Squirrels are taking over

Flatbutt1 · 01-30-2007, 05:42 AM

The grey squirrels are just multiplying like mad here. The humane traps don't catch them and if I do grab one I can't keep up with the population. Help! What do I do? Poison? I can't use them for target practice, the neighbors are too close.

pookie · 01-30-2007, 05:43 AM

Could use a pellet or bb gun or pistol. A bb pistol might not kill them but it will at least plink them hard enough to relieve some frustration.

fastpat · 01-30-2007, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Flatbutt1
The grey squirrels are just multiplying like mad here. The humane traps don't catch them and if I do grab one I can't keep up with the population. Help! What do I do? Poison? I can't use them for target practice, the neighbors are too close.

Odd, we're in the middle os a squirrel shortage here. We have an abundance of food in the wooded areas, oaks and hickory trees for example, but maybe about 2-3 squirrels seen on over 11 acres, more if you include the neighboring property.

mattdavis11 · 01-30-2007, 06:14 AM

How many owls do you have hanging around?

Flatbutt1 · 01-30-2007, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mattdavis11
How many owls do you have hanging around?

Only two Horned, but they stay up on the hill.

fastpat · 01-30-2007, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mattdavis11
How many owls do you have hanging around?

I haven't seen any owls locally, but a number of hawks prowl the skys here. Every time the neighboring pasture is mowed, about 2-3 times a year, the hawks have a field day on varmints with no place to hide.

charleskieffner · 01-30-2007, 06:36 AM

RWS .177 cal pistole..............179-199 bucks. RWS meisterkugen pellets. look up dynamit/nobel or RWS on web. pistol will knock them on their ass. model 48/52 rifle is full sized one cocker rifle that will flat send their ass into the next century!

problem with rifle............it looks like full size rifle and my neighbors saw me one sunday morning at 6am going after rat in my boxers. called cops. cops tried to bust me for shooting firearm within 1/4 mile of structure. when i whipped out CCW license they told me to just be careful and watch my backdrop!

so i went for RWS pistol. concealable for covert stealth delta force black ops against rock squirrals/pack rats/kangaroo rats etc. hell of alot of GIGGLES!

Jeff Higgins · 01-30-2007, 09:21 AM

I'm a big fan of the Sheridan pneumatics for backyard pest control. They make a bit more noise than the spring-piston guns, but the .20 caliber pellet will cleanly kill anything right up to a possum. Plus, you get variable power so it's not out of the question to shoot it in the basement or the garage. Should be able to get a rifle for $150-$170, and a pistol for a little less. The pistol, unless you can find an older one, will have to be .177 or .22 as the .20 has been discontinued. The rifle is easier to hit with, and can ultimately have more power, so it would be my choice. Mine is head-shot accurate from anywhere inside the house to anywhere in the yard. By the way, I just got my '62 vintage rifle back from Mac1 Airguns, who did one of their "steroid" conversions on it; it now breaks 800 fps with a 14.3 gran pellet. About twice the power of an average spring-piston .177

rouxroux · 01-30-2007, 09:33 AM

If air rifles or CO2 pistols are not your thing, I'd suggest a nice little Walther P22 with supressor.

Freybird · Freybird's Garage

Consider a blowgun.
50 caliber, near silent, cheap, and a loads of fun. With some practice and the use of broadhead darts, 1 head or spine shot will do the trick.

charleskieffner · 01-30-2007, 11:10 AM

mr higgins.........that pic is TOO FUNNY!

those rats are SLEEPING, AREN'T THEY?????? LOL!

Jeff Higgins · 01-30-2007, 11:31 AM

Of course they are, Charles. They've had a hard day.

charleskieffner · 01-30-2007, 11:49 AM

jeff was it...........if you run, you'll only DIE TIRED? LMFAO. since its been cold here, actually a couple of mornings down to 9 degrees F. the meeeccez have been attacking my garage.

came out one night after feeding dogs, and much to my surprise there is a meeece(mouse) sitting on top of battery charger handle,attached to p-car. WTF! went back in house grabbed glasses, grabbed RWS pistol and snucked up on him and "dry-gulched" him right thru the head!

all we could think of was he was cold and getting heat from battery charger or he had taken a bite out of 110 wire and he was stunned!

right now its getting so bad that a KATZ is being thought about real serious! only problem KATZ pee and coyotes smell katz and then have coyote cocktails and katz become chum!

