adam-sidelock15 Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 hi my uncle owns a farm, he has many different animals including around 200 chickens. He has asked me to shoot the magpies which are constantly taking eggs and have now become quite a problem. So i was just wondering which is the best way to go about dispatching them? I have both a shotgun and an air arms s400 .177. Should I use a hide? Do I need to try and attract them in with something? I know you have to be very patient as they are very inteeligent so i was just looking for some advice. Many thanks adam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Larsen trap?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happychappy246 Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 you should try a lausen trap with a call bird it got rid of all my magpies very quick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam-sidelock15 Posted February 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 ok thanks for the advidce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam-sidelock15 Posted February 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 My uncle has used a trap but im not sure what kind, is a larsen trap any different? The trap didnt work for him however thats why i thought i should perhaps try to shoot them. Do you have to use some kind of bait do the job? or do you need a caller? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Bait and caller would to the job, but make sure you're well hidden. Slit open a bunny (try and make it bloody) or put a broken egg out with a magpie decoy. Tried the egg trick with decoy to no avail, but suppose there just wasn't any about at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam-sidelock15 Posted February 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Okay george chears I will definately get and try it this weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
night owl Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 brown teddy bear with big black eyes decoy them in with it i kid you not works very well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 If you decide to try to shoot them be warned, you need to be well hidden. You would be surprised at how intelligent magpies can be. I have seen them ingore someone walking with a stick yet the same birds flew off straight away when they saw the same person with a gun! If you are decoying and shooting good concealment is the only answer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam-sidelock15 Posted February 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 okay chears i will have to find somewhere well hidden then and just be pacient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 stick one on a random flapper. works every time for me. just one needed, no calls or anything. as already said, good concealment for yourself is needed. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Callum. Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 My Grandad on his farm used to do something with the crows,not sure about magpies though. Watch and find where they go to nest and make sure nothing else is in there you don't want shot and in the evening go and shoot the nests. Do this also where they have eggs there and get rid of the little ******* before there is more about! They will be in the nests so just a shot with shotgun and goodbye mr magpie and eggs Make sure you post up how you get along! Regards Callum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam-sidelock15 Posted February 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 yep i will make sure i keep the situation updated, iam hopefully off to try and shoot them this afternoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12guage Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 My Grandad on his farm used to do something with the crows,not sure about magpies though.Watch and find where they go to nest and make sure nothing else is in there you don't want shot and in the evening go and shoot the nests. Do this also where they have eggs there and get rid of the little ******* before there is more about! They will be in the nests so just a shot with shotgun and goodbye mr magpie and eggs Make sure you post up how you get along! Regards Callum. good idea in theroy BUT BE WARNED as it was pointed out to me when shooting into drays you dont know what is in them eg OWLS, birds of prey etc so maybe lofting poles would be a better idea get someone to give the nest a poke when the magpie flies out shoot it .....just a suggestion but it saves alot of trouble in the long run ......... Never heard of the egg idea might give that a bash later let you know how i get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeymagic1969 Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Take a box of matches - one of the best calls you can use for magpies (just shake the box a couple of times and they will come to you, then use your shotgun) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tango Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 ive had good success using a larsen trap, the hardest part is catching your first bird, once hes in the rest will come to his distress call, i usually make a nest out of hey with 3 eggs in each side of the trap, one is broken, and extra broken shell on the top of the trap and on the floor, its worked for me..one day i was woken up to the sound of around a dozen magpies in a tree around 20yds away from the bedroom window, the trap was next to that tree with a magpie in it from the day before..they wouldnt go close to the trap, but where literally looking down on it, i literally had to take my pick..try placing one close to a tree where you can comfortably shoot from 25yds away..another way to get em in, is just shoot one but dont kill it, itl call out in the same way... ..oh and remember to give em water and scraps if your gonna keep one in the trap!! good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam-sidelock15 Posted February 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 okay chears for all of the great ideas guys you've been a great help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linny Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 that teddy bear idea worked for us an old boy told me to try this with a teddy bear crows and magpies started to mob it worked better than an owl decoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
night owl Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 one other trick is magpies and crows can not count fro this you need 2 people one in camouflage the other in normal clothes both of you walk to the wood only one comes back for some reason the magpies will see you come back but not realise some one else is concealed in the wood they fly straight back to the woods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinny Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 download a call off youtube and play it through a speaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chemical Al Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 i thought you could only use a recording for leuring them in for photography purposes, not shooting ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bothbarrels Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 I read somewhere that magpies will attack an owl or buzzard? so maybe get a decoy of those, and place it in a field and see what happens?? just a thought.. BB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagpuss Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 (edited) i thought you could only use a recording for luring them in for photography purposes, not shooting ? Correct. However baiting them to shoot them is illegal also. The point is this, we all do these things, just don't tell anyone via your mouth how you enticed the magpies/crows in to be shot. Otherwise you may get into trouble. What I do is keep a dead magpie or two in the freezer. They are very territorial especially at this time of year (spring) & they cannot help going to look at an even obviously dead magpie. I have even been succesful with just a magpies wing lying on the ground, they go mad hovering a feet over the wing on the ground, chattering madly at it. Consider this, use two mobile phones, one with the ring tone of a magpies call (easily obtain over the Internet or from a bird song/call CD). Leave one phone by the decoy in the field & call the phone every so often or when another magpie is heard or seen. Once the young are flying as a group these are easier to entice than the street wise adults. However keep well hidden & covered up & only move at the last minute to get your shot off. Happy hunting Edited February 19, 2010 by bagpuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagpuss Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 (edited) i thought you could only use a recording for luring them in for photography purposes, not shooting ? Correct. However baiting them to shoot them is illegal also. The point is this, we all do these things, just don't tell anyone via your mouth how you enticed the magpies/crows in to be shot. Otherwise you may get into trouble. What I do is keep a dead magpie or two in the freezer. They are very territorial especially at this time of year (spring) & they cannot help going to look at an even obviously dead magpie. I have even been succesful with just a magpies wing lying on the ground, they go mad hovering a feet over the wing on the ground, chattering madly at it. Consider this, use two mobile phones, one with the ring tone of a magpies call (easily obtain over the Internet or from a bird song/call CD). Leave one phone by the decoy in the field & call the phone every so often or when another magpie is heard or seen. Once the young are flying as a group these are easier to entice than the street wise adults. However keep well hidden & covered up & only move at the last minute to get your shot off. Happy hunting Edited February 19, 2010 by bagpuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagpuss Posted February 19, 2010 Report Share Posted February 19, 2010 Ooops not sure how I posted that twice but I can't seem to delete one of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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