I wonder if any of you more experienced people might be able to help? I've got loads of magpies all over a bit of land that I shoot and was wondering if it would be possible to decoy them at all? I'm shooting them with an FAC air rifle at the moment, but they soon got wise to that idea and now all land out of range. Whats the best way to get them back as bit closer so I can knock more of them over. The land is very flat and in the middle of a built up area so using a rimfire or cf is out of the question. I can't trap them with a larsen trap as I'm unable to check the trap everyday. Do the plastic decoys you can buy work?

Any advice would be greatly recieved

Paul,

I caught a good few magpies last year in a ladder trap that we had set up for the crows.

Trapper Dave had shot a few rabbits one mng and they stayed in the car while we did some work on the shoot. we didn't trust the meat after that so I slung them into the crow trap to feed the caught birds for the day. Apparently the keeper caught abouta dozen magpies in the next 48hrs.

Larsens are really the way to go though, just remember to set it in a shaded area for the call bird and don't underestimate how much food and water the bird will need. In a couple of weeks you will have got on top of them.

I was watching a magpie in my garden the other day eating small songbird chicks on my path way. The PCP put an end to his shenanigans!!!


Sorry just re read your post. You could set the larsen up for the days that you are there ad transport your call bird home.

Alternatively I would use a couple of rabbits on the ground with a really solid hide. If you get in early doorspreferably so the magpies fly in from behind you to the feeding area then you should be able to shoot a few.

FB

quote:

Originally posted by Millwall Paul:
Do the plastic decoys you can buy work?

Any advice would be greatly recieved

Never had any luck with the plastic decoys.If you want you can have my one free to try
The Larsen trap is the most cost/time effective method of control.
However as FB suggests you may be able to bait them in closer.
Good luck with them.

Cheers for the replies everyone, it looks like a larsen trap will be the way to go, but I just know I'll have problems with the bunny hugging girls that keep horses on the land. I'll also give it a go with a bunny or two to see if I can get them back within range. I'm using a PCP Logun FAC so am normally good out to about 70 yards

Paul, I am unsure of the legalities of this, .... but one on those electronic predator callers with a magpie "cackle" can be very effective at bringing the magpies into range.

They are very territorial at this time of the year, and respond quite aggressively to newcomers on their patch which is why the larsen works well.

hi if you shoot a few rabbits leave the gralloch out next day do the same then put you hide up you will have some good sport i have being shooting some for the last week along with grey crows like that plus if you wing a few you have something for the larson trap

Try a shot gralloched rabbit as suggested, a dead magpie left in situ, or an egg...which surprisingly works if it is even a hen's egg!

The other idea is to use one of those cheap plastic fake large crystal "diamonds" or anything faceted that will sparkle.

ES just reminded me of another trick.

A hand full of straw made up into a "Nest" with a couple of eggs in it. hard boil one of the eggs and break it in half with your hand so that some yolk and white is visible.

Might be a good way to mop up the stragglers after they get wise to the wabbits.

Also be carefull if there is more than one on the bait as you will kill one and educate the other.

Have a look at www.hubertus-fieldsports.de and call Alex there - he is an expert in hunting magpies...

Tell him some nice greetings from me

Klaus