Trapping crows?....

Any suggestions other than live traps or steel traps? I've looked at the Austrian type ladder trap and will build one if I have to but wanted to seek advice from the experts here first.

The only thing I can think of is a modified starling trap. Crows are smart. Good luck.

I would think hazing.

North40,

What is your scenario? In terms of the damage and situation, maybe that will help folks in terms of resolution.

Do you need a permit that only allows certain methods or devices? More info always helps...

My son has caught six crows in 10”(W) X 12”(H) X 32 “(L) cage traps since 25 June 2015. He had initially set up to catch raccoons; however, something had been stealing bait without getting caught. The raccoon catch had dropped off, but bait was still disappearing. He hung bait in a bag at the back of the trap and started catching crows and a couple more raccoons. He also caught and removed three turkeys that had been harassing a homeowner.

Original setup w/crow


Crow in trap


EDIT: Turkey photo.

I have seen a very good ladder trap made on a trailer that could quikly be moved on to the next area. Getting the birds reliant on feeding at the trap site prior to trapping helps, so prebait with whatever it is they like. If it is legal keep a couple as decoys to drag others in as crows love company except around a nest site.
Have a look at side entry Larsen traps.
We use top entry larsen for Magpies, sometimes they pull in crows but the side entry makes it better as crows like to land and hop over to check things out. They are easy to make. Once you get your decoy bird it often pays to move them around so you get them into other pairs territories. Works best in the breeding season.

Many moons ago I caught a great horned owl that was eating my muskrats. I took him to my taxidermist and had him mount it with its

wings out-stretched and a big black crow in his talons. It was a beautiful and very impressive mount but not real good for crow

hunting. If a flock of crows came in, you had to shoot them all simultaneously because the survivors would attack the mount and the

feathers would fly. I think it's still hanging in a liquor store where we used to live. You would probably need two permits to have

something like that mounted nowadays but was perfectly okay back then. I have caught exactly one crow in a trap in 60 years.

HD this is personal with the crows! I plant sunflowers and corn for doves here and the crows will literally wipe out small patches. I guess over the years my place has gained popularity among the crows because there are several dozen hanging around now where we only used to see 5 or 6.

Only being able to row crop small ( 2 to 3 acres ) areas at a time a large murder of crows can do a lot of damage.

I always wondered how hard it was to get the necessary permits to take crow by trap. Being a federally protected species and all I wouldn't think USDA would let anyone near em.

I would think you can get a depredation permit to blast them. Crows aren't exactly an endangered species. They've got a three month

hunting season here.

Open season on them here year round!

Alabama Regulation 220-2-.01 (l)

(j)BOBCAT(1,3),COYOTE(2),FERAL SWINE(2)AND FOX(3):
No Bag Limit No Closed Season
See 220-2-.07 for legal hunting hours. Dogs cannot be used to hunt during and in areas of spring turkey season.
(1)Bobcat -See tagging requirements under regulation 220-2-.30.
(2)Coyote and Feral Swine -Trapping by Landowner or his Agent. Feral Swine –upon capture, it shall be unlawful to release any live feral swine. See regulation 220-2-.86
(3)Bobcat and Fox –Trapping is limited to legal fur bearer season by license fur catchers only.
______________________________________________________
(k)BEAVER, NUTRIA, AND GROUNDHOG: No Bag Limit –Daylight Hours Only No Closed Season.
______________________________________________________
(l)STARLINGS, CROWS, AND BLACKBIRDS:
No Bag Limit –Daylight Hours Only No Closed Season _____________________________________________________
(m)BEAR, MOUNTAIN LION AND RUFFED GROUSE……No Open Season
_____________________________________________________

Thanks Ron, I learn something new every day. Crows can be shot here too all year but only by landowners and only if they are about to

do damage. While looking up protected and unprotected species, I came across something that's funny enough to pass on. In Wisconsin

we are allowed to sell the hide of any animal except the woodchuck, because they're a protected species. So I want all you Wisconsin

ADC guys to quit skinning woodchucks and flooding the market with their valuable skins. Also protected are bats and flying squirrels.

( Now you know why I relocate. Every time I get arrested I quickly open the cage and all the evidence runs or flies away )

I am working on a shore bird job right now where the crows are a predator. I am trying to figure out how to catch them in a productive way. every one does the coon cage thing and it works I guess just not fast.

There are larger repeating traps that seem to catch birds well, google search "crow trap images" and you'll see a bunch.

Huh! Crows are a predator? I've got an idea. Let's put them on the federally protected list. That would go right along with the

Wisconsin DNR. Trying to raise a viable herd of elk? Let's import some wolves into that area. I'm sure that will help.

Wow...New info to me! Never would have guessed other states allow year round crow hunting. I wonder what is wrong with this state? I've been trying for years for them to re arrange the season so we can shoot them while waterfowl hunting in October....No go!

I thought Crow's were considered a migratory bird and protected like Duck's etc, because they are the Mexican National Bird?

They are except when causing damage I am told. I have to have a permit out of season.