Magpie, do I leave a dead one down?

EP90

I shoot an odd magpie or two on a farm permission. They are usually in pairs, when I down one I never know whether to leave it there to encourage its mate down or pick it up. I’ll wait a while then pick it up. Should I be more patient and leave it, does a dead comrade bring its mates in? The birds are always ‘busy’ on the ground, hardly ever still, a dead one looks so out of place.

Eddie B

I alway's leave shot bird's on the ground till i'm finished, and ready to move on to a new location. For once your spotted moving around, then the game is up!!

EP90

It’s a farm environment so I usually move on after 30-45 minutes, I guess I’ll leave a downed bird there for a couple of sessions and see what happens. Magpies being crafty buggers I wondered if a dead one was a deterrent or an attraction like a decoy.

Eddie B

I often use the air rifle on the mags, and have shot many that land down beside dead one's! Their intelligent, but curious at the same time! There's a home made prop on youtube, made from a close hanger, that's a great attractant!

Eddie B

Here it is i think!!

These are easy make and work brilliantly, especially with a dead rabbit left beside it!;)

Eddie B

Here's a great example of it working

EP90

Great links, thanks Eddie. Something to be at making those.

Eddie B

Link is a good example of showing that neither the mag or grey at the end, passed any remarks on the dead mag, and so staying put is the way to go!!