the link below.  I spooked him off of the station but he was 15' away and about 20' up a mango tree in my backyard.  He or one of his brethren tore 2 holes in my brand new screens on the first day they were installed.  Other wise I give opossums a pass as they are beneficial if not causing damage.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=196126.0