Bait pipes

[blueeyes]

Hi guys I was out last night , watched a fox for sometime not interested in calls etc , the lay out of this ground is best suited for bait pipes etc, but due to the price of fuel it would not be feasible to run back and forth topping up and fed up with the corvids and buzzard emptying them anyway lol , so looking for suggestions what to put in them the are 6" and about 3ft long , was thinking dried dog food etc but if it gets wet will clog thanks in advance

 

[Merlyn]

While I was keepering I always thought bait stations were better than pipes for just the reasons you have stated. Get two or three three feet metal stakes and some lengths of wire - Fox snares work perfectly. Anytime you go to the ground try to take something with you, plucked carcasses, (geese are excellent) deer bits and bobs and skins, rabbits, pigeons, etc. Anything that will attract charlie. Put the three posts well into the ground so that the tractors etc don't get hung up in them. Put them in a group about five yards apart. Go as often as you can even if its only the nights that you are shooting. Keep adding stuff. Charlie will soon get used to the fact there is free grub on offer - But, because you fixed the baits to the wires and the wires to the post so they trail loose, he cannot take it away with him. That is important. He'll soon get used to checking the area out even on the nights that there is no new bait there. The carcass bones and the deer skins will last for ages. Just keep adding stuff to the wires as it is rots away or is eaten. If you can put them somewhere that you have a good backstop, where it is quiet and you have a good vantage point you should soon have a regular trade. It needs to be somewhere that on the nights you are not there Charlie can eat undisturbed. You can even add fox carcasses to the wires as long as you carved them up a bit. Charlie is not particular what he eats. You can also add a few loose fruits like apples and oranges or spread some cat food. They are omnivores. Let them feed up until you are there waiting for them. Then shoot straight, rebait and leave it quiet until next time.

 

[blueeyes]

Thanks should have said near a housing scheme so need to be a bit discreet.

 

[Bo Diddley]

I gave up on pipes after a few months, foxes like fresh, fresh is best. As Merlyn said just put the bait out in the same area as often as you can, I now put all of mine under sods of turf, once you have used a spade to lift a sod it's easy to just pop a bit of bait under each piece, fox works for it and it is not visible to raptors and maggies etc, or people.

 

[Overlay]

wouldn’t worry about being tooo regular putting out bait once you’ve got him visiting it will be on his to visit list and he’ll check it out anyway
sometimes little and often is best

 

[reddog]

I agree about putting bait under sods of earth but sometimes it gets raked out by dogs or badgers. Thinking about bait pipes myself as they are more discreet and from a distance can just look like a tree guard.

What's the best size of opening in the base that allows just a small amount of bait to be taken at a time? Intend using pheasant carcasses.

 

[blueeyes]

I have a slot about an inch wide by 3 inches and 1 inch holes drilled up the pipe for smell , I find if I put anything too big in it will jam up hence why I was thinking dog biscuits , got some today 10kg for 6.99 so will see how they fair mixed them with some table scraps as well

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmm.
None of my farmers permit bait pipes because they say it encourages various breeds of flies which can be a sheep problem. Soooo a good handful of dry dog nuts liberally sprinkled around in longish grass so that the fox has to work for it works as a great alternative.

 

[old 30-06]

I think bait stations are a better option. If it is in a sensitive area, then use a spade and semi-hide the bait under ground. It will not be obvious and will prevent magpies, etc, from congregating. If near housing then try to construct a "natural" hide from trees, brambles, etc, near to your bait station and use a 22 rimfire.

 

[Westley78]

I’ve run 2-3 baits pipes constantly with trail cams on for nearly two years and whilst I have seen many photos of foxes come in to the area to have a sniff or to eat the dry dog biscuits I scatter around, I have never once had a photo with them even trying to eat from the pipe itself, which has a 2-3 50mm dia holes drilled at the bottom to allow access to the bait.

Don’t get me wrong this set up has help get to know what is about and the time they are likely to be passing through, which has at times allow me to be in the right place at the right time but never seem one feed from it.

Just my opinion/experience I am sure others will differ

 

[blueeyes]

I’ve run 2-3 baits pipes constantly with trail cams on for nearly two years and whilst I have seen many photos of foxes come in to the area to have a sniff or to eat the dry dog biscuits I scatter around, I have never once had a photo with them even trying to eat from the pipe itself, which has a 2-3 50mm dia holes drilled at the bottom to allow access to the bait.

Don’t get me wrong this set up has help get to know what is about and the time they are likely to be passing through, which has at times allow me to be in the right place at the right time but never seem one feed from it.

Just my opinion/experience I am sure others will differ

I take it you have to top it up so something is eating the bait , do you use carcasses in the pipes or just dried dog biscuits tks

 

[Layton]

Ive had a bait pipe operating on a sheep farm for several years now. The reason I use it is because I cant get to the site regularly enough to bait. Its about 4ft high and 6 inch diameter. Hole near the base is about 3 inches high by about 5 inches wide. Half a dozen holes further up the pipe for scent to travel. I only use this from about November as before this anything gets fly blown very quickly. Pipe is fixed to a post in a field about 70m from my hide. I generally bait this with pigeon carcasses but anything I can get really - pheasant, venison, duck carcasses. One year I used squirrel carcasses and they disappeared in 1 night and Ive found these to be very popular with the foxes in my area ever since. There is no doubt foxes feed from it and Ive shot plenty but sometimes it just gets completely ignored and Ive seen foxes walk straight past it seemingly ignore it. Biggest problem seems to be bait getting hung up in the pipe so dont be tempted to pack it too hard to get more in, you need the bait to drop to the bottom hole. Ive not tried dog biscuit but might be fine if you can keep it dry in the pipe.

 

[Westley78]

I take it you have to top it up so something is eating the bait , do you use carcasses in the pipes or just dried dog biscuits tks

Grallocs, rabbits, squirrels basically anything going to waste goes in and the flys and maggots do their thing and it all decomposes down and stinks to high heaven….

 

[Ade8mm]

Hmmm.
None of my farmers permit bait pipes because they say it encourages various breeds of flies which can be a sheep problem. Soooo a good handful of dry dog nuts liberally sprinkled around in longish grass so that the fox has to work for it works as a great alternative.

And a .222 to finish the job

 

[Sika98k]

I’ve run 2-3 baits pipes constantly with trail cams on for nearly two years and whilst I have seen many photos of foxes come in to the area to have a sniff or to eat the dry dog biscuits I scatter around, I have never once had a photo with them even trying to eat from the pipe itself, which has a 2-3 50mm dia holes drilled at the bottom to allow access to the bait.

Don’t get me wrong this set up has help get to know what is about and the time they are likely to be passing through, which has at times allow me to be in the right place at the right time but never seem one feed from it.

Just my opinion/experience I am sure others will differ

They do come in for a feed. Although I admit the holes I cut are a bit larger. Some have small holes. The foxes simply dig put the ground underneath.

 

[Westley78]

Or set up and auto feeder to spin and hand full of dog biscuits once a day…..

 

[Foxyboy43]

And a .222 to finish the job

Ah bless! Clearly a man of high class and excellent judgement!

 

[Smellydog]

Ah bless! Clearly a man of high class and excellent judgement!

Nope, I've got one

 

[Foxyboy43]

Nope, I've got one

Ahah, silly me….

 

[User00036]

I'll say it again. "Bakers Meaty Chunks, beef flavour"