Flatbutt1 · 01-30-2007, 11:53 AM

The pneumatics seem like a good idea. I be shopping tonite!

thanks guys.

uhhh...I don't need a purchase permit for pneumos do I?

mschuep · 01-30-2007, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
I'm a big fan of the Sheridan pneumatics for backyard pest control. They make a bit more noise than the spring-piston guns, but the .20 caliber pellet will cleanly kill anything right up to a possum. Plus, you get variable power so it's not out of the question to shoot it in the basement or the garage. Should be able to get a rifle for $150-$170, and a pistol for a little less.

I asked for advice on pellet guns before, ended up going with the .20 Sheridan rifle on your recommendation...So far I've been extremely happy.

Thanks!

tabs · 01-30-2007, 12:22 PM

OHHH I thought U meant on the OT Board and were refering to Fastpat.

Jeff Higgins · 12:32 PM

Good show, Charles. Keep them raidin' little bastards at bay. I don't get many in the house or garage (at least no evidence of them), but the very first one I ever shot was in the house. I was about eight years old and yes, it was that very Sheridan rifle. Couldn't get more than about three pumps in it when I was that little, but the rat didn't seem to notice.

At the crack, mom and dad both came running into the rec room, hollaring "I thought I told you to take that outside!" When I held up the rat, my very first kill, mom started screaming and dad started laughing. It was great.

Flatbutt!, no waiting period, no permit, nada. Do ask about local laws - Lynnwood considers any device that launches a projectile a "firearm", be it a .30-06 or a spit wad. I just stand inside so the noise is muffled and the neighbors don't see.

You should be able to get away with a Sheridan .20 caliber, or the Benjamin .177 or .22 caliber, complete with scope, mounts, and 500 pellets for less than 200 bucks. Both are available as combo sets that include everything. The Sheridan and Benjamin are essentially the same rifle these days, but I prefer the .20 caliber Sheridan as a pest control caliber. The Sheridan cylindrical pellets, at 14.3 grains, are the ones you want. They are actually heavier than most .22 pellets and penetrate very well. They are as accurate as you can shoot, too. My rifle will cut one ragged hole on full power at 50 yards with them. It will also go right through the biggest rat, or a possum's head, all the way accross the yard.

Great, Matt! They really are pretty good little rifles, and not just "for the money". I find they are as if not more accurate than spring-piston guns costing several times as much. More powerful when you need them to be, too.

tabs · 01-30-2007, 12:58 PM

One Airdale...one dead Rat, Possum or Skunk.

tabs · 01-30-2007, 01:00 PM

Half a dozen Airdales...one dead Lion, Tiger or Bear.

Jeff Higgins · 01-30-2007, 01:03 PM

That's hardly sporting, Wayne. And not much fun. Seriously though, in my case that would mean removing some neighbors. One of the many trappings of living in a formerly semi-rural area that has seen a great deal of encroachment on my formerly lonely lot. As woods come down and houses go up, the denizens of those woods start hiding in and about the houses. Not just rats, squirrels, possums and the like, either. We include racoons, coyotes, and very rarely even black bear and cougar on that list. Kinda give a whole new meaning to the "lost cat" signs on the telephone poles, but I digress.

Many of these new neighbors see no need to keep their place clean, pet food inside, and such. No matter how much the old hands try to explain the co-existance with suburban wildlife to them. That, and some pretty oak (yes we have some up here), walnut, and various fruit trees that we are not willing to take down that feed and harbor the less offensive critters.

I do simply keep poison in the house for the ones that make it inside. I won't put it outside, due to the many desireable species that populate our area. The pellet rifle provides some relief (more psychological) that can be targeted at the more invasive and annoying creatures. Until we can get all of the neighbors on board in cleaning up their wood piles, pet feeders, and other stuff, we are kind of stuck. Besides, it's rather good, plain ol' redneck fun. "Thar's another one. Here, hold mah beer..."