Alright master baiters
I've got 3 barrels with removable lids and locking tops. Since I don't know what I'm doing, I'm going to make them all 3 different and see what I like. For bait mainstays, I'm going to rely on purchased bait, and sub in anything I can manage to get that is free or close. This will likely be molasses cob animal feed, which comes in at $11-12 for a 50 lb sack. I plan to douse it with some costco maple syrup, also cheap. Again, any freebies will reduce that... and I might try a 50 lb bag of costco dogfood, but that rings in at $17. I do plan on grabbing some used oil from local restaurants for some "com'ere bear" scent.
Hanging Bait Model: I want to have the ability to fill a barrel (or mostly fill a barrel) and have a slower feed process. I can't cut a 5" hole in the bottom of a barrel, because all my oats will flow out. Hanging bait model is my starting point for this and it might help keep my barrel from getting destroyed. They can bat it around, I don't have to worry bout heads getting stuck, harder for other animals to mess with. I'd hang it 5' off the ground or so.
Rolling Bait Model: I assume this is going to destroy the drum, but we'll see. Same thing as above, 3 small holes and chained loosely to a tree so that a bear rolls it around to get feed out. I'm thinking small, like 1.5" holes. Primarily would be the molasses cob and dog food. I'll chain this to a tree, but so it can roll around.
Traditional Bait Model: The reason I like this one less is that I can't fill it full of my loose food, only below the hole. Above the hole will have to be pastries or other food scraps that wont immediately fall out. I plan to have some of that, even if sparse. I did find that the Franz outlet here actually SELLS the old bread in carts for baiters... but you have to buy the whole cart. My only question with this one, is what size hole? People say small enough that a bear wont get its head stuck, but the smallest bear I've shot is 5"+ across. I swear larger bears have paws that would hardly fit in that. Any recommendations on hole size for the traditional look? Also, I plan not to cut a circle, but rather to cut an 'X' in the barrel and peen over the edges around to the inside, so that the edge is nice and rounded. I don't see people do this, is that a bad idea?
Enjoy my powerpoint art.