Antler Traps

[Nontypicalhunter]

Can someone tell me how to built one of these? All they are is a basic 5 gal. bucket with a bungee cord a foot above them? Is this correct and what do you use for bait? I've got a granny smith apple tree on my property so next year I'll be useing those but what about this year?
Thanks for your help.

[This message has been edited by Nontypicalhunter (edited 02-08-2002).]

[jason]

Hey,
i made one, not to long ago, but haven't put it out yet.
I used a bucket, pvc, and bunge cords. Your going to have to have a pvc pipe heater, to bend it in a U. I used a 2x4 to connect the pvc to the bucket, with 4 bolts. Then just ran my bungee chords from pvc to bucket. I just found a picture, and tryed my best to fallow it. But I used a 2 inch by 2inch peice of 2x4, and made a shim and attached it a quarter of the way down from the top of the bucket, so the bucket sits at a angle from the tree. And I used straps to hold it to the tree.
Well i hoped that helped some what. But i just made it, so it won't be put into use untile next year.! Good luck

[This message has been edited by jason (edited 02-09-2002).]

[Nontypicalhunter]

Thanks Jason. That gives me a idea of what I need to do, any advice on what bait to use? I'm use to walking all the time and wouldn't mind doing this the easy way every once in awhile.

[jason]

People use a varity of baits. Some use corn, some use special feed u can buy. I think what ever u use, i think if u put moth balls in with you're bait, it will keep all the little criters out. People use whole ears of corn, and others don't. Just try a few things, and she what they like the best.
Good luck.

[ceo]

Homemade antler trap devices hurt and kill deer every year. Not worth the trouble. DNR will have your lic. for years if you do so. Shed Hunter will be at the Iowa Deer Classic
with end of year sale on Shed hunter feeders (antler trap) around $40. Your time and effort making one that isn't safe is a waste.
go to www.antlertrap.net (http://www.antlertrap.net) and veiw.

[Iowa1]

Ceo, I've considered buying one of your antler traps but statments like that last one are about to cure me of such notions.

[Nontypicalhunter]

I second that Iowa1. I always thought this was a free country! My land I'll do what I wish, and I'm sure I won't kill any deer. From what I've seen on their website I can duplicate very easily and not spend more than $10.00. I wonder if Bill Gates started off by telling people it was unsafe and unlawful to build their own software?

[This message has been edited by Nontypicalhunter (edited 02-13-2002).]

[condor]

One thing I haven't been able to figure is why would one expect to find antlers around an empty five gallon bucket?

I mean, come on, a five gallon pail holds maybe 30 pounds of feed. A single deer will eat all the feed in as little as 3 days. Three or more deer will have that bucket clean by the end of the day. On most lands, 80%, or more, of the deer feeding will be done by bald-headed animals, not antlered bucks.

Also, it often takes several weeks for deer to find a man-placed deer feeder. I would venture to guess that it might take even longer for any deer, let alone a big buck, to ring up the nerve to stick its neck out and into a plastic pail, regardless of what's inside. In the meantime, without a lid, rain/snow will get onto the feed, which can produce a fungus that is sometimes fatal to whitetails (if corn is used for feed anyway). And, too, raccoon, squirrels, etc., will surely raid the bait bucket in the mean time.

And when the deer do find and utilize the feeder, then what? One would have to tromp into the woods on a nearly daily basis to refill it, scaring off and/or alerting any bucks that may have started to use the feeder.

I just don't see how an antler trap could work when used in association with a bucket anyway (though I do think that it could work when rigged appropriately, near or around, a timer feeding device or large-container feed source). Or, if I'm in a fog here and just don't see the light, please, show me the way....Condor

"Vegetarian -- Indian word for man who hunts bad"

[Nontypicalhunter]

Condor
All very good points, that's why I was asking for advice on this subject. I think that if anything the feeder will also produce a constant food source for the deer to feed at, thus creating a sort of trail you can follow to find the sheds if the cords do not knock them off on site.
I think the cords are there more or less just to help loosen the potential sheds. I'm still not convinced on these yet but I don't think it will hurt to try. I will probably end up using some of the sweet feed I use for my horses, they seem to love it so I'm sure the deer will.
And as far as feeding a few of the bald ones I don't mind, they may be pregnant with the future world record so a little added nutrition won't hurt!

[Iowa1]

I don't think deer eat as much corn as you might think. It takes quite a few deer to eat a five-gallon bucket full of corn out of my feeder in a night. If your bucket is in a good area and there is precious little other food around, I think it is reasonable that you would need to fill it every day though.

