magpies ! have you started yet

TriggerPL

i put out the trap with eggs in it yesterday morning and at lunch time i had a call bird , moved the trap yesterday evening and today when i checked it , great result.

yessam

well done

is the weather a bit cold at night for the call bird to survive in the trap.

TriggerPL

ive moved it into a slatted shed where there is meal being fed il let you know how it goes

paddyjj

Where are you located? Looks like your pic was taken in Summer. Dandelions and all.......

TriggerPL

paddyjj wrote: »

Where are you located? Looks like your pic was taken in Summer. Dandelions and all.......

we had a sunny spell monday and yesterday , the reason i started with the trap , dont know much about dandelions but found this when i googles it and it says early spring , regardless it was there none the less.

Dandelions are especially well-adapted to a modern world of "disturbed habitats," such as lawns and sunny, open places. They were even introduced into the Midwest from Europe to provide food for the imported honeybees in early spring. They now grow virtually worldwide. Dandelions spread further, are more difficult to exterminate, and grow under more under adverse circumstances than most competitors.

berettaman

Just to get back on topic, I got a call bird off a club mate and he called one before he died of the cold (ahem), got another call bird and have caught another one, passed it on to start the network going. My fella is still alive, feeding him well and covering him up in shed at night. They are starting to pair off and get territorial but the drop in temps this week isn't helping...No dandelions in wexford yet

Dupont

i gave my trap to man a few weeks ago,must chat to him to see has he had any luck. there is alot about here must get out with the u caller.my aim for this year is go out on sundays after greys and mags just like i would usually try to get out every sunday when game season is in swing.

kildare.17hmr

What way do ya's kill them lads?

TriggerPL

berettaman wrote: »

Just to get back on topic, I got a call bird off a club mate and he called one before he died of the cold (ahem), got another call bird and have caught another one, passed it on to start the network going. My fella is still alive, feeding him well and covering him up in shed at night. They are starting to pair off and get territorial but the drop in temps this week isn't helping...No dandelions in wexford yet

nice one what you feed them with to keep them alive i use dog food . just wondering is there anything else

TriggerPL

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

What way do ya's kill them lads?

i have a pellet gun for the job to the back of the head works every time .

berettaman

TriggerPL wrote: »

nice one what you feed them with to keep them alive i use dog food . just wondering is there anything else

Dog Food, the odd egg, scraps and any road kill I find. Seriously, if you take a not so squashed rabbit off the road and stick it in with the call bird it will keep him busy for days and the local ones go beserk watching a rival feed in their area..Gets the territorial rage thing going nicely..:D

idunnoshur

Sorry for driving the thread off topic lads but what do you all do with the magpies after you've caught them?

Cass

All rubbish posts deleted.

Cut out the crap and name calling. Use the report post function, and DO NOT respond to provoking posts.

Let the mods deal with it. Any further posts of the same nature will result in bans. No more warnings.

deeksofdoom

TriggerPL wrote: »

i put out the trap with eggs in it yesterday morning and at lunch time i had a call bird , moved the trap yesterday evening and today when i checked it , great result.

What kind of mesh is that.

greenbicycle

idunnoshur wrote: »

Sorry for driving the thread off topic lads but what do you all do with the magpies after you've caught them?

I second this question. . . This isn't a page I read at all so I'm really intrigued about this one. Do you eat magpie? Trying to get rid of them as you consider them pests? Want them as pets?

Birdnuts

Down on the inlaws places early last week(North Mayo) and dusted off the Larsson trap - using some butchers offal as bait and so far 3 birds have been got plus the call bird. I'm back a few days but thankfully I have reliable people keeping an eye on the set-up so hopefully I'll have a good tally by the end of the spring:)

sincere113

greenbicycle wrote: »

I second this question. . . This isn't a page I read at all so I'm really intrigued about this one. Do you eat magpie? Trying to get rid of them as you consider them pests? Want them as pets?

Kill them.

greenbicycle

sincere113 wrote: »

Kill them.

For pest control or just for sport?

What's a call bird, just a bird to attract other birds yeah? Do they not warn them off?

Totally new to me, never knew this was done!

Birdnuts

greenbicycle wrote: »

For pest control or just for sport?

