Can't catch a call bird

[jackg 7]

I caught 26 Magpies last year in a wooden framed Larsen trap starting with a call bird from a local farmer.

I have been trying to catch the first one in this trap, this year, without success.

 

Firstly it was set on the edge of a grass field below a Pear tree where I have seen them regularly and then I moved it down the Cider Orchard, well away from people.

 

Baits tried:

1. Cat food in the compartments and on the top. The cat food went mouldy, nothing went near it.

 

2. Eggs in a nest of hay in one compartment and an egg broken on the top of the trap. The egg on top dried out, nothing went near it.

 

3. Rabbit joints in each compartment and the ribcage on the top of the trap and one piece on the grass outside the trap as well.

Nothing went near the trap nor took the rabbit meat on the grass.

 

It maybe that the Magpies are so used to the trap or the smell of me on it when I have moved it with bare hands that they know to avoid it.

 

I need suggestions as to how to get the first one.

Another trap, steel Larsen?

Or a different type of Magpie trap?

Thanks.

Edited April 20, 2012 by jackg

[gigs 6]

move ur trap mate

[longnetter 32]

Have a look at the 'larsen mate' trap from www.protrapper.co.uk

mate

[Rolfe 2]

 

Firstly MOVE your trap........then either false nest (with boken eggs) or young rabbit as bait...!

[tullyeyed 90]

put any of your baits you said and something shinnie in the trap, lay it where the sun wil catch it, ie tinfoil

[gibbo1973 187]

smash a few eggs outside the trap on the floor with inside of the shell facing up to the sky

so it looks like a robbed nest ,then put your full eggs inside as youve done before