hay bale set

[musher]

It seems to me that I once saw pics and details of a hay bale set (small bales) somewhere. I think Stef was the poster. I searched for it with no luck.

Does anyone have any info on this set. I'm thinking of trying it.

Of course it will be totally unnatural here but ...

[NattyBumpo]

I have used them for fox. Put the bale down where any fox coming into the field will see it. Since it is a great visual they will come from very far away.

Take a stake and punch a mouse hole in the side of the bale at the bottom and set trap in front of the hole. You can get doubles by also setting the other side if the bale. Squirt fox pee on the side of bale. You can also put ground mice in the hole. Probably any good lure will also work.

Some people put a little cracked corn under the bale and mice will burrow under the bale and live there all winter.

[foxtrapperwoman]

Maybe thinking of the hay set Musher? I know Stef has used the "PA style" hay set a few times. I have been using it since last winter, caught 14 fox then and so far this year have 6 caught in them. It is 2 traps hooked to the same staking system, layed out on the ground chains to the end, and covered lightly in hay, enough to break up the outline of the traps. Between them is a slice of hay. On the slice is put some fox pee ( or yote) and optional is some gland lure. I use liquid fox gland, just a drop each side of the slice. I do not chop out a trap bed for this set with fox, just lay the traps down on the bare ground and stick some hay under the levers so it is not too wobbly. I think with yotes, it might be good to stabalize the traps so they have no wobble.

If you were thinking of trying the set with wolves, well I dunno, but if you do and catch a wolf in it, that would be pretty neat.

[trappnman]

all hay sets are not the invention of the unamed one.....

Hay sets and hay bale sets have been around since there was hay and hay bales....

[musher]

Freakin' wolves are so jumpy I don't know if the hay would spook them.

[SgtWal]

I can't believe how many times I've seen someone describe this "NEW" set they saw. Everything from the hay or trash set to a sod set along a creek bank.
Maybe someone should reprint some of those old books.

wayne

[foxtrapperwoman]

How old is the hay set like I use? I am sure you- know- who is NOT the one who "invented" it. I don't know if it is something O'gorman picked up and then passed on to you know who, or what. Wherever it comes from, it works. It makes winter trapping where snares are a no no, pleasurable.

Musher, maybe just try a hay set for wolves, one young dumb one may walk into it smelling the wolf pee and get caught.

[dabrock]

This is my first try at the hay bale set. Caught a nice red fox. Had a coyote visit it last night, but trap was frozen down and would not fire, hope to catch him tonight. I put lure on a piece of rabbit fur and push in hole, seems to work well.

[bobwendt]

it must not have been too guarded as I remember reading about it in 6th grade, and I`m 58 now. What I want to know is exactly who invented the wheel. I claim it was me ,and unless someone can come up with a name of an earlier inventor I`m suing the big 3 auto makers for royaltys on my invention they stole. wonder if there is a statute of limitations on suing for ripping my wheel idea.

[bobwendt]

I swear, the glove doesn`t fit and I`m just a crippled old man!

[17kiss]

Steph , I dont think O'Gorman would like his name and that other fellows name mentioned in the same sentence. For what its worth

[SteveCraig]

I was using the this set when I was a kid too. I used it both with a full bale and using a flake of hay. Also used straw flakes and bales too. Used chicken manure mixed in with the hay as well. I learned this set from my Granddad. He was using this set before there were hay bales! The Good Book says that there is nothing new under the sun. The longer I live, the more I find this to be true. Just same old ideas recycled every other generation is all, and usually a new twist added to make it look new.

[foxtrapperwoman]

I thought you know who took ogorman classes, is that a lie too? Wouldn't be surprised at all. Of course a class you pay for vs friendship are 2 different things.

If the hay set as I know it was known way back, then why did it seem to not be popular all these years ? I would think such a SIMPLE and effective set would be in every fox trapping book.