What's a call bird, just a bird to attract other birds yeah? Do they not warn them off?

Totally new to me, never knew this was done!

Pest control - they are classed as vermin under derogations to the Wildlife Act and can be legally trapped and shot.

username my arse!

Great catch there, lucky to get all those! The pests are almost impossible to shoot!

kildare.17hmr

greenbicycle wrote: »

idunnoshur wrote: »

Sorry for driving the thread off topic lads but what do you all do with the magpies after you've caught them?

I second this question. . . This isn't a page I read at all so I'm really intrigued about this one. Do you eat magpie? Trying to get rid of them as you consider them pests? Want them as pets?

They are pests so are killed and dumped. Gunclubs do a vermin count every year for their members so alot of lads will take a wing off each and freeze it till the count which is a competition to see who killed the most vermin.

Ya be a brave man to eat a magpie

session savage

username my arse! wrote: »

Great catch there, lucky to get all those! The pests are almost impossible to shoot!

almost...:cool:

idunnoshur

Could anyone tell me where I could buy one of these traps? How much would they cost roughly?

Alternatively I could try my hand at making one, does anyone have any plans for one? An online search only yielded this and it's not overly comprehensive: http://www.thehuntinglife.com/html/sections/articles/various/larsen-trap.html
That link would be grand if I had seen one before but I haven't nor am I fully sure how they work!

Thanks
ids

arrowloopboy

TriggerPL wrote: »

i put out the trap with eggs in it yesterday morning and at lunch time i had a call bird , moved the trap yesterday evening and today when i checked it , great result.

Are you a wee bit confused ????,that picture was taken in the summertime,look at the big fuzzy heads on the piss in the beds and theres dead headed daffodills in the bottom extreme right of the picture.
Maybe you added the wrong picture:D.

ace86

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

They are pests so are killed and dumped. Gunclubs do a vermin count every year for their members so alot of lads will take a wing off each and freeze it till the count which is a competition to see who killed the most vermin.

Ya be a brave man to eat a magpie

Our clubs take there legs off and tape or band them together in pairs. I thought this was the only accepted method for Vermin counting because one wing and a fellow could have 20 points with one bird instead of 10 points??

Weylin

dandelions seeding in feburary??????get up the yard will ya.....:rolleyes:must be the global warming

cyberblade 918c

ace86 wrote: »

Our clubs take there legs off and tape or band them together in pairs. I thought this was the only accepted method for Vermin counting because one wing and a fellow could have 20 points with one bird instead of 10 points??

think some counts use the "left wing as it fly's away from you" method for counting wings but may be wrong:rolleyes:

stoeger

cyberblade 918c wrote: »

ace86 wrote: »

Our clubs take there legs off and tape or band them together in pairs. I thought this was the only accepted method for Vermin counting because one wing and a fellow could have 20 points with one bird instead of 10 points??

think some counts use the "left wing as it fly's away from you" method for counting wings but may be wrong:rolleyes:

Our club count the 2 wings as one

No6

I've had my trap out for a few weeks with some eggs in it and no luck so far, I put a bit of venison in one night and caught my cat!!:D I left her in there for a while to help her learn!!, she did that venison is very tasty!!!:rolleyes:

TriggerPL

No6 wrote: »

I've had my trap out for a few weeks with some eggs in it and no luck so far, I put a bit of venison in one night and caught my cat!!:D I left her in there for a while to help her learn!!, she did that venison is very tasty!!!:rolleyes:

crack the egg or just one of them and leave another out side the trap this should work

ssl

Well done on capturing the few magies

TriggerPL wrote: »

nice one what you feed them with to keep them alive i use dog food . just wondering is there anything else

Plenty of water

idunnoshur wrote: »

Could anyone tell me where I could buy one of these traps? How much would they cost roughly?

Alternatively I could try my hand at making one, does anyone have any plans for one? An online search only yielded this and it's not overly comprehensive: http://www.thehuntinglife.com/html/sections/articles/various/larsen-trap.html
That link would be grand if I had seen one before but I haven't nor am I fully sure how they work!

