Many techniques to evaluate survival and movement of wildlife rely on the capture and instrumentation of individuals. However, effective capture techniques for Great Egrets (Ardea alba) outside the breeding season remain elusive, particularly a method to attain robust sample sizes to investigate several aspects of biology. A handheld pneumatic net gun method was developed and successfully captured 97 Great Egrets in 121 trap days. No direct mortalities or substantial injuries occurred. The handheld pneumatic net gun was more cost-effective than commercially available or similar devices, and could prove useful for sensitive species where injury or mortality must be minimized or where the use of explosive devices is restricted.