larsen trapping rooks

[FightTheBan 1,147]

I was hoping if any of you know whether rooks can be trapped in larsens. I have used them with great success for magpies and crows, never rooks. They are appearing in droves at the farm i work on and have been asked to see what i can do. I dont have the time to be there shooting them often enough to make a difference, but a larsen trap would be ideal. They eat the feeding in the slatted shed unit, so maybe baited with feeding it would work. Thanks to anyone making the time to reply.

[salukiwhippet 6]

I know larsens are legal for use on rooks, I don't know anyone who's done it though. I've used a ladder trap, they're deadly for rooks as you can catch more than the two a larsen would allow. There are plans in JohnB's book, google 'fourteenacre' and have a look.

 

James

[FightTheBan 1,147]

Think you could be right. Had a look at ladder/funnel traps at a game fair yesterday and thought it would be a good idea. Problem is the time to construct it, when i have a larsen waiting ready.

Was really looking for hints and tips on how to use the trap effectively (i.e call birds, bait etc)

Thanks for your help

[stubby 175]

I dont have the time to be there

 

but a larson still needs checking daily

[FightTheBan 1,147]

Yes, i aint daft. My boss lives less than 10 metres from the shed and he can dispatch them, and reset the trap for me. Thanks for your input though.

[Guest rodsmith]

ive tried larsen trapping rooks,didnt get 1 although i had the call bird.opt for the ladder or letter box!!

[FightTheBan 1,147]

Thanks rodsmith, but surely they must still work as they come in to the feeding and go to the perch. As you said, i dont think they are teritorial like magpies and crows so a call bird probably wont work. I think i may just have to give it a try and see what happens.

[john b 38]

As you say, the Larsen works primarily on the principle of 'territorial dispute' and I don't know enough about rooks to say whether they are likely to get as worked up by an impostor as the magies do. My guess, (and it is a guess) is that they wouldn't be bothered as they live in colonies anyway. In fact thinking about it, it's probably that collective living / feeding that make the Ladder Traps so effective on Rooks.

 

But I think that probably leaves you with baiting as you primary means of attracting them.

 

I also think that being bigger they may not be quite as comfortable 'dropping in' to a Larsen so a side entry would probably be more successful. It's thought to be better with crows too, who prefer to 'land and walk up' to things they find interesting.

 

This picture, sent by one of my book customers in Scotland seems to confirm that the ground entry approach works. These were in his pigeon trap.

 

Maybe you could convert your Larsen with ground funnels or bobwires ?

 

Cheers

John

[patdahat 41]

iv caught plenty of rooks in the larson trap and found it better to bait it with scraps from the table

[john b 38]

Pat

 

Is that with scraps AND a decoy ? or just the scraps ?

 

John

[FightTheBan 1,147]

Thanks again for all your help. Ill give it a try and let you know the outcome.

[patdahat 41]

Pat

 

Is that with scraps AND a decoy ? or just the scraps ?

 

John

just scraps from the dinner mainly spuds and sometimes pratta dog feed anything that's bright in colour works for me, and a decoy alway's increases your chance's.

[JohnGalway 1,043]

As you say, the Larsen works primarily on the principle of 'territorial dispute' and I don't know enough about rooks to say whether they are likely to get as worked up by an impostor as the magies do. My guess, (and it is a guess) is that they wouldn't be bothered as they live in colonies anyway. In fact thinking about it, it's probably that collective living / feeding that make the Ladder Traps so effective on Rooks.

 

But I think that probably leaves you with baiting as you primary means of attracting them.

 

I also think that being bigger they may not be quite as comfortable 'dropping in' to a Larsen so a side entry would probably be more successful. It's thought to be better with crows too, who prefer to 'land and walk up' to things they find interesting.

 

This picture, sent by one of my book customers in Scotland seems to confirm that the ground entry approach works. These were in his pigeon trap.

 

Maybe you could convert your Larsen with ground funnels or bobwires ?

 

Cheers

John

 

Sorry, slightly off topic..

 

John, how well do you think a bob wire trap would work with a hooded crow? I'm wondering would they be able to get out again Just considering more options at the moment, the Larsens are working well at the minute but you can't have too many tricks in store for the buggers

[FightTheBan 1,147]

Update on the rooks !. Yes larsen traps do work, lad i work for has emptied 16 out of it today so far! So far most of them have been young ones, with the odd old one stupid enough to fall for it. I am using a circular trap (the one that can catch three at a time) baited with cattle feed. If this continues, we should get on top of the dirty b*****ds . :11: . Thanks very much for the help and advice, much appreciated.