Thanks
ids

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2056524983?page=1#post_76763580

ace86 wrote: »

Our clubs take there legs off and tape or band them together in pairs. I thought this was the only accepted method for Vermin counting because one wing and a fellow could have 20 points with one bird instead of 10 points??

I don't collect for a club but I've heard of people collecting heads for points. I assume they collect legs as there smaller and handy to store then heads or wings.
They could just count the right wings to accurately give the points.

No6

TriggerPL wrote: »

crack the egg or just one of them and leave another out side the trap this should work

My damn springer has a taste for eggs!! she reguararly collect my hens eggs, and eats them!!:eek:

berettaman

Some good advice being given there lads, thanks a mill. I learn more every year I do this and some of the local lads are experts! Here are some bits:

I got my trap from Mceoin in Kerry here is the link:
http://shop.maceoinltd.com/maceoinltd/index.php?cPath=56&osCsid=htf36vqd6motvhs12hkt25s2h1

I also have a wooden one like the one pictured by the OP. I think they like/trust the wooden one more.

However, with the 4 sided one you can catch a bird, let the row build up and wait until all four slots are filled. Magpies are a family orientated bird and fight as a family.. if you have two in and two more fighting outside, then leave them at it..

I also do not like to let them see me emptying the trap, I think it puts them off if they associate it with you taking away their buddies so I do it after nightfall.. If the coast is clear I will empty during the day..but if they are watching from a hundred yards off I hold back. They are not stupid.

I check the trap twice a day(at least) and always I make sure the bird has plenty of shade/food/water etc...A healthy bird is more likely to start an argument!:D
Also check out this link from the UK Game wildlife trust, which has it all..:
http://www.gwct.org.uk/documents/larsen_use_guidelines_2008lr.pdf

Stephen_King

Never done any hunting of any description but have become more interested in it lately-magpie trapping seems as good a place as any to start. Is it legal for anyone to do or do I have to apply for a licence?

Just on the trapping, I realise a call bird may be required, but would recording magpie calls and using something to play them back (like a stereo) attract them as well? Maybe use a stuffed magpie as well for visual effect?

session savage

Stephen_King wrote: »

Never done any hunting of any description but have become more interested in it lately-magpie trapping seems as good a place as any to start. Is it legal for anyone to do or do I have to apply for a licence?

Just on the trapping, I realise a call bird may be required, but would recording magpie calls and using something to play them back (like a stereo) attract them as well? Maybe use a stuffed magpie as well for visual effect?

I dont know where I got this from but something rattling around in my head tells me that its illegal to use an actual recording to lure in magpies (or anything) which is why all the digital callers you get arent recordings of actual calls but digital representations of them. I'm 95% sure I'm right but I wouldnt bet me left one on it.;) as for the stuffed magpie you can just get decoys in any good shooting shop.

4200fps

session savage wrote: »

I dont know where I got this from but something rattling around in my head tells me that its illegal to use an actual recording to lure in magpies (or anything) which is why all the digital callers you get arent recordings of actual calls but digital representations of them. I'm 95% sure I'm right but I wouldnt bet me left one on it.;) as for the stuffed magpie you can just get decoys in any good shooting shop.

I done magpie shooting last year and got a couple.the u caller was handy with the remote.i also used a dead magpie and placed him on a magpie cradle beside the caller.Found it very effective. I used to make the magpie cradle out of stainless tig welding rods.you would make one in 5mins very easy. Its worth a try as it worked for me.I heard that years ago the old folks used to use a box of match's to call in magpies,if you can shake the box correctly it was supposed to work. I never did it.The match's do a similar crackle when you think about it.Thats the old fashioned method

beretta391

sure that looks like a hot summers day, ya wana get out your lawnmower lol

idunnoshur

Alright lads, I made a larsen trap myself shortly after I first read this thread.

