red_stag88 Posted March 22, 2004 Report Share Posted March 22, 2004 Hi, How easally do they decoy? Do they have a tendancy to mob like crows? I have just tryied to roost shoot some with the airgun. I have seen about 150 in an area only 10m square. Probelm is though, the brush is so dense that you cant get a clear shot, so it may be shotgun time. Cheers, Red Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeyedick Posted March 22, 2004 Report Share Posted March 22, 2004 I have one of these 'predator callers' which has a magpie setting on it. If I go into an area, where I know magpies are, it always brings them in. This is because magpies are one of the most terratorial birds out there. I also decoy them, but I find that this is the best method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted March 22, 2004 Report Share Posted March 22, 2004 Try putting a magpie and a crow on a rotary - i'm told it really draws them in - however the dest way to reduce their numbers is by using a Larsen trap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdev Posted March 22, 2004 Report Share Posted March 22, 2004 Hi Red try calling them in the way you would a fox? By sucking the back of your hand. You should know when their coming"" By all the chatter they do. Works for me every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shotgun Mike Posted March 22, 2004 Report Share Posted March 22, 2004 Big dev, whenever i hear them close by i use that call but they just fall silent and seem to sneak away. any idea why? red, try using an owl decoy, they work well for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdev Posted March 22, 2004 Report Share Posted March 22, 2004 Shotgun Mike obviously Mr Magpie has seen you, before you seen him ? You have to keep dead still any movment and he,s off. I can usually get them to about 20yds but some are just to shy to fall for that trick, if you see him give him a barrel or three even threw the trees. Just keep at it till it works SM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red_stag88 Posted March 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2004 I think I may just stick to roost shooting them, last night they were dropping in like bloody teal! They were coming in about 4yds from me, but as i said the brish is so dense you cant really get a decent shot. If only I hada turkey choke and some 5's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted March 23, 2004 Report Share Posted March 23, 2004 Red try and find there flight line and get on it about 30 mins before dark. I use the same call that I use for calling foxes it works brilliant. If you do get a clear place to shoot put the dead ones up the tree after you have shot them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red_stag88 Posted March 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 I can see the copse from a window, and they just seem to gravitate there from all dircetions, but always land into the wind. I will put up a hide when the winds right. I did visit it about 1hr before dark last night and pushed up 20 or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magpies are gay Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 What i do with Mag pies, i take out a decoy when it gets dark the night b4, and stick it in a tree, and when i get up in the morning there is allways one nearish it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Red Set up a couple of decoys one over a old rabbit skin one lofted in a bush or tree Get yourself a magpie call and call them in. As other members have said concealment is the key, The birds have brilliant eyesight and hearing, and are extremely wary. Once you have shot one set it up as realistically as possible. I tried a magpie on a single arm of a rotary last year and it spooked the birds. When I was a lad we used to take them from the nests just before they fledged and train them to "talk" ( Honest ! ) They are extremely intelligent birds. If you are lucky enough to shoot several dont leave them lying around as this will also spook other birds. I hope you manage to keep the numbers down. A pair of maggies will do untold damage to the small bird population of an area (especially Thrush and Blackbird) Good Luck FM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaza Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 hi, i discovered this new form of hunting by accident when out lamping rabbits with the airgun. i find the maggies roost and go their at night with the lamp on white light and can walk to within 20 yards of them easily. they flutter around a bit but generally stay in the same bush, dont even fly off when u fire a shot. i dunno how it works but it does n im not complainin. happy hunting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon Posted March 28, 2004 Report Share Posted March 28, 2004 But thats not legal Gaza! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red_stag88 Posted March 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2004 I have one of these 'predator callers' which has a magpie setting on it.If I go into an area, where I know magpies are, it always brings them in. This is because magpies are one of the most terratorial birds out there. I also decoy them, but I find that this is the best method. Tell me more about this call sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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