If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at catching a rabbit, then you may have heard about bunny bait.
What Is The Best Type Of Bunny Bait To Use?
Bunny bait can be made from many different ingredients and recipes.
The most common types are grain mixes, meat products, and sugar cubes or granules.
A good quality bunny bait will contain nothing but natural ingredients, so you don’t need to worry about any harmful chemicals being in it.
It should also not include anything artificial, such as corn syrup (which makes for an unhealthy bunny).
If you want to make your own bunny bait, there are plenty of resources online that tell you how to do this.
You could even buy some premade bunny bait if you prefer.
There are several options available, but all of them fall into one of two categories – those with a grain mix base or those without.
If you’re making your own, we recommend using the following recipe:
- 1 cup oats
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon peppermint oil
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
Mix these together well before adding water to form a paste.
This recipe has been tested by many people over the years, including myself, and it seems like it works very well.
Be sure to keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to add it to your trap.
Also note that the mint flavor might take away from the appeal of your lure.
If you want more of a “natural” look, then simply omit the peppermint oil altogether.
This recipe was developed by a friend who had tried numerous other recipes before finding success with this particular one.
Another popular option is to go with a meat-based recipe instead.
While they tend to be less effective than their nonmeat counterparts, they still work quite well.
Below are just a few examples of what I personally consider to be excellent rabbit baits.
Rabbit Bait Recipe #1:
- 3 cups ground beef
- 2 cups oatmeal
- ¾ cup onion powder
- 4 tablespoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon mustard powder
Combine everything together thoroughly and grind it down with a food processor or blender.
Once you’re done grinding, transfer the mixture to a large bowl and stir in 1/5th cup of water.
Next, pour out onto a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
Form a circle around the edges, cover it completely, and place it in the freezer overnight.
When you’re ready to start trapping, remove it from the freezer and let sit for about 10 minutes before placing it on top of your trap.
Rabbit Bait Recipe #2:
- 1 pound chicken breast strips
- 1 egg white
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 pinch oregano leaves
- dash of pepper
- dash of garlic powder
- salt & pepper to taste
In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except the seasoning.
Mix well and spread evenly across a cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Season the mixture once again, then roll it into small balls and freeze it overnight.
To prepare for use, remove the frozen treats from the freezer and toss them in a plastic baggie.
Place them on top of your trap when you set up for the night.
These are both great recipes, but if you really want to get creative, you can always experiment with other ingredients.
Here are a couple more delicious ideas for you:
Rabbit Bait Recipe #3:
- 1 cup brown rice
- 1 ½ pounds turkey kibbles
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1 jalapeno sliced thinly lengthwise
- 1 tbsp tomato sauce
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp hot pepper sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients together in a medium sized pot.
Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
Then turn off heat and allow to cool slightly.
Pour into ice cube trays and store in the refrigerator.
Use these cubes in place of regular ice cubes whenever possible.
Rabbit Bait Recipe #4:
- 1 lb.
- hamburger
- 1 cup uncooked pasta
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 8 oz.
- cream cheese softened
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
Cook noodles al dente according to package directions.
Combine all other ingredients together and pour over cooked noodles.
Stir to coat evenly.
Allow to cool and chill before serving.
I hope you found something useful here! As always, feel free to leave us a comment below to share your thoughts.
We love hearing from our readers!
What Is The Best Way To Catch A Bunny?
Bunnies are not hard to capture if you know how to do it.
The secret lies in what kind of bait you set out for them and when you put it there.
There are several different types of baits available on the market, but some work better than others depending on the situation.
One of the most common methods involves using peanut butter as bait or something similar.
This works because bunnies will eat anything so long as they think it has a nutritional value.
Peanut butter is full of protein which makes it an ideal food choice for a hungry bunny.
However, this method only works if you want to trap rabbits who are close by your home.
If you live somewhere where bunnies don’t roam freely around, then you need to find another solution.
Other ways to catch a rabbit
- Using corn cobs
- Using oats
- Using bread crumbs
The best time to set up a rabbit trap
You should also consider setting traps during specific times of year.
In Australia, springtime is the best season for trapping bunnies.
They tend to be more active during warmer months.
As such, you’ll get more chances to catch one during these months.
How Can I Make My Own Bunny Bait?
Bunnies are quite easy to trap with an old sock filled with peanut butter or honey and tied up around trees, posts, fences, etc.
The idea is to lure them into the trap by placing their favorite food close by.
Once they eat it, they will get stuck on the sticky substance, which makes it easier for you to capture them.
Things You Need To Make Your Own Bunny Bait Recipe
- An old pair of socks (or any other material)
- Peanut butter, honey, bacon grease, molasses, corn syrup, jelly, jam, chocolate sauce, jelly beans, marshmallows, popcorn kernels, raisins, oats, oatmeal, dried fruit, cereal, candy bars, cookies, cake, bread, crackers, cheese, ice cream, applesauce, yogurt, cream cheese, marmalade, jelly, sugar, salt, vinegar, mustard, hot dogs, eggs, milk, nuts, meatballs, fish, vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices, coffee, tea, beer, wine, liquor, lard, oil, margarine
- A spoon, knife, fork, or anything else you want to use as a weapon against the prey
What Are Some Common Ingredients In Bunny Bait?
