Hosp Count

[Thomas Maddox]

Ive caught 16 so far. I screwed up and let a male get away today. Probably won't catch him again. Rarely see Starlings here. How many have you apprehended so far?

[Mstan]

I put out my repeating trap today and I’m 0 for 2 with my pellet gun.

[Dan G]

I’m still not a landlord but I take out sparrows and starling when I can. Which is often. I kept track a few years ago and was averaging one per day till May! This time of year, it’s around 4 per week. More starlings than sparrows.

[Thomas Maddox]

I put out my repeating trap today and I’m 0 for 2 with my pellet gun.

Ive definitely missed more than I've hit. Lol.

[C.C.Martins]

One, just one. Didnt trap him. .117.

Traps are all ready yet nothing.

16 is pretty good!

[Thomas Maddox]

CC. I quit catching them for a while with bread and cracked corn. I tore out a nest from my MILs pm house and put that in the trap and caught 4 more!

[flyin-lowe]

I got a few right after new years during a cold/snow snap in the winter. I used my pellet gun and the platform feeder I built. I really made a big dent last year with the new pellet gun. Now that the weather is starting to warm up not much action at the feeder. I need to put one of my houses up to see if they start showing interest in it, hopefully I can take out a few more before the martins start to arrive. Last year I bought an Umarex Notos pellet gun and it has been the best money I have spent as far as HOSP control goes.

[Dave Duit]

Flyin lowe. I'm going to look into the Umarex Notos pellet gun. What are it's best features ? Just curious.

[Jairow]

I’ve only caught two females that I’ve kept alive in my DRST for about two weeks. Haven’t been able to trap anymore. There are a couple males hanging around that I’d like to trap. I tried feathers as bait for a few days but that hasn’t worked. Going back to millet and will try to find a nest that I might use for bait.

I think I messed up with my Van Ert by not covering the trap mechanism when I initially placed it a couple days ago. Several HOSP checked it out but none went in. I reset it with some nest material camouflaging the mechanism and hopefully that will work.

[Thomas Maddox]

Jairow, they are unbelievably smart . They seem to notice every little change. Definitely covering the triggering mechanism will help. If not, once they lay eggs, they can not resist.

[C.C.Martins]

I’ve only caught two females that I’ve kept alive in my DRST for about two weeks. Haven’t been able to trap anymore. There are a couple males hanging around that I’d like to trap. I tried feathers as bait for a few days but that hasn’t worked. Going back to millet and will try to find a nest that I might use for bait.

I think I messed up with my Van Ert by not covering the trap mechanism when I initially placed it a couple days ago. Several HOSP checked it out but none went in. I reset it with some nest material camouflaging the mechanism and hopefully that will work.

Thomas is right. They are too dang smart.
Can try:
Remove the red dot, paint or color it black.
Add something to the "v" trigger...a piece of cardboard, attach white feathers to it.
Put just a whisper of grass poking out of the hole, and set the trap.
Above all, dont look for the sparrow, dont look at it just set the trap and go away.
We have all been at the big box stores loaded with sparrows, do an experiment when your there next...look hard at a sparrow, make it obvious you are looking and see its reaction. They dont like it one bit.
Hope this helps,
Tom

[flyin-lowe]

Flyin lowe. I'm going to look into the Umarex Notos pellet gun. What are it's best features ? Just curious.

I did some research and it came recommended by many people on a few forums. They are extremely accurate, which was my main focus. I have had some mid priced (around 120.00) break barrel guns and could not get them to shoot well enough to kill a large bird, not to mention a HOSP. I have my NOTOS sited in at 33 yards and shoot from inside my house. I can easily hit a HOSP each time and when I target shoot it is not uncommon to shoot 5 or 6 shots all touching each other in a group that could be covered by a dime.

The only downside is, if you don't know much about air guns, is they are a PCP guns. Short version is they have an air tank built in that has to be "pumped" up. In my case I have a scuba tank I use. I have a hose that attaches to the gun and it fills it in about 2 seconds, then I get about 21 shots before it starts to drop off. These guns can handle over 3000 psi of air so you can just use a normal air compressor to fill them. You either need to get a special hand pump, which is a work out each time you have to pump the gun, get a SCUBA or SCBA tank, or buy a high PSI air compressor which is used to fill PCP, paint ball guns etc. If you don't have access to a compressor or SCBA tank, a PCP might not be for you. The small air compressors cost as much or more than the gun, so I went with the SCUBA tank route.

[Martintown33]

6 hosps, 3 starlings so far. Shot from my blind. Haven’t seen any at all in several days.
Rob

[Jairow]

Thank you CC and Thomas. I went ahead and removed the sticker and added some nest material and feathers as you suggested. Hoping that will work.

[Thomas Maddox]

Thank you CC and Thomas. I went ahead and removed the sticker and added some nest material and feathers as you suggested. Hoping that will work.

The real issue is that you care. Keep trying and better results will come with persistence!

[Thomabear]

Actually I just saw the first two of the season. Caught them checking out multiple houses. Shot the female first then the male a couple minutes later. Nothing in the trap yet but I just put it out. 2-0 so far.

[C.C.Martins]

Dang! Ask and ye shall receive! Good shooting!

Jairow,
You will do good things, each one removed is a win.

[Thomas Maddox]

Yeah, great shooting! Caught #17 today in my Troyer ST2 trap. I bought it a few years ago at #100. Looked them up recently and now they are $160! It's a really good, well made trap, but i wished it had a larger holding compartment.

[C.C.Martins]

Yes, agree its a wonderful trap, works great. I had a friend tell me he played a joke on his wife with one of those...his buddy caught a bunch, so they brought them over and stuffed 15 in the middle holding cell of her trap and watched to see what she did when she came home, she couldn't believe it!! That is priceless!

[Thomas Maddox]

Yes, agree its a wonderful trap, works great. I had a friend tell me he played a joke on his wife with one of those...his buddy caught a bunch, so they brought them over and stuffed 15 in the middle holding cell of her trap and watched to see what she did when she came home, she couldn't believe it!! That is priceless!

That's hilarious! When I was around 11-12, I caught several wasps. I sprayed water on them so they couldn't fly. I kept tapping them until they would put out their stinger, then I removed it with a knife. I put them in a jar until they dried off and could fly. I walked in to the kitchen where my mom was and let them out. At least 10 or so Red Wasps flying everywhere. Before I could explain my mom screamed and my dad tore me up! Never did that again