I have not heard of Ron Hanson, where is he from? I am very interested in any history behind the set. Also any records set using only this set.

I am going to make some more today, had a fox dig a hole out and fire the trap at the set next to it. I want to get fox #27. My only set location right now and for 2 weeks. Call me lazy, but I get fed up with freeze thaw, rain snow, freeze thaw, peat moss, dry dirt, etc, these sets are all walk ins. Yesterdays fox was caught 1 paw each trap and nice and high, 1.5 softcatch in hay set.

I also like the hay set because it is easy to haul the makings in when you have to walk in due to mud. I need only new hay and some fox pee to remake it, no heavy bag of dry dirt, no sifter. It is nice too, easy on my carpal tunnel, my wrists and hands have really been aching and numbing lately from skinning everything. Worst are those old tough buck ears and turning them, and all the fleshing. I don't know how much longer they can hold out on me.

[countryboy]

would this work at stand of pine timber with some hardwoods mixed in and loggin roads runnin through might make a good visual atractor

[braveheart]

Ron Hansen showed me the bale set in the 80's.Also showed O'Gorman the set before I meet Craig.It is a good set but with the deer population they put them out of comission when the weather gets bad.And that is when they shine.I for a FACT know D.Stiers never was shown the set.Ron showed C.E. alot of stuff.

[bobwendt]

it`s just a flat set or a dirthole, as you choose, with a pile of hay, or the whole dang bale as a backing and sight appeal. I have a copy of the pa. game news from the 60`s buried in the shed somewhere that shows the variations of the hay (bale or pile) set. it showed setting the traps on the ground like steph described, and both dirt covered or hay covered, and also setting traps on top of the bales ,as fox just naturally climb up on them, especially if a dab of pee there. some even sleep on the bales on a sunny winter day, or use them as windbreaks to curl up behind on open country. the chaff set is very similar, but no pile or whole bale for backing or sight appeal. this stuff is all older than dirt. ron may well have re-invented the wheel , or at least told it around more than others so gets credit for inventing it. but I believe it was before his time too if push comes to shove. we homo sapiens have basically the same i.q. today as 200 years ago. in the 60`s the coyote hadn`t made it east yet and red foxes were king. this set is more of a red fox set than a coyote set. not to say coyotes can`t be taken in them, but they are tailored perfect for the poor dumb red fox that use to populate from the atlantic and thru iowa and wisc. and mn and the dakotas thick as fleas. now all dust in the wind except the few western towny fox and the tiny island of red fox stronghold left of md. and s.e. pa, why everyone is so mind blown by the 1,000 fox catches there. heck, no one else has the 1,000 to catch no matter how hard they work or how smart they are. those 1,000 boys bust butt, but it`s just like production coon or rat trapping in the coon or rat areas, easy if you are a worker and have a system of the basics. for that matter, no animal can withstand a human. we have superior intelligence, methods, and gear. the poor animals are dead meat at our pleasure if we so choose to spend the dime and time.

[edge]

I havent had any anmals spook at the bale set,and I have caught a few that would have no cause to know what a haybale is.
It was actually alfalfa.......maybe *I* invented the alfalfa set.
On second thought,it may have been the three generations before me.....either way,I dont want the pressure......
It is not really all that diffrent from the "Big Frozen Cow Pattie on the Bare and Frozen Tundra"set.I KNOW I invented that one.

@#$%,Man,eye appeal is eye appeal.

But dont tell anyone,K?

Edge

[braveheart]

The only bale set I use now is a round bale next to a road or crossing.I set on the road the critters all hide behind them and most of the time there is a long line of bales that hide everything.Just pull out some hay and I carry one bale of straw and use one section to blend in.I have caught possums to bobcats on them.And they stay working unless a massive snow or drifts.

[buckfreak]

why can't the "unnamed" one be named? I am kinda curious. Braveheart has a cool picture of a bobcat double at big hay bales. ;D among lots of coyote pix.