Troyer tunnel trap

tcg · Sat Apr 12, 2014 10:24 am

Does anyone have any pictures of how the Troyer tunnel trap works? I'd even settle for a good explanation if there are no pictures. I'm having trouble understanding how it would work with my Troyer horizontal. All I see at the marketplace is a plastic plate and a trip wire. Does the plastic plate fit over the tunnel entrance and slide up and down?

JL Murray · Sat Apr 12, 2014 11:11 am

tcg wrote:Does anyone have any pictures of how the Troyer tunnel trap works? I'd even settle for a good explanation if there are no pictures. I'm having trouble understanding how it would work with my Troyer horizontal. All I see at the marketplace is a plastic plate and a trip wire. Does the plastic plate fit over the tunnel entrance and slide up and down?

The wires straight end goes inside a hole that is just above the entrance hole in the tunnel, the aluminum door slides down from the top of the tunnel and rests on the wire end, when a Sparrow or Starling enters through the entrance hole it hits the loop part of the wire causing it (the wire) to pull out of the hole which allows the aluminum door to fall and block the entrance trapping the intruder.

Hope these pictures help!

tcg · Sat Apr 12, 2014 11:44 am

Thank you! That's just what I needed. A picture AND an explanation! I'll get one ordered.

JL Murray · Sat Apr 12, 2014 12:08 pm

tcg wrote:Thank you! That's just what I needed. A picture AND an explanation! I'll get one ordered.

Chris these are very effective traps happy hunting!

tcg · Sat Apr 12, 2014 2:07 pm

One more question. Do they make a "plug" for the Troyer entrances? It looks like that piece from the trap that slides down over the entrance would make a great plug when you just need to temporarily plug one up. Do they sell anything like that separately that you know of?

JL Murray · Sat Apr 12, 2014 2:13 pm

Yes they sell covers that slide down over the holes just like the trap does except they are made of plastic.

tcg · Sat Apr 12, 2014 2:18 pm

That's what I was looking for. Do you know if PMCA sells them? I didn't seem them after a quick check of the PMCA marketplace.

JL Murray · Sat Apr 12, 2014 2:22 pm

tcg wrote:That's what I was looking for. Do you know if PMCA sells them? I didn't seem them after a quick check of the PMCA marketplace.

I don't see them there either... Sent you a PM.

Edit just checked this may be them the Troyers call them "Door Shields", PMCA if i am correct, calls them "Door Stops". http://shop.purplemartin.org/Troyer_Tun ... tails.aspx

~HTH~

4th Gen Martin Fan · Sat Apr 12, 2014 3:07 pm

tcg,
The PMCA store does not show a picture of the Troyer Trunnel door stops, but, what JL is telling you is very correct. Those door stops are plastic and work great.
Mark.

tcg · Sat Apr 12, 2014 3:39 pm

Thanks everyone for the info and pictures. I've been frustrated with not being able to trap in these new horizontal gourds. This will be a big help.

Tim Mangan-Kansas · Sun Apr 13, 2014 4:32 am

JL:

I like what you did with the rubber band on the Troyer trap. Had a pair of sparrows go in my trap equipped THG yesterday and did not trip the trap. I did finally trap the male sparrow late yesterday but I might try the rubber band. Thanks for posting the pic.

Tim

tcg · Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:40 am

Well, while we're on the subject, I also have a bunch of S&K Bo-11 gourds. Is there any kind of trap that works with those?

DakotaLady · Sun Apr 13, 2014 8:02 am

JL, I have a dozen of those traps and trap all starlings and sparrows while I am waiting for the martins to show up. They are THE BEST trap! I also had a couple sparrows not set the traps off and will be trying the rubber bands as well. Very good idea. Thank you.

KathyF · Sun Apr 13, 2014 8:24 am

I wrap fishing line around mine because I wanted it to be kind of invisible to the HOSP. But it looks like just adding something to the thing so they can't squeeze by it will help.

I've had a HOSP also go *around* the loop on the sides because the rod was so long that it suspended the loop far enough back in the vertical gourds, that it allowed the HOSP to go to either side of the loop to get around it. So, I cut the rod off by 1 to 1.5" (it's been a year

). Worked like a charm.

BuddyS · Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:22 am

Do you have to take the tunnel off to set the trap, or do you reach into the access hole and fish around to find the hole? Can anyone refer me to a thread that shows more?

Louise Chambers · Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:26 am

No, you insert the trap through the access hole, and set it without removing the tunnel - it's a pretty simple trap to use.

phldave · Sun Apr 13, 2014 10:06 am

Having man sized hands and arms it can be kind of challenging to get the wire in the hole, but with a little trial and error you can get it done. I have personally found setting the trap in a vertical gourd is easier than a horizontal. I place my index (pointer) finger along side the wire with the tip of my finger at the end of the wire where it goes into the hole so you can feel the peg sticking out with the hole in it and then slide the wire in the hole. Basically you have to see with the tip of your finger to get the job done. Many a HOSP have met their end at my place with this trap. Sometimes they are relunctant to fly out of the gourd into the bag when you harvest them so be patient with a little tapping and shaking they eventually come out.