call bird

[thelodgekeeper 0]

hi all

i have made a larson trap from the plans by john b (very good plans and easy to follow cheers) but i am having trouble catching a call bird. i have tryed hens eggs in a nest, i have also tryed bread but only catch the resedent wood pecker. does any one have any suggestions or should i just keep trying the hens eggs.

cheers

[Rolfe 2]

hi all

i have made a larson trap from the plans by john b (very good plans and easy to follow cheers) but i am having trouble catching a call bird. i have tryed hens eggs in a nest, i have also tryed bread but only catch the resedent wood pecker. does any one have any suggestions or should i just keep trying the hens eggs.

cheers

Bit late really to be using the Larsen.......earlier in the spring is best.......but they will catch all year round. If you make a couple of false "Nests" and use broken and intact eggs you should soon entice a bird into it. It may want moving to a different location also..............as this can often result in a quick catch.

I had a customer of mine ring me today to tell me what he had witnessed.........A female magpie with two youngsters of the year in tow...........keeping them OFF of the larsen trap to prevent them getting caught.........he said she was flying at them every time they tried to get on top and drop in beside the call-bird......makes you wonder doesn't it

 

Regards

 

Rolfe.

[john b 38]

Well howdy Lodgekeeper - I'm glad you liked the plans.

 

I have to confess I'm trying to catch a new call bird using eggs too at the moment with a similar lack of success. This in comparison with Woodga catching one almost immediately using a rabbit as bait.

 

I am now fairly convinced that baits need to be seasonal;

• eggs and nest are OK in the springtime when birds are naturally nesting
  
• By this time of year it needs to be carrion - lots of young rabbits and other animals born in the year will be dieing off so that is what they'll be used to feeding on.
  

Unfortunately in the spot I'm set in I can't use that

[gnipper 6,719]

My lurcher pup caught one the other day and retrieved it live which I had hold of for a while but as I had to walk back through houses etc I did the decent thing

[moxy 617]

I agree that this time of year its best to use a bit of carrion, However...

 

I recently loaned a farmer a larsen with which he baited with hen eggs. Same day he had his call bird and another to cull. The call bird died within a couple of days, so again the trap was re-baited with eggs and it produced another two.

If eggs are on offer all year round, ie. you keep poultry then you should have no problems.

 

Just try both methods, Eggs for two or three days. As said if it isnt producing after a day or so then move your trap.

If still no joy then move on to dead bait.

 

At least a bonus with using carrion is you have a good chance of getting the odd crow or two. I have had plenty this season.

 

Good luck and all the best

[pegandgun 52]

try a half empty chip packetmate....P@G