homemade larson traps

irish setter

i made a larson trap today and had a magpie in it this evening after about an hour. they work out at about 50 euro a trap. maybe ye all know how to make them but if anyones interested i'll post pics off them tomorrow??

foxshooter243

irish setter wrote: »

i made a larson trap today and had a magpie in it this evening after about an hour. they work out at about 50 euro a trap. maybe ye all know how to make them but if anyones interested i'll post pics off them tomorrow??

good stuff;) go ahead and post the pics so we can see your handiwork

pestshooter7

Post a list of instructions and materials aswell thanks!

bitemybanger

Hey Irish S,
where in the country are you? would it be possible to get a magpie(live) from you when you get another one for my trap? I cant seem to get one around here, thier too careful.
PM me if you can, Cheers.

irish setter

you'll need wire mesh inch square, cable ties, and springs. the springs i used were from timber rat traps

pestshooter7

Dats some good handy work!
Is there a side entry and a top entry in one?

irish setter

both compartments are top entry spring loaded doors held open by a perch which is cut in half. the magpie lands on the perch which springs shut above him. caught 6 over the weekend with it.

ivanthehunter

not a bad bit of handy work,
i think that a few bits of bullwire might have been better than cable ties

note: springs, Good trap springs are found on carrier bars for old bicycles, they are similar to rat trap springs but they are built with double mooring points for double Resistance

Sikamick

irish setter wrote: »

you'll need wire mesh inch square, cable ties, and springs. the springs i used were from timber rat traps

_________________________________________________________________

Do you have any drawings and dimensions for your Larsen traps. I have made five bird with timber and chicken wire but I like the look of your traps also could you PM me with the method on what type of springs and how there fitted.

Sikamick

kaizersoze1980

what do you do with the magpies once youve caught them?!

stevoman

kaizersoze1980 wrote: »

what do you do with the magpies once youve caught them?!

dispatch them usually, thats what we do anyways. the larson trap are a great tool. the only thing that turns me off them is all the Magpie sh*t in the back of the jeep after you move from place to place. dirty buggers they are

kaizersoze1980

why do magpies go into these traps? what bait do you put in?

meathstevie

Bitemybanger, give me a shout tonight around 9. I might have a magpie available, just have to check with another lad.

mallards

If you can't lay your hands on any springs for the job then Solway feeders do them.

Mallards.

irish setter

i don't have any drawings just went to see a commercial trap a nieghbouring gun club had took measurements and coppied that. its 4 ft by 20 ins by 20 ins. trap conpartments are 18 ins each. the springs could be better to be honest but there working fine till i get better

Invincible

kaizersoze1980 wrote: »

why do magpies go into these traps? what bait do you put in?

At this time of year,Magpies and Greycrows are breeding,so they become aggressive about their territory,any intruding bird that enters their area,will be unwelcome and chased away.The purpose of the trap is that it keeps this intruder stationary,when the resident pair hear the decoy bird cackling/crowing they try to chase it away,on approaching the trap they see a chance to attack the callbird and drop down on the split perch,which gives way under their weight and the trap springs shut.
To catch your first bird,create a nest in one of the catching compartments,using dried grass or hay and some hen eggs,break an egg on top of the trap to arouse their interest.
Avoid visiting the trap during daylight hors,as any uncaught birds watching from trees will become wary and will avoid being caught.
Provide the callbird with fresh water daily and feed with dogfood,Lidl do sausage type,cheap and tasty,,the callbird will be more lively and call actively when fed.

cavan shooter

if anyone wants plans for larsens send me a pm and I'll forward them i have both galv and wood

By the way to get the mags in go to the butcher and ask for some scraps, bone fat etc works a treat

flanum

well i started to make one today after work. bought two sheets of 2inch square mesh for 15 euros each. this is how far i got on this evening, ill finish tomorrow (or as soon as i get a couple springs), and then ill post the finished job. hopefully with a couple of mags in it.
measurements are: 18inches height, 70inches long, 18 inches wide.
the 2 trap compartments are 20x18x18 and the middle "judas bird" compartment is 30x18x18 (give him loads of room to flap wings and leap about)!
dead simple to make, the cable ties are a godsend, get it fixed together in no time! ill replace them this week with wire twists, but the cable ties are great for holding it together until then!

irish setter

i hope i'm wrong but i'm not so sure about the 2 in mesh. i gave a magpie to a friend who had a trap made of 2 in chicken wire and he escaped through it. someone here might know for sure

foxshooter243

was thinking thst myself but wasnt 100% sure

flanum

??? he must be a mad small magpie then! 2inches by 2!

foxshooter243

flanum wrote: »

??? he must be a mad small magpie then! 2inches by 2!

dont get me wrong flanun im not criticising, it was just a thought:)

flanum

no worries, the biggest engineering part of this project is the spring part. now im after gettin 4 rat-traps for 1.25 each in "tommys world of wonder"(tat), in cavan, yet in the same shop they have these "tyre foot-pump" ypokes for 4.50 eacch, and they have that class hoopy balanced spring, as opposed to the single rat-trap spring.! it doesnt matter, i know no matter what way i decide to finish this build off, itll be feckiin brilliant!
pics to come!

foxshooter243

flanum wrote: »

no worries, the biggest engineering part of this project is the spring part. now im after gettin 4 rat-traps for 1.25 each in "tommys world of wonder"(tat), in cavan, yet in the same shop they have these "tyre foot-pump" ypokes for 4.50 eacch, and they have that class hoopy balanced spring, as opposed to the single rat-trap spring.! it doesnt matter, i know no matter what way i decide to finish this build off, itll be feckiin brilliant!
pics to come!

