Trapping pigeons?

[ArmedBear]

I just bought a pigeon trap, a cage with one-way doors. I want to catch a few pigeons at a time to use for steadying my dog, training a friend's pup, etc.

Has anyone done this?

Do you have an recommendations for when, where, and how?

Bait?

Time of day?

How long to leave the trap out?

Locations?

Other thoughts, tips?

Thanks!

 

[oneounceload]

AB - you need to find some homeless folks in a big urban city - they are the experts.....

Seriously, folks I know that have done what you're trying to do find a farmer with a barn pigeon problem. Grain soaked in a little vodka always seemed to work.

There ARE urban pigeon trappers, you might search the Net and see if they have info available

 

[ArmedBear]

Well, there's a guy here who will pay $300 per 100 live pigeons, but I'm not set up for that kind of volume... (You might guess what he does with them all.)

So there are pigeon trappers... Somewhere...

Last I heard the Boise Art Museum was using shotguns, though. Maybe that was for Giant Canada Geese.

 

[Leaky Waders]

I need some for my bird dog too. One person recommended using a headlamp and pulling them from their roosts at night (underpassses and such).

I've looked at some traps on youtube. I think I'm just going to 'feed some' and then toss a cast net on the lucky feeders.

I'll report back if it's a cluster or we catch some once we try it.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

The grain with vodka idea does work.

LD

 

[Daveboone]

Up here most folks set them up in farmers barns (in the lofts). You want to check them everyday, scatter some grain in them and a small pan of water.

 

[Flintknapper]

I bait mine with cracked corn.

Start out leaving a little outside the trap for a few days. Once the birds have located it and are coming to it steadily, put it only on the inside of the trap.

I place a dove decoy inside the trap too. In good weather...I will check the trap every two days, if it is hot....then daily.

I have permission to trap from the top of several buildings in town (small town). I've never had much luck with pigeons that live in barns (too spooky). City/Urban birds are much easier to catch and plentiful.

You will probably catch some dove as well (they need to be released).

It can be a bit of trouble for just a few birds sometimes (other times you get a lot) but nothing gets a dogs attention like a live bird!

Other places to trap (if you can get permission and hide your trap) are at large feed stores and along railroad tracks where there are graineries, processing plants, etc. The rail cars spill corn, feed, seeds and the birds quickly learn about the free meal.

But...for the most part, the tops of buildings pay off the best for me.

 

[oneounceload]

I have seen several friends using alcohol-laced grain get quail, pigeons, etc....

They ARE funny to watch when they get drunk......and easy to catch

 

[slabuda]

Flintkanpper beat me to it. I plan on doing the same thing this summer.

My dog is away for training right now. I will do a couple months of whoa work on birds.

Go outside Boise west past Caldwell and find grain elevators...plenty out there. Find the manager and ask if you can set traps. I see no reason why they would say no. Toss some grain around inside and outside. Ought to get a few per week. And all you really need is a few birds per dog per week. Also look at the overpasses near the skate park (15th?) they may have some there. Id ask police 1st though. But now thinking about that the bums over there may steal the traps? m

I have a couple places here I may try when she gets back. And dont forget call F&G for a wild bird permit, they will give you a list of game bird breeders. The odd quail isnt much $$ and a changes it up for your dog. Some of those guys may know of a pigeon guy, but I have had a hard time finding them.

 

[paintballdude902]

let me find my notes for dove trapping(being a wildlife management student comes in handy from time to time)
but heres a quickie from memory till i find my notes.

best thing to use is corn because it sticks out really well, its both a visual attractant and a food attractant. set the traps up in early morning and check them after 4-5 hours. plug the holes with some small bottles because they can still get out even with the one way doors. once you get to the trap you may also want to cover it as it will keep the birds calm.

once i find my stuff ill update it.

heres what i got in my notes:
cracked corn and wheat, Mixtures of sorghum, buckwheat, rye and other farm grains also have
been successful

visit traps twice daily since the birds will be left defenseless from predators (foxes, coon, opossums, dogs cats etc...)

most of the notes i had were on aging.


doves and pigeons tend to be very similar they are in the same scientific family but in a different genus from the mourning dove.

 

[villemur]

I used to put my trap on the flat roof of a business that my in-laws had access to. I baited it with corn. The hardest part was keeping it away from animal rights activists who took it upon themselves to let the pigeons go from the trap. (The roof was accessible to several businesses).

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

Edit, sorry, didnt read whole post

 

[qajaq59]

I need some for my bird dog too. One person recommended using a headlamp and pulling them from their roosts at night (underpassses and such).

We had a very low bridge over a brook locally where we'd go at night with a net. The best part was after the dogs flushed them they would go back to the same bridge and we could just use them over and over.

 

[ArmedBear]

The best part was after the dogs flushed them they would go back to the same bridge and we could just use them over and over.

LOL

Homers without the hassle!

Around here, there tend to be Giant Canada Geese under overpasses, but the skate park slabuda mentioned could work well.

 

[slabuda]

BTW where ya get your traps?