How to Make a Hawk Angle Tying Trap

An angle tie trap for a hawk works on the principle that once the hawk grips live bait, it tries to pull it up out of the trap but gets ensnared in a series of angled knotted lines. Hawks are prominent throughout North America and often are pests for farmers and ranchers. Most hawks are protected under the Environmental Protection Act making lethal traps illegal. Use this live trap method to snare the raptors, then call a game warden to ensure the hawk lives a full life, but away from your farm or family.

Things You'll Need

  • Hardware cloth - 19 gauge (cage wire)
  • Wire cutters and needle nose pliers
  • Monofilament cord - 20 pounds or stronger
  • Cutting tool
  • 1/2 inch diameter metal pipe x 1 foot
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clip out a 12 inch by 24 inch square of the hardware cloth wire with the wire cutters. Leave at least 1/2 inch above each wire square so there are wire points for bending.

    • 2

      Move the square so the long side is on top. Bend six inches in from the long ends and form two partial wire walls. Roll the two walls in toward each other and form a wire tube. Use the wire tips left from when you cut to bend over the wires of each side and lock the tube together.

    • 3

      Clip out a top and bottom to cover the cage. Use the cutters and make two wire circles and leave tips to bend over the tube wires on one half of each end. Push the tips so they line up with the wire and no ends are pointing in or out of the cage. Do this to ensure the hawk does not get injured on the wires.

    • 4

      Clip out a hole near the bottom of the tube-cage. It needs to be big enough to fit a small mouse or other live bait.

    • 5

      Trim any tips off the wire walls so clean the cage up and prevent injury to the trapped hawk. Bend and trim using the pliers or wire cutters.

    • 6

      Weight the cage-trap with the metal tube on the bottom. Use wire strands to slide through the tube and attach to the bottom of the cage. The weight prevents the hawk from flying away once trapped.

    • 7

      Cut out six to eight strands of the monofilament line, in eight-inch lengths, and tie a noose knot in each strand. Tie the non-knot side to the top of the cage and let them hang down low into the cage.

    • 8

      Set the trap where the hawks are known to frequent and bait it with a live mouse or other small rodent. As the hawk lands on the cage it attempts to reach in to grab the bait with the leg and talon. The talon locks into the bait but as the hawk tries to pull the leg out it tangles in the noose knots, leaving it alive, but trapped.

    • 9

      Call a wildlife agent or game warden once the hawk is trapped for removal and relocation, safely and alive.