Got 2 this week, anyone else?

Question. How does everyone collect the swarm and then place in a large frame? Not looking to steal post but we are only 2-3 weeks behind Va.

Still got snow up here. Going to bee awhile. But we don't have swarms like you southern guys...I wish.

Seven so far. Got a few cut/trap outs to get scheduled.

Swarming season is at least a month and a half away. around here.

Just shake the swarm onto the landing board and they will go in. Often a sheet or piece of plywood in front will help them find their way in.

Landing board?

Caught 4 so far this week, hope to catch a lot more. season is just getting started good.

The little lip at the entrance to the hive. You can also shake them onto the open box--onto the frames. Swarm season is about 3 weeks away here. Cool, windy, rainy here.

A little early here in Pa. The earliest I’ve ever seen a swarm in these parts was April 30th. I did put out 3 bait hives this week.

I'm hoping to run a bee trapline like Humptulips does this spring. Was going to use a boat to access the main river through our valley.

beaverpeeler: I am by no means a swarm trapper, I run around 30 traps and catch between 10 and 15 swarms a year. I have tried the river trap line for bees and have done poor on catching bees around them. And the only reason I can think of is that the bees have so many hollow trees to chose from that they ignore my boxes. I do better around old house places and small creeks.

What are you using for bait hives?

I utilize an old frame with old comb and some 550 cord several times to get swarms out of trees I can't reach. I have thrown rocks and shot arrows over branches with the 550 cord attached and then pull the frame right into the cluster. You can let some climb on and lower it down multiple times and shake frame off into nuc or hive body. Generally I get three or four good frames full and then start to shake the branch with the cord over it as well. I have recovered 3 swarms this method just last year when I thought they were gone and too high for me to corral. It is a good trick to learn because my bees don't always swarm at eye level or below.......

I should add - I always try and pull a good frame of brood and put that into a swarm I catch - it seems to anchor the new swarm and gives them something to tend.

I use swarm commander for the lure.