Bunny bait recipes differ depending on where you live and what type of land you want to hunt for rabbits.
You’ll also need to consider whether or not you plan on using poison if you decide to use this method.
The following list includes the primary ingredients that are typically present in an average bunny bait recipe:
- Cane sugar (or corn syrup)
- Sugar water
- Dried blood meal
- Vitamin B-12 pills
- Carrot powder
- Ground oats
- Water
- Salt
- Flour
- Grainy breadcrumbs
- Molasses
- Peanut butter
- Powdered milk
- Tobacco
Other ingredients
There are many other ingredients commonly found in bunny bait recipes.
These include things like dried herbs such as marjoram, dill, sage, rosemary, parsley, thyme, oregano, and others.
They may be added in order to give your baits a more pungent flavor.
Some people add garlic in their recipes because they think it will attract more rabbits.
Some hunters believe adding molasses helps them get better results when hunting with bunny bait.
Others believe that molasses makes their bait less likely to stick together during transport.
You might also find that certain brands of peanut butter contain additives which may help to improve the taste of your homemade bait.
For example, one brand of “natural” peanut butter has been known to contain calcium propionate, which is believed to increase the attractiveness of the bait.
In addition to these, there are several types of lures and traps that could potentially be used to lure wild rabbits into your trap.
If you choose to go this route, you should know how to properly dispose of dead animals so that no diseases spread.
Here are some additional ingredients that you may see being included in homemade bunny bait recipes:
- Lemon juice
- Honey
- Garlic salt
- Hot sauce
- Chili pepper flakes
- Onions
- Raisins
- Tomato paste
- Butter
- Eggs
- Milk
- Oats
- Cornstarch
- Bananas
- Fruit cocktail
What Is The Most Effective Way To Use Bunny Bait?
Bunny bait has been around since the 1800s and it uses different methods to help lure wild rabbits into traps.
There are three main ways to make bunny bait:
- Bacon-flavored jelly beans or chocolate candy bars
- Canned beef with onion, carrots, and salt
- Corn on the cob
The recipes vary depending on what type of animal you want to trap.
For example, if you want to capture foxes, then you would probably need something more salty than a corn kernel.
If you were trying to trap coyotes, then you might consider adding onions, which can be toxic to them.
When making any kind of bait, though, it’s important to remember that it should never be eaten by animals.
This includes humans! Any animal that eats your bait will die from poison, so always check before eating anything that came out of the recipe.
Is There A Certain Time Of Year That Is Best For Using Bunny Bait?
Bunnies usually come out in the spring and summer months, but they can also be found during other seasons.
During colder weather you might not see as many rabbits hopping around, so it could be difficult to find one to trap with bunny bait.
When choosing which season to set up a bunny trap, consider how often you want to check on it or whether you plan on leaving it unattended for an extended period of time.
If you don’t need to check on the device very often, then setting it up outside of prime mating times will help ensure that it doesn’t attract unwanted attention from predators.
Springtime is a great time to set up a bunny trap
The ideal time for setting up a bunny trap is right after the first frost has hit.
This allows the snow to melt quickly and helps prevent any damage done by ice buildup.
Rabbits are nocturnal animals, so if you wait until later in the day when temperatures start to rise, then you won’t likely see them coming out.
You can always place the trap somewhere where you know they will frequent.
For example, if you live near a wooded area or forest, then placing the trap at the edge of your property should work well.
You can even put some food inside of the trap to entice wild rabbits closer to home.
Make sure that you leave the trap alone for several days before checking it again, otherwise you risk attracting more than just the intended prey.
Summertime is another good time to set up a bunny trap
Rabbits tend to spend more time outdoors in the warmer months because their natural instinct tells them that they should eat more insects and fruits.
There are two main factors that determine where you choose to set up your bunny trap – temperature and vegetation cover.
If you live in an area that gets plenty of sunlight throughout the day, then you’ll probably want to make sure that your bunny trap isn’t too close to trees or bushes.
The leaves will provide shade that can cause the heat to build up, making it harder for the rabbits to escape from the trap.
On the opposite side of this spectrum, some areas experience much less sun exposure.
In these cases, it would be better to position your trap away from shrubbery or tree branches.
That way the rabbits can run back into the safety of the woods without having to worry about being shaded while running through the undergrowth.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if you live in an area that experiences seasonal changes, then you’ll want to take those into consideration when planning where to locate your bunny trap.
If you live in a region where winter brings heavy snows, then you’ll want to avoid putting the trap anywhere near the ground.
If you live in a state like Colorado where warm summers bring heavy rains, then you’ll want to avoid putting your trap anywhere near water sources.
What Are The Consequences Of Using Bunny Bait?
Bunny baits can be made from many different materials and recipes.
The most popular ones include oats or corn meal mixed with peanut butter and sugar, as well as chocolate chips.
Some people also add raisins.
It doesn’t matter what ingredients you use in your bunny bait recipe because it will all work out fine if you follow these basic steps.
- Prepare some food, such as oatmeal, cereal, or granola (if you want something sweet).
