HOSP trapping magic

SE Wisc hopefull · Tue Apr 22, 2025 8:04 pm

I found a very successful 1-2 method to catch HOSPs I'm happy to share. I am a moderate shot, but by far my most effective method has been to allow the HOSPs a couple hours to start building their nest, then I replace the starling resistant door on my modified old aluminum house (12 compartments enlarged to 6) with the old round hole door on the room they are building in. Then the nest trap lines up perfectly. I walk away and then in about 15 minutes - bam, got either the male or female. Step 2 - place the live HOSP in the center of the repeating trap and the other can't resist.

With feed and water they will survive a few days and like a magnet any other in the area will be trapped.

I'm fortunate that I have cleaned out the area, but just have to pull this trick out when a pair migrate into the area. So fun!!
See pics

C.C.Martins · Tue Apr 22, 2025 8:15 pm

Good post! And good traps, both of them. this will be helpful to folks with aim issues and who prefer that art touch. Traps are a wonderful thing, quiet, effective and will take down a pair. Especially when one sees the other in the ground trap!
I was just jimmying one of those universal sparrow traps...when I put venting on the lonestar goliad, the vent intrudes about half an inch...and the trap hits it. So I tapered the sides of the trap a bit without creating holes...I may have to use it soon, a male was snooping around the Goliad today. Can't shoot out there.
Your post is well timed!

SE Wisc hopefull · Tue Apr 22, 2025 8:57 pm

They can be so frustrating when they sneak around or disappear when the pellet gun comes out. I also don't have much success with the repeating trap this time of year when baited with only seed or feathers. This way really works for me - and takes such little effort. I will give one more tip...

When you go to remove the live HOSP from nest trap, I'm very careful to pinch one of it's toes on the outside of the wire, so it can't fly away when I open it. I learned that lesson the hard way.

C.C.Martins · Wed Apr 23, 2025 6:46 am

Good stuff. They are masters, false trips lead to not believing theres a hosp in there and out they go!
Try a mesh laundry bag, put the trap in it and open it from inside the bag, collapse the bag, get the trap out and whack em.

Iv 7 hosp in my 2 ground traps in back, caught just one a week ago havnt seen much activity at all. Yesterday just before dinner 3 hosp are happily hopping from trap to trap and one busily eating from one of the tuna tins...the bait birds food got wet and I got lazy and left it out.

I got an extra universal sparrow trap and put it right where he was, loaded up with seeds...have a camera on it, going to be fun to watch. Done it before, works great.

Michelle · Mon Jun 02, 2025 4:57 pm

Hi members,

The HOSP have returned, I guess for their second brood this year

Just in time for the first purple martin to check out my house! I wanted to take out the nest traps to ensure the PM did not get stuck in it. I caught a female in the nest traps to and put her in a trap at the base of house. It’s been a few hours and the male is not trying to rescue her (jerk). Is there anything special I should be doing? Anything I should put in the trap to lure him in?

Thanks.

Thomas Maddox · Tue Jun 03, 2025 8:33 am

Michelle, im betting he'll come for her soon! Try to keep her alive(give her food and water).
I took a 3x3 inch piece of plastic and cut a 1 3/8 inch hole in it with hole saw bit. I tape that over the pm house entrance where the hosp nest is(after I put the cavity trap in). This new hole is too small for PMs to get in. If there aren't any hosp eggs or chicken in the cavity, the HOSPS won't go in with the the new entrance. If they have eggs or chicks, they can't resist.
With my ST1 trap, I put a towel over the top and slide my hand underneath to remove the HOSPS so they can't get away. Get em!

SE Wisc hopefull · Tue Jun 03, 2025 10:28 am

If I have one in the trap, i also add some seed to double tempt him in. If he is super cautious, sometimes I will prop the trap on a table so its off the ground, but either way I have never not caught the other 1/2 of a mating pair. Crazy, but I got 42 this way last year ... only 10 so far this year, but haven't seen a HOSP for 3 weeks now (except when eating outdoors at a restaurant, in which case I'm secretly wishing I had my pellet gun). ::)

Michelle · Tue Jun 03, 2025 11:27 am

Thomas Maddox wrote: ↑
Tue Jun 03, 2025 8:33 am
Michelle, im betting he'll come for her soon! Try to keep her alive(give her food and water).
I took a 3x3 inch piece of plastic and cut a 1 3/8 inch hole in it with hole saw bit. I tape that over the pm house entrance where the hosp nest is(after I put the cavity trap in). This new hole is too small for PMs to get in. If there aren't any hosp eggs or chicken in the cavity, the HOSPS won't go in with the the new entrance. If they have eggs or chicks, they can't resist.
With my ST1 trap, I put a towel over the top and slide my hand underneath to remove the HOSPS so they can't get away. Get em!

Great idea about the hole size Thomas! I will try that. The female is still alive with bread and water. Hoping he comes to get her soon!