I have a nice swarm hanging from a pine tree (yesterday). Problem is the tree is 20-25 feet off the side of a bluff. No way to get below it and try to shake the bees into a bucket. I did the following last evening:
1) Placed a 2 deep / 8 frame hive on the edge of the bluff facing the swarm
2) 3 frames of drawn comb / 5 frames of foundation in the top deep
3) Bottom deep is empty
4) Wooden entrance reducer inserted with the 3" opening
5) Baited with Swarm Commander
Walked out to the bluff this morning before leaving for work and the swarm was still on the tree. I can smell the SC from the empty hive so the scout bees should too.
I got to thinking on my way to work.... What if I attached a frame of drawn comb to the end of my boom used to hive a swarm a couple of days ago. I might be able to extend it out over the bluff and reach the swarm. I could hold it near the swarm and see if I get bees climbing on the frame. Once enough bees are on it, I would dump them in the box and repeat over and over. t would be some work for sure. No way to extend a bucket because the boom would bend from the weight.
So that being said, should I leave well enough alone with my bait hive and let this play out or spend a couple of hours today trying to get these boogers?
1) Placed a 2 deep / 8 frame hive on the edge of the bluff facing the swarm
2) 3 frames of drawn comb / 5 frames of foundation in the top deep
3) Bottom deep is empty
4) Wooden entrance reducer inserted with the 3" opening
5) Baited with Swarm Commander
Walked out to the bluff this morning before leaving for work and the swarm was still on the tree. I can smell the SC from the empty hive so the scout bees should too.
I got to thinking on my way to work.... What if I attached a frame of drawn comb to the end of my boom used to hive a swarm a couple of days ago. I might be able to extend it out over the bluff and reach the swarm. I could hold it near the swarm and see if I get bees climbing on the frame. Once enough bees are on it, I would dump them in the box and repeat over and over. t would be some work for sure. No way to extend a bucket because the boom would bend from the weight.
So that being said, should I leave well enough alone with my bait hive and let this play out or spend a couple of hours today trying to get these boogers?