I’ve Caught Over 200 Swarms in 50 Years Without a Smoker - Walt Dunmore’s Quiet Method

I’ve caught somewhere between two hundred and two hundred fifty swarms in fifty years. Some came from apple trees, fence posts, a school flagpole, a truck bumper, and once even from the handle of an outdoor barbecue grill. But the best swarm catcher I ever knew, Silas Tate, taught me that catching bees is not about acting fearless. It is about understanding what the bees are already trying to do. In this video I walk through the old quiet method I still use: bait hives, old comb, small entrances, the right height, and knowing when to let the bees choose the box themselves. I also show how I think through a direct catch when a swarm is low enough to reach, why a fresh swarm is usually gentle, and why an old, hungry, overheated swarm is a completely different thing. This is not about chasing bees, banging pans, or turning swarm catching into theater. It is about giving the colony a better place to go. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — A swarm in the apple tree 03:15 — What a swarm really is 06:40 — Why fresh swarms are usually gentle 09:05 — Silas Tate’s rule for catching bees 11:30 — The bait hive method 15:10 — Old comb, height, entrance, and location 18:25 — How to move an occupied bait hive 20:15 — The direct catch method 23:00 — The school flagpole swarm 25:40 — The swarm I should have refused 28:10 — What 200+ swarms taught me 30:20 — Final advice for new beekeepers Fresh swarms are often calm, but bees are still bees. Wear a veil while learning, listen to local beekeepers, and do not copy methods from another region if your local bees are more defensive. I’m Walt Dunmore. Give them a good box, keep your hands steady, and don’t climb for bees you can catch next spring.