As far as loosening the sheds, I wonder about that. I think it might only be just be enough to pop those that are just about to pop anyway. Let me give you an example of whay I think that way. Back in the late 1970's and early 80's East Woods park in Forest City had a very nice buck (probably around 165-175 although I didn't know much about such things back then) in a pen with a few does. It was about the first of April when I went down there one day, trying to determine when that buck would shed. I'd been going by about twice a week. Sure enough, the buck had only one antler this day. He was a very aggressive buck (which is why they got rid of him the next year) and as soon as I walked up to the pen he began pushing at me through the woven wire with his eyes rolled back and he was breathing hard. The other shed was no where to be found. With his remaining antler sticking through the fence like that, I figured I would give him a little kick and dislodge it. I kinda banged it with my toe and it didn't budge, but the buck got more hostile, and was really shoving on the fence by now. I hauled off and gave the antler my best field goal kick which hit him solidly in the G3 with enough force to hurt my toe through my leather boots. I mean I had really given him a serious whack. The buck stepped back from the fence and shook his head, looking actually like I'd knocked him silly. The antler did not come off until a week or more later.

Point is, they don't come off until they are good and ready. Take it for what it's worth.

[full-strut]

I don't know if anyone else out there sat through one of the shed hunting seminars at the deer classic, but I was fortunate enough to relax my feet and unfortunate to hear a 30 minute Infomercial.

What a waste of my time. I was ready to go after the first statement about how homemade antler traps will kill the deer and you would loose your hunting rights from DNR if you made a trap and the deer got caught up in it and died. I guess, I will have to take all of the fences down around any food source as I may loose my hunting rights if a deer gets caught en route to feed.

I don't know what the speaker has a doctorate in, but I sure know I wasn't impressed with him or his seminar.

Anyone else out there have the same opinion??

I would be interested in a photo of the homemade shed trap which was spoken of in the beginning of this forum....

[jason]

I walked by his little stand up stairs. I watched for a little bit, but didn't pay close attention to what he was saying. I wasn't in the market to buy one since i've already made one. I would like to know, how mine could kill a deer, and his couldn't. I used the same consept. whats so hight tech about his and not mine?
Did u see the big antler trap that was on a tripod about 7' tall? A little condoit, some ducwork, bungee cords, and a drum would do the trick. Why buy one, when you could make one for very cheap? And still would be safe! I would like to see that guy to prove that home made antler traps aren't safe! But since he really can't, i think it's a bunch of bunk, and he just wanted you to buy his 5 gallon bucket for 40 some ott dollars!

[This message has been edited by jason (edited 02-17-2002).]

[This message has been edited by jason (edited 02-17-2002).]

[dc240nt]

The best and safest trap that I've heard of is nothing more then a couple of alfalfa bales layed about 5 inches apart and corn dumped inbetween the bales. The buck will put pressure on his antlers to get his head down to the corn. It works and its safe. Your DNR won't mind this one. Question.., who gave the seminars on shed hunting? Just curious.

[deerman]

OK,Its bashing time.I herd the sales pitch.I'm wondering why I would want to get deer antlers in this way.I enjoy viewing nice deer and there head sets.I do go shed hunting.But,I do not worship antlers.If I would buy or make something like this,set it up and check it every day and maybe get some sheds.I don't think that would measure up to finding one very small one in the woods while walking and enjoying nature.I'm saying some gadjets steal the reality of pure enjoyment.So IMO I think the idea is clever but is like a thief.And The fella selling them learned something from the old time medicine shows.I'm not caling the seller a thief because it is free enterprize and may get ya a few sheds.But it is much more of a thrill and memory to shed hunt the old fashion way.

[vike4life]

Full-Strut I also made the mistake of sitting in on the info-mertial. I was expecting to get some tips from some veteran shed hunters. Unfortunatly bucket boy wanted to sell me his feeder. I saw one gentelman in the back leave in the first ten minutes. I should of followed. By the looks on some peoples faces I don't think I would of been the last.
Compared to most people on this site I am very much a Rookie shed hunter so maybe I'm wrong here. But If I go all year without one shed I think I will have had more fun then if I go pull 50 out of a couple buckets. Hunting of any kind is not usually easy if it were we probably wouldn't do it. Just blowin a little steam, thanks.
Frank

[full-strut]

dc240nt- The person who gave the seminar on the sheds was Dr. Gary Lambert who is the president of Shed Hunter.

As far as I can tell, one of his associates or himself are logged on to this forum as CEO and has not responded to any of this criticism. I welcome their thoughts on the subject or do they, too, think this contraption is something along the lines of a one hit wonder!