Abstract Specific and efficient methods for capturing tinamous are scarce in the scientific literature. Here we tested the effectivity of two methods for capturing the Yellow-legged Tinamou Crypturellus noctivagus (Tinamidae): a bell-trap adapted with a nylon cast net and a type of fall-trap. In a forest remnant in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, we applied 120 hours of sampling effort using the traps, resulting in the capture of six individuals (two females and four males). These capture methods are an efficient tools and useful for forest tinamous studies, although it can be also used for capturing other forest bird which use the forest floor.