Best place to site a Larsen trap?

[shumungus]

As above.

 

[Dave6170]

Below a nest?

 

[Andrew K]

In your own garden, public may interfere if placed in open view of a footpath etc.
Have you got a call bird in your trap ready?

 

[GmB]

I keep an eye out for regular ‘meeting’ places for a few days and site the trap there. As above, best keep out of public view!

 

[Exfarmer]

Well away from anywhere public may find it!
Have had them and drop traps destroyed miles from any public right of access.

 

[Al R]

Over the hedge from a lambing field, not in with lambs as lambs will go in them or nudge them.

 

[shumungus]

Public access is not the same problem in NI as GB, not the same rights of way or bridal paths etc. My question was more concerning should it be open ground, under trees, near nests etc?

 

[steveR]

I am not certain of their legal status at the moment as regards General Licences... Check on the BASC website for your area?

After one was destroyed a few years back in the middle of a field, ours has remained close to home, or in the locked solar farm, ever since!

As GmB says, watch for their meeting sppts, or site along a hedgeline. Magpies are very nosey birds, and when they realise there is a decoy on their territory or nearby, they will travel big distances...

 

[steveR]

Public access is not the same problem in NI as GB, not the same rights of way or bridal paths etc. My question was more concerning should it be open ground, under trees, near nests etc?

Under a hedge or tree, with some shelter for the decoy works well. Not open ground/fields IME.

 

[David.]

Under a lone tree with a crows nest.

 

[Dry Rot]

The law, at least in Scotland, is designed to be complicated and (I am convinced) to trap the unwary.

For example, the regulations mention restrictions on "meat baits". That is all well and good, but in the context of Larsen traps and bird protection (designed, I believe, by the SNP) the devil is in the detail. So I asked. Was put off, so kept asking. For example, are eggs "meat"? And if eggs are not meat, what about eggs with chicks inside? By the way, if you go to the link, I suggest reading the report at bed time. Especially recommended if you suffer from insomnia.

My question is, if unfertilised eggs are not meat, is a broken egg containing a developing chick meat?

Here is the official reply:

"This is interpreted from our commissioned report here - https://www.nature.scot/sites/defau... Part 3 of 4 - Trap operation and welfare.pdf

We also consider the use of rabbit fur as meat for the purposes of trapping".

 

[toquark]

I always had success at the edge of the wood where the crows/magpies nested. They'd go mad for a strange bird right under their nose on their patch, it never failed.

I haven't trapped for a number of years, and we're in a very rural area, but I'd still make sure it was out of sight if possible.

 

[organicguy]

I am sure all the advice re siteing is good.My biggest advice is if it dosn't catch, move it.
Often have had a trap not catching and by moving it 20 yards it has then had multiple catches.
Also change call birds if not catching. Often have caught a bird, put him in as the call bird and next day trapped his mate.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I had a trap close to the yard, simply so it was easy to check everyday and feed the call bird/check the water

 

[shumungus]

Does a Larsen or Ladder trap have a mesh floor as well?

 

[Ffermer Bach]

larsen yes, ladder no

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Get a decoy bird from a few miles away ( always be prepared to return the favour)
Its like gangs, they hate it when a rival comes on their patch
Always put our trap around the yard and buildings

 

[PSQ]

Somewhere along a 'wildlife corridor' is ideal, perhaps on the lee side* of a hedge between woods, or on or near 'non productive areas'.
[* Scottish GL stipulates that traps must be sheltered from the predominant wind direction. ]