What do you guys think about bait and lures.

I have only used one commercial lure with limited sucess, but have caught critters with eggs, tuna, cheetos and other stuff I have just grabbed on the way out.

I have been contemplating trying some of Bob Jamesons lures but wondering if these bought ones really up the catch numbers.

I was looking at grub stake and the fireball series.

It's just a few bucks to give it a try...

I have used Bob's lures and baits with good success for many years. His woodchuck lures are excellent, and I use the LTS trailing scents, Fireball,(for Coon) and Peaches and Cream( Coon and Wood Chucks) on a regular basis. About the only other bait we buy is Rob Erickson's Squirrel Paste. Not only does it catch Squirrels, but is a good skunk bait, and an excellent coon bait that will not catch cats. I tried many jars of Grub Stake, and gave it more than a fair chance on skunks that were grubbing, and had no success with it, that was just our experience and it may do well in your area.

I also use several item from the pantry, but I also use a lure. This is why, In a lot of cases the customer is watching me make the set. Most of them say, Cheetos I can get them any where. My reply is yes, but I am just using the Cheetos for the lure because it is easier and makes less of a mess. It make you look more professional. I also like using a lure because you can put the lure up hi to get the smell out further.

Eggs work well, especially cultured eggs. Any kind of fish works, tuna, sardines, etc. Cheese and anything smelling like cheese works. Peanuts and peanut butter works. If you have pets, dog and cat food works.

Left over bones from chicken, beef and pork work pretty well.

Canned pie filling can be used as a base for a sweet bait.

Baking extracts like vanilla and almond can be useful.

I think pretty much all of the commercial baits and lures will work. Every once in a while you will come across one that doesn't but most will.

Gumbo

I used some stale Trix cereal not long ago to catch 3 raccoon in one night. My boys were tired of them so I snatched em up. Great for trailing. Also use vanilla, anise and plenty of stale marshmallows!! They also like Froot Loops, little Debbie's and bunch of stuff that's going to get thrown out. I too use baits and lures when need be.

Here is my list of things that won't catch raccoons......

1. I can't think of anything

2. See number 1

No coon is worth a little Debbie! Not even an evil trap-shy female in the soffit. There's plenty of other options to investigate first!

If you feed all the pantry junk to the coons your chickens will starve!!

Lol!

I have baits on my truck, but can't say they work better than stuff I can find in a convenience or grocery store. On estimates I can't impress people with Oreos or cream filled oatmeal cookies. I've actually had people call the office ticked off that i put half an Oreo in a skunk trap. The lucky skunk got the double stuffed filling... The guy was skeptical until I caught it that night.

I tell them I use commercial (and imply they are hard to get) lures along with some sort of eye candy to get the target's attention. I found I get fewer people trying the "I can buy a trap for $50 at the hardware store" if they think I'm using something special that they can't get as bait. Those oatmeal cookies are the bomb though!

FYI, those oatmeal cookies are $1.79 for a pack of 12 at the local convenience store.

This is really funny stuff! As a kid, I ate my share of oatmeal and didn't hate it. I have hated oatmeal cookies from day 1. I would

never expect my prey to eat something that I hate, so I bait with stuff that I used to love. We use hundreds of dollars worth of

marshmallows every year, because of their color and their propensity to hold lure. Now I haven't eaten a marshmallow in many years

but who is to say that my technicians haven't? I may be wasting a lot of money just to make my employees white and fluffy!

And I bet you just thought they didn't have a tan because it's Wisconsin.