Feral Pigeon Trapping

I am done with hunting this year. My thoughts are turning back to training.



I use feral pigeons and later will use Johnny house quail.



I trap my pigeons for training. I set 3-4 traps and catch about 20-25 a week.



Long story, but my training method depends on feral pigeons that are spooky and will flush wild. Homing pigeons just will not work for me. Ive tried.



I looked for someone to buy them from with no luck, talked to a couple of pigeon trappers, they were funny acting about it and wanted to sell 100-200 birds at a time. So, I built my own traps. Taking lessons I have learned from dabbling in trapping them over the years.



I do not believe I have ever found a feral pigeon that was spooky enough to suit me. There have been a few that were getting close when its windy.



I have learned through trial and error the swinging bob doors dont work very well. I make my own trap doors.



I use cracked corn or chicken scratch for bait, whichever is cheapest. Steer clear of whole corn.



In summer it gets hot in NM, I have shade on the trap, I use white foam board and cheap bungee straps I buy at the dollar store and give them water. For a waterer,I use PVC pipe with caps glued on.

When it gets windy I get some parachute affect occasionally from the foam board. No matter, I just reset the trap. I consider it the cost of doing business.



M ost of my traps I can see from my work truck, so I go look and check traps about every 24-48 hours as needed. Takes about an hour or so 2-3 afternoons a week. Generally, I try to run them right before dark when it cools off a little.



I did learn to feed them milo once they are in my holding pen.



I only keep a bird in my pen 7-10 days and they either get used in training or I just let them go.



I was thinking of doing 3-4 short videos of my process and the results and post them on my You Tube page.



Anyone else catch their own pigeons?