Squirrels, am I wasting my time?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

I think youi are wasting your time.

Me too...they're like ants....can't kill 'em, so ya just establish a perimeter

[Evans, Marv]

My rifle is a Diana mod. 48 zeroed at about 100 ft. I don't need a scope and single shot is just fine. My neighbor does pretty well trapping them live though. He puts them on the back of his Harley and relocates them about five miles away. I think the price of a pellet is less than the gas & wear & tear on his Harley. My experience wasn't a waste of time. Some will always come within your perimeter. Those that stay beyond that aren't a problem

[Danimal16]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

My bad... scanned and didn't read the last sentence of the OP.


How about a huge azz boa constrictor?

Funny you should mention that. Last year we had a couple of huge king snakes in our yards. All the guys thought it was great, and the ground squirrels disappeared. However, the wives pretty much were creeped out; the Fire Department (of all folks) captured the snakes and moved them. These were pretty good size, both about 4 feet.

[Danimal16]

Originally Posted by KC911

A Diana air rifle would be deadly

I have a suppressed Gamma that works pretty darn good. I was thinking of getting something a bit harder hitting. Also need a high powered pellet pistol.

[Danimal16]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

I think youi are wasting your time.

Actually, if I get to them in the springtime, and get the male, success is pretty good.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

My rifle is a Diana mod. 48 zeroed at about 100 ft. I don't need a scope and single shot is just fine. My neighbor does pretty well trapping them live though. He puts them on the back of his Harley and relocates them about five miles away. I think the price of a pellet is less than the gas & wear & tear on his Harley. My experience wasn't a waste of time. Some will always come within your perimeter. Those that stay beyond that aren't a problem

Yep....at that distance, a Diana with open sights is deadly. I have a 34 in .177, my uncle a 52 in .22 with a scope....they are both simply awesome air rifles...but you know that

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Danimal16

I have a suppressed Gamma that works pretty darn good. I was thinking of getting something a bit harder hitting. Also need a high powered pellet pistol.

I got the Dianas I just memtioned based upon PPOT and Higgins' posts. Check them out....it will cost you but you won't regret it....I promise

[HardDrive]

I can speak to this directly. We had the same situation at our house. They would tear the hell out the garden. This year one of them started removing all of the bark from our lilac tree.

You can dramatically reduce their population by shooting them. Just be forewarned that there a lot more of them than you think. The first season I went after them, I probably shot 40-50. After that, its far fewer in the spring, then you're good.

Gotta be honest, its a hell of a lot of fun.

I use a Ruger .22 air rifle because we are in a populated area. Works just fine, but if you have the option of using a real .22, I would. Of course a 12 gauge works like a champ, but they may be a bit more drama than the wife wants at the house.

[lowyder993s]

http://ctfalconers.wixsite.com/home


I'll bet you can get some hawkers out there! It's generally an October to February thing as the canopy has to fall away so the birds have a chance. Fun way to spend an afternoon!

[Jeff Higgins]

I do love my RWS Dianna air rifles. I've got a 34 and a 48, both in .22 caliber. Both are absolutely deadly on rats, but I have yet to shoot a squirrel with them. I'm sure they would work just fine.

That said, I kinda like alternative solutions sometimes:

[Starless]

Thanks all. I stopped by the PD to find out what the law is as far as shooting an air rifle in my yard to kill the squirrels. They said they didn't care, but, if a neighbor complains they will have to come out and investigate. The only problem they can see is that the squirrels are considered game animals and I could be cited for hunting without a license. So, I really only have 2 neighbors and they are never home. So I may just check to see if they're home before shooting, or I may just go over there when they are home and ask if they care. I very much doubt they'll give a damn.

[vash]

thanks!! this thread reminded me to call MAC-1!! bugging me, i knew there was someone i needed to call!!

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Starless

Thanks all. I stopped by the PD to find out what the law is as far as shooting an air rifle in my yard to kill the squirrels. They said they didn't care, but, if a neighbor complains they will have to come out and investigate. The only problem they can see is that the squirrels are considered game animals and I could be cited for hunting without a license. So, I really only have 2 neighbors and they are never home. So I may just check to see if they're home before shooting, or I may just go over there when they are home and ask if they care. I very much doubt they'll give a damn.

If the cops investigate, they'll ask questions like which air rifle, caliber, and how many ya got ? I had a coyote prowling my back fence line a few years back...I did tell my neighbors what might happen....didn't matter to me if they gave a damn or not.

[Danimal16]

Originally Posted by KC911

A Diana air rifle would be deadly

Is the Diana quiet?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Danimal16

Is the Diana quiet?

I think so....I shoot my .177 off my back deck and don't think twice. You'd want a .22 for small game....one shot, inside and done....no matter where ya live imo.

[javadog]

My brother has a house on a 1 acre lot in the middle of Dallas. He has a few trees, therefore he has squirrels. They were eating his tomatoes a few years ago, so he took to whacking them with a pellet gun. After 16, he gave up.

[Danimal16]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

My rifle is a Diana mod. 48 zeroed at about 100 ft. I don't need a scope and single shot is just fine. My neighbor does pretty well trapping them live though. He puts them on the back of his Harley and relocates them about five miles away. I think the price of a pellet is less than the gas & wear & tear on his Harley. My experience wasn't a waste of time. Some will always come within your perimeter. Those that stay beyond that aren't a problem

Marv, the types of tree squirrels here in SoCal are Eastern Fox Squirrels. All the California Greys are in the Sierra Foothills, having been driven out by the Eastern Fox Squirrels. The Eastern Fox Squirrels came hear years ago as pets after the American Civil War. Fish and Game told me that it is illegal to trap and release them, same with ground squirrels.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Danimal16

Marv, the types of tree squirrels here in SoCal are Eastern Fox Squirrels. All the California Greys are in the Sierra Foothills, having been driven out by the Eastern Fox Squirrels. The Eastern Fox Squirrels came hear years ago as pets after the American Civil War. Fish and Game told me that it is illegal to trap and release them, same with ground squirrels.

i got the same speech.

i trapped a pair of ground squirrels in my yard. there were two. by the damage to my yard, it looked like dozens of them. i called animal control, and they told me it was illegal to release them elsewhere.

oh well.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I do love my RWS Dianna air rifles. I've got a 34 and a 48, both in .22 caliber. Both are absolutely deadly on rats, but I have yet to shoot a squirrel with them. I'm sure they would work just fine.

That said, I kinda like alternative solutions sometimes:

i could spend an afternoon watching videos like this

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Danimal16

Marv, the types of tree squirrels here in SoCal are Eastern Fox Squirrels. All the California Greys are in the Sierra Foothills, having been driven out by the Eastern Fox Squirrels. The Eastern Fox Squirrels came hear years ago as pets after the American Civil War. Fish and Game told me that it is illegal to trap and release them, same with ground squirrels.

We have peacocks... also illegal to relocate or shoot (often I wonder if they would be any good to eat?) Mind you I'm waaaay to lazy to clean a bird that big. On the other hand it would be a great excuse to buy a Diana... on the other other hand I have a crossman .22 pistol that could do the job.