Magpie traps
 

What's the best and simplest magpie trap?

12 gauge.

Kind of Demanding for post #1.
:bad_boys_20:
Try a thread search, be surprised what you might find.

Chicken wire cage followed by 12 gauge at 40 yards.

I built one of these with my boys over a couple of evenings.

https://www.gunandgame.com/attachmen...trap-gif.4858/

Instructions are at this link. I used the 3/4 wire cloth from Rona, and used Pex tubing instead of a welded 1/4 rod for bracing. For the entrance, I traced the dimensions on a piece of cardboard first, then used it as a template to cut the shape out for the wire.

I also built one in the vein of what TreeGuy had (pic of his trap is below), just not as nice as his. I didn't do such a good job, and ended up dismantling it.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...20Trap/006.jpg

Some municipalities rent them out, too.

This is how our new one turned out:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...914afe1dcf.jpg

Yesterday the magpies were driving me crazy so I made a trap like the one above. This morning there were two magpies in there. My little terrier found a way of dispatching them without breaking the law of discharging a firearm in a built up area. He was quick to get inside the trap with them but he wasn't sure what he was allowed to do once in there. I gave him the go ahead and he took care of business. :)

http://i.imgur.com/Atef3Pe.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/4SLR2KZ.jpg

Nice job, HunterDave!

Where'd you get your wire mesh?

I buy 100' rolls of 16 gauge at Continental Wire in Calgary to make muskrat colony and submarine traps. I may have to get into the magpie trap building business now. :lol: It's a heavier gauge wire than what's required but that's what I had on hand.

Hunter Dave, does this trap work with crows ? Its the darn crows in town that are being a pain in the butt.
Thxs

I don't know of any way to trap crows. They are a pain around here as well.

Thxs Hunter Dave, will have to figure something out.

And for friggin' ravens.

I was in the boonies for a bit but when I got home I set the magpie trap again. Pretty good haul of 6 the first day with me spooking one just before he entered the trap. It's starting to get a little quieter around here now but there's at least three more magpies hanging around.
Jack may be small and fugly but he comes in handy sometimes. :lol:

http://i.imgur.com/x50HunN.jpg

I made a crappy one but have only caught cowbirds in it. Need to try something else I think

I bought a fold up trap...... will try & remember to get pictures of it...... and put it up for sale........

Heh! We think alike! While I was building mine with the boys, I told them that would be a good money-making venture for them... Building these traps... They wouldn't get rich off it, but at least it would keep them busy and out of trouble. :sHa_shakeshout:

Good time to revisit this.


I am looking at buying or building some right now too

Found it works best if you can leave one alive to decoy others in. Spent 3 years helping Delta Waterfowl trapping magpies, crows and ravens. We used a “ladder trap” for crows and ravens. Caught 23 ravens and 6 crows in one trap in a one day check. We had to get a special permit to trap the ravens but had free rein on crows and magpies.

I prefer the live release in TreeGuy's garage method.

I have a local Fox that looks after my releases. He decimated three Magpies in my trap yesterday and was back looking for more today. Thorough, but messy .

Ladder trap for crows and ravens.

Ladder trap

Ladder trap
 

Ladder trap

Putting her out today. I have a jack russel cross that would love to dispatch some magpies, as they torture him daily---not worried about them pecking his eyes though?

They sure work great if there’s a magpie in there already.

I bought these to help... Haven’t tried them out yet since we reduced the population considerably last year.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cae838d518.jpg

I never had an issue with magpies trying to peck his eyes but I caught a crow once and I won't let him go in the cage with one again.

Gotcha--he picked a fight with the local tomcat---and did not come out on top---so needs to lay low. He was feeling spry enough to damn near catch a rabbit last night, though those cuts on a dime they do usually outsmart him.

Who's the One being Demanding
 

There is nothing demanding for someone to ask on their first post "What's the best and simplest magpie trap?" That's what this forum is all about.

It's an interesting topic and the many replies have proven so.

I just may make one this evening with some surplus stucco wire that I have.

Magpie traps
 

Have fun! You may want to pick up hog ring pliers to stitch it all together, if you don’t already.

Oh, and watch the pointy ends. :)