So I am trying to figure out if anyone can explain the details of the PA Bait law. I know many states have similar laws. I do not put out bait where it can be seen and know I cannot do that. Its the lure I am wondering about and what qualifies as a lure VS bait.

I was reading some of my trapping books last night and read that for predators, something like a piece of tail is great as a visual attractant to predators. I read that before, but forgot about it unfortunately. Well I messed up a coon tail last week. I wanted to put some lure on a couple pieces of tail that are dried now and use it to plug the holes with bait on the dirt hole sets I have my MB-550s at. I figure with a coon tail no coon, opossum, or fox will hit those sets. It would probably help with all this rain too.

So what are the rules for lures? Same as bait? What about the tail since it has no meat and is dry?

Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

Time to go check my traps.

The best place for these type of questions is your local game warden/CO. Even some very experienced trappers misinterpret the rule book sometimes.

However, most states consider any type of animal product to be exposed bait. Bones, fur, etc are consider bait. The purpose of this is to keep birds out of your sets.
I don't think coon, opossum or fox will stay away from a piece of coon tail either. They might not want to eat it, but they will want to check it out.

Same as bait, not visible. Just push it down the hole.

If you’re asking about hanging for a visual, the answer to that is NO. Not even fake, look a like stuff either.

Thanks. I figured you guys would say that. I wanted to make sure I wasnt shooting myself in the foot with a bad interpretation.

Rubbing lure made from animal product on a scent post is legal under the same rules?

I have read the rules front to back a few times before asking these. I just am CMA by asking the experienced.

The rule was instated to protect bird's of pray. Right after they lifted the bounty on birds of pray. Go figure.
When I want to use something like a animal vent. I just put it between two flat rocks. Rock sandwich

No, Lure can be used in the open. Birds hunt by sight, not smell.

A lot of birds especially the corvids have exceptional sense of smell.Raven is one.

Can you point me towards more info on using vents? I have not head that before or read it in books. I guess I have tossed good lure into the fields where I trap for the yotes to eat.

New York State prohibits exposed bait but we can use exposed fur, feather and bones as long as no meat is attached.

Carcass: The body or parts thereof, meat, organs or viscera of an animal, including fish. Feathers (including feathers with attached skin or entire bird wings), hair (with or without skin or hide), and bones that include no attached meat, organs or viscera, are excluded from this definition.

a lot of PA law comes down to how the co interprets it.

I have caught crows in pocket sets. There was no way they could have seen the bait unless they were standing right in front of it (and that may have been tough because of the shelf/angle of the pocket). They had to have smelled my bait from above.

Title 34 - PA General Assembly
§ 2361. Unlawful acts concerning taking of furbearers.
(13) Bait a trap with meat or animal products if the bait is visible from the air.

The WCO is not the law, the law is the law.

I've read that entire thing looking for the state definition of bait vs lure. I know fishing bait can be eaten, lures trick them. That's why I was curious if the tail was dry and without flesh, if it would be a lure.

If I didn't read the law or join this site and someone was telling me about trapping they do, I would assume anything not edible is a lure. Whether it draws in by sight or smell. Technically Lure is animal product visible from the air, just really really tiny.

Not trying to be a jerk, just trying to think like the lawyers who wrote these things. Makes my head hurt

Key are words are "animal products". Anything made from animal products cannot be visible from the air.