The only thing I've caught in it so far has been a blackbird which I released. I don't have a call bird and don't have anyone to ask for one so what's the best bait to use in the trap?

denismac

I made one myself a few weeks ago and put some eggs in but they haven't gone near it. I heard that some strips of tin foil when they are nest building might work so I will give it a try.

patdahat

right first off do a bit of investigation, this time of year the magpies wont be to far from thier nest's, it mightn't be easy to see it but if you see them in a certain area every day that's prob a good place to place your trap, then if you could get a piece of a rabbit that will do just the trick leave the fur on it and expose some of the meat to mimic a road kill. I move my traps into position after dark and i find that this increases your chance of catching them as they are always looking for a nice breakfast.

idunnoshur

patdahat wrote: »

right first off do a bit of investigation, this time of year the magpies wont be to far from thier nest's, it mightn't be easy to see it but if you see them in a certain area every day that's prob a good place to place your trap, then if you could get a piece of a rabbit that will do just the trick leave the fur on it and expose some of the meat to mimic a road kill. I move my traps into position after dark and i find that this increases your chance of catching them as they are always looking for a nice breakfast.

Cheers for that. I can see them flying around the slated shed daily, should the trap go into it or outside of it?

welsummer

They necks are ringed in the interest of conservation.

patdahat

idunnoshur wrote: »

Cheers for that. I can see them flying around the slated shed daily, should the trap go into it or outside of it?

iv caught them both inside it and outside it. but for the ammount of bird's that were there i didnt catch that many to close to the shed. they were just feeding there not very territoral so i watched for a few day's to see where they were landing when i'd go into the yard, in the space of a week i had the most of them caught by moving the trap around the 2/3 surrounding field's.

thekevin4540

i have a trap set on top of a pidgeon loft with trees on the back of the loft i hade eggs and a fake nest in it for the past 2 weeks and thay are not going in to it. thay can see the eggs when thay are on the trees about 10 feet away from the trap thay are just not takeing any notic what can i do to get them in to it. a person in my gun club told me that if u put a decoy magpie in it you will get one. any idias on what i could put into the trap to get one

ssl

Id put a bird feeder for song birds near the trap. The activity will draw in the magpies

patdahat

thekevin4540 wrote: »

i have a trap set on top of a pidgeon loft with trees on the back of the loft i hade eggs and a fake nest in it for the past 2 weeks and thay are not going in to it. thay can see the eggs when thay are on the trees about 10 feet away from the trap thay are just not takeing any notic what can i do to get them in to it. a person in my gun club told me that if u put a decoy magpie in it you will get one. any idias on what i could put into the trap to get one

move the cage to a different location i have found that moving a cage as little as 20 yards make's a difference, it must be just the way they see it from a different angle.try a bit of rabbit road kill as bait that's sure to get them feeding.

crackcrack30

The fat off pork chops (cooked) never lets me down..............;)

Outkast_IRE

Sorry to jump in but why are they considered pests ?
I know previously they were being blamed for the decline of many smaller song birds but that was fairly well disproven i believe.

Invincible

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Sorry to jump in but why are they considered pests ?
I know previously they were being blamed for the decline of many smaller song birds but that was fairly well disproven i believe.

I don't know where you got your information, but magpies will systematically search along hedgerows for nests,upon finding them,they'll rob the eggs or fly off with the fledglings,I've witnessed it. I know of families in the village complaining about the disappearance of songbirds in their gardens due to the influx of magpies,they've asked for Larsen traps to be used there. I've seen how fast magpies will come to a manual caller that mimics a hare in distress recently while shooting with a friend.

Birdnuts

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Sorry to jump in but why are they considered pests ?
.

They also take eggs etc. from poultry in farmyards and can spread disease in feedlots etc. - as mentioned in the derogations covering their control in the link below

http://www.npws.ie/media/npws/publications/legaldocs/Declaration%20for%20Connacht%20Sept%202011.pdf

Outkast_IRE

Invincible wrote: »

I don't know where you got your information, but magpies will systematically search along hedgerows for nests,upon finding them,they'll rob the eggs or fly off with the fledglings,I've witnessed it. I know of families in the village complaining about the disappearance of songbirds in their gardens due to the influx of magpies,they've asked for Larsen traps to be used there. I've seen how fast magpies will come to a manual caller that mimics a hare in distress recently while shooting with a friend.

The RSPB is where i read my info. http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/magpie/effect_on_songbirds.aspx

They seem to agree that magpie numbers in a area doesnt directly effect songbird numbers in an area. As the songbirds young would get picked off by other predators anyway.

I have no issue with them being hunted i was just wondering why they are a "Pest".