- Mix together the two main ingredients—peanut butter and sugar—and place them inside a small container.
- Add raisins or other dried fruit.
- Close up the container and put it on top of whatever type of litter you plan to use.
- Place this box where you know rabbits often go to eat.
- Wait until the scent draws the rabbits into the area.
- You should now see the rabbits eating out of curiosity! If they don’t come running after seeing the bait, try again later when the weather warms up.
The next step is to set up an enclosure around your bunny bait.
This way, you won’t need to worry about losing any animals due to hunger or fear.
You just need to make sure that the enclosure has enough room for the rabbit to move around freely without getting stuck somewhere.
How Long Does Bunny Bait Last?
Bunny bait has been around for ages.
It was first introduced in the 1920s and it became an everyday staple of American farmers.
The idea behind this product is simple — when you place some type of foodstuff on your property, the animals will come there to eat it.
The most common types of foods that people use as bait include corn kernels, sunflower seeds, oats, peanut butter, carrots, apples, potatoes, or even meat products like chicken.
When these items are placed out in the field, they attract the attention of wild game such as deer, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, birds, etc., who then leave their habitat to feed on them.
This gives hunters a chance to spot wildlife while they’re eating.
However, if this method doesn’t work well enough, you can always resort to using something else.
Bunny bait recipes vary from person to person but most commonly contain corn meal, oatmeal, flour, or wheat berries.
These ingredients aren’t good for humans so they don’t taste very nice either.
In fact, they often smell terrible too!
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry wheat berries (or other grain)
- ½ teaspoon salt per ½ gallon water
- ¼ cup of sugar per 1 quart water
- ⅛ teaspoon dish soap (such as Dawn) per ¾ cup water
- ⅓ tablespoon baking soda per 2 cups water
- ⅔ cup white vinegar per 3 quarts water
Method
To make rabbit bait, add all of the ingredients into a pot and bring up to a boil.
Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 30 minutes.
Then turn off the stove and cover the pot with plastic wrap until cool.
Store the mixture in glass jars and keep in a dark cabinet away from sunlight.
How Should I Store My Bunny Bait?
The most important thing when storing your rabbit bait is ensuring it remains dry and free from moisture.
The best way to do this is by keeping the bait in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid.
You can also use silica gel packets if you don’t want to keep your bunny bait around for very long.
It’s also worth noting that you shouldn’t leave your rabbit bait out all day as they will get wet over time.
If you plan on leaving them outside overnight, place them inside first so they don’t become too damp.
Tips for storage of rabbit bait
- Use silica gel packs or desiccant beads instead of water-filled containers.
- Store the bunny bait somewhere cool (around freezing temperatures) but not cold (below -20°C).
- To prevent mould growth, avoid putting the bait directly into sunlight.
- Keep the bait away from any chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides.
What Are Some Safety Tips For Using Bunny Bait?
Bunnies love carrots and other vegetables as much as we do, but they can be dangerous if not handled properly.
The carrot in particular is extremely poisonous.
Carrots contain solanine, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, seizures, and even death if consumed by humans or animals.
The safest way to handle carrots is to cut them into small pieces before feeding the carrot to any animal.
This will help reduce the risk of poisoning from eating raw carrots.
If you want to use carrots, make sure to buy organic ones, especially when dealing with bunnies because it has been shown that pesticides on non-organic fruits and veggies can harm their health.
Other than consuming carrots directly, there are several ways to poison bunnies.
One method involves placing an onion near the food source where the rabbits eat.
Another common technique includes planting garlic around the area where the rabbits tend to feed.
Both methods work well, although onions are more effective since the smell of garlic tends to attract predators like raccoons, foxes, coyotes, owls, hawks, eagles, and wild dogs.
You can also purchase rabbit pellets made specifically for rabbits.
These come in many different flavors such as chocolate chip cookie dough, peanut butter cracker, cinnamon roll, brownie mix, and others.
You just need to place one of these pellets near the vegetable garden so its scent attracts the hungry little critters.
Rabbits are very smart and know how to avoid getting poisoned.
They might eat something once, but they won’t go back for seconds unless they absolutely have to.
Also, don’t forget to wash all vegetables thoroughly after harvesting them.
That way, you ensure that no trace of poison remains on them.
Equipment
- Pan
Ingredients
- 7 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 7 cups honey nut cheerios
- 3 cups pretzels sticks
- 1 cup salted peanuts
- 32 ounces vanilla almond bark chopped
- 20 ounce bag easter M&Ms
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
Instructions
- Put parchment paper on a sheet pan to prepare it. Leave it alone.
- In a sizable bowl, combine the rice Chex cereal, honey nut cheerios, pretzel sticks, and salted peanuts.
- Use a sizable microwave-safe dish to microwave the vanilla almond bark until it is melted. Stirring after each interval of 15 seconds in the microwave will help it melt thoroughly.
- Then, add the melted almond bark to the bowl of cereal mixture and stir to blend well.
- Butterscotch chips and Easter M&Ms should be folded in gently.
- Place on the sheet pan that has been prepped.
- For about 45 minutes, equally distribute everything onto the sheet pan and let it sit.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.