good stuff ,cant wait to see your first incarcerated victim:D

ivanthehunter

flanum wrote: »

no worries, the biggest engineering part of this project is the spring part. now im after gettin 4 rat-traps for 1.25 each in "tommys world of wonder"(tat), in cavan, yet in the same shop they have these "tyre foot-pump" ypokes for 4.50 eacch, and they have that class hoopy balanced spring, as opposed to the single rat-trap spring.! it doesnt matter, i know no matter what way i decide to finish this build off, itll be feckiin brilliant!
pics to come!

try old bike shops for old springs of back carriers.
they'd be ideal for the larsen trap doors

Terrier

I have 2 large holding cages, one made from 2inch mesh (the exact same as above) and one of 1 inch mesh and i can say for defo that some smaller magpies can get through the 2inch stuff!

cavan shooter

Flanum

Where in cavan did you get the mesh

For any one interested heres where I got my plans

http://www.ew.govt.nz/enviroinfo/pests/animals/magpie/Construction.htm
http://www.landcare.co.nz/policies/files/Magpie_trap_four_banger.pdf

great info in general

Rovi

cavan shooter wrote: »

Where in cavan did you get the mesh

I know nothing of Cavan, but you'll get weldmesh in any builder's supply place or steelyard.

johngalway

http://www.dinglepoultry.com/game1.html

Pair of heavy duty Larsen trap springs, 7 Euro. I got two pair but have not made a trap as yet.

flanum

cavan shooter wrote: »

Flanum

Where in cavan did you get the mesh

i got it in cavan steel... its in ballyhaise, just over the bridge. he says hell get the inch square stuff next week.
i tried everywhere else.. homemakers,poles co-op,tractamotors etc. and ended up getting it from my own village!!

triggerpull

hi banger m8, i have a magpie you can have not too far either in athboy let me know:p

bitemybanger wrote: »

Hey Irish S,
where in the country are you? would it be possible to get a magpie(live) from you when you get another one for my trap? I cant seem to get one around here, thier too careful.
PM me if you can, Cheers.

bitemybanger

triggerpull wrote: »

hi banger m8, i have a magpie you can have not too far either in athboy let me know:p

Yeah man, that would be great. I got one from Meathstevie but the poor thing croaked on me in the trap, a fox must have turned the trap on its side and i found it dead the nexy day:mad:
When and where? pm if ye like

coburg

Hello Cavan Shooter

CAn you send me a copy of your plans for this trap please. I have at least 10 magpies around me and can't get rid of them. ANy help will be great.

Thanks in advance

cavan shooter wrote: »

if anyone wants plans for larsens send me a pm and I'll forward them i have both galv and wood

By the way to get the mags in go to the butcher and ask for some scraps, bone fat etc works a treat

Callow Man

Cavan Shooter,

Could you pm me a copy of your trap plans also. As with Coburg above I have magpies in the trees at the front of my house and as we have neighbours either side shooting them is not an option.

Many thanks.

coburg

Callow Man, Shooting your neighbours is never an option. Unless of course they ......:D

Valmont

Why catch magpies? Why would you want a live one?

deeksofdoom

Here are plans for a Larsen trap.

http://trapsncalls.uuuq.com/larsen_trap.htm

It wasn't me!

Valmont wrote: »

Why catch magpies? Why would you want a live one?

It acts as a call bird to attract other magpies, which are then easily dispatched in the trap, or your call bird is dispatched and the new bird acts as a caller.

Valmont

ok but why do you want to kill magpies?

Dvs

Valmont wrote: »

ok but why do you want to kill magpies?

Magpies are classified as vermin,
they raid other birds nests and steal their eggs they also kill chicks,
gun clubs invest a lot of money in game birds,
trying to help those game birds prosper involves controlling the predators that pray on them magpies, foxes, and grey crows (Carrion Crows).

As a by product it also helps to protect small birds such as finches and other song birds, which magpies also systematically hunt by working
hedgerows searching for nests to raid.

Magpies are also not a native Irish bird, they first arrived at the end of the 1700's and now there is an estimated population of 320,000 .

Dvs.

Rovi

This thread has just come to my attention as it contains some discussion of the sale/trade/donation of live wild animals.
This is specifically prohibited in the For Sale/Wanted forum charter:

5. Live Animals
Within the norms of Shooting/Hunting as practised in Ireland, live animals may be offered for sale.
For the moment, this is restricted to gundogs and ferrets; if you wish to trade in any other type of animal, contact the forum mods by PM before posting anything.
Specifically prohibited are wild animals, animals related to Fox Hunting (mounted) & Coursing, and animals for use as bait or decoys.
Pets and other domestic/domesticated livestock (horses, cattle, etc) are also prohibited.
All the normal rules regarding legality and commercial selling strictly apply.

...and while it's not specifically mentioned in the Hunting or general Shooting charters, we're reliably informed by legal persons and representatives of the NPWS that such activity is illegal, so it's therefore covered here by the general prohibition on illegal activity:

Advocating, condoning or soliciting information about breaking the law is prohibited; this includes but is not limited to:
breaching conditions of a license or authorisation;
use of a firearm for any purpose for which it is not licensed;
avoidance of taxes and duties.

The parts of this thread that would fall foul of these rules were posted long before the rules were put in place so no-one's in an sort of bother or anything, I just thought I'd bring the issue to everyone's attention as the thread was brought back to life recently.

Rovi.