Author Topic: Using 'rat carcuses for bait?? (Read 345 times)

Tim B · « **on:** July 09, 2003, 08:22:38 AM »

Hi Guys,
Hope the summer finds ya all well. Have any of you used Rat carcuses for bait? I saved 30 or 40 of them in the freezer last feb and will be using them as a bait in dirtholes along with lure. I was thinking of quartering or halfing them and discarding the guts before using as bait....any other ideas??
Thanks
Tim B

Bogmaster · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2003, 09:15:31 AM »

Tim, I use fresh rats in some of my pocket set for mink.I also took 6 mink in one week from the same cage trap--with a rat tied in the back.
Let your rats taint a bit for your canine sets, though I would use some fresh just to change up--either way rats make very good bait--seems like when you are on the low end of the food chain---everyone wants a piece of you. Tom

trappnman · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2003, 09:16:43 AM »

I never had much luck with using pieces of rat carcass for canines. I have had good results by chopping up the meat, adding beaver castor and letting the sun taint it for a few days.

Appleknocker · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2003, 10:29:04 AM »

I have had good luck using rats for mink bait early and mid season. Once things get cold and the rat freezes at the set nothing seems to want it but the mice and voles. Have tried rats for canine and it just seemed to draw the possums in the lower part of Michigan. Have had moderate success with rats in the UP for coyote and no success with rats for bobcat. Canadian jays (meat birds) really seem to be drawn to rats in the UP. Even with the rats covered in a dirt hole, the birds find them. If you do use rats, make sure you gut them. They have a large stomach area that breaks down quick.