The Heron Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 A farmer has asked me to help clear rats from his barns and sheds any advice welcome for example which pellet size .177 or .22 also best bait. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cannon Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 .177 or .22. Either will do. .177 may be easier to shoot with due to the flatter trajectory. For bait, it's hard to beat peanut butter. You could make a paste out of melted chocolate, peanut butter and olive oil. It should be thick enough not to run, but thin enough so the rats can't pick it up and run away with it. Make sure to use a shovel or a litter picker to pick up the dead rats. Get somewhere to burn them as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 good advice above but I have found nuttella works better than peanut butter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 A farmer has asked me to help clear rats from his barns and sheds any advice welcome for example which pellet size .177 or .22 also best bait. Thanks in advance. hello, what air rifle do you have ? what scope ? if your only going to shoot rats a 22 is ok . as most will be short range, just get a T20 red torch maybe thumb switch. find where the rat holes are or runs and put out some old cattle feed or grain eg wheat, ii find rats do not like barley, check out in day light shoot at night, a good insurance like BASC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig83 Posted August 21, 2016 Report Share Posted August 21, 2016 I do ALOT of this in winter. I use a air rifle with night vision. I only use .177. Last year I shot 1032 rats over various farms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 As far as bait goes I normally use Nutella mixed with any type of cooking oil, but tonight I caught one using melted chocolate mixed with golden syrup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 (edited) I used to do a lot of this when I was back in the UK. Nutella mixed with a little cod liver oil was the bait. Dip some sticks in it and then put them in the ground so that the rats have to reach up to get to the bait. That keeps it still and gives you a good point to aim for. Rather than use a lamp on the gun I used to put a fishing rod rest with a red bike lamp out so it was behind and to one side of the baited area. That silhouetted the rats so you had a better sight of the targets. Make sure that there is a safe back stop such as a bail or wood behind the target area. If feasible leave the sticks out until next time to get the rats to habitually check them for bait. I only used .177 and that was good enough. A multi shot PCP would be the tool of choice as you will need a quick back up shot sometimes and the action can be thick and fast. Take a bucket, shovel or trowel and gloves to collect the rats and ask the farmer what he wants doing with them. Edited August 22, 2016 by UKPoacher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 I do ALOT of this in winter. I use a air rifle with night vision. I only use .177. Last year I shot 1032 rats over various farms. hello craig, thats a lot of rats, i am sure once you get your shotgun sorted you will be able to sort out the pigeons to. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 ideally a pcp calibre unimportant,also if rats all over the sheds all rady dont bother with baiting,just get in a comfy spot at dusk and keep still,if has electric just put in a weak light bulb...my sons go around the chickens/barns couple times a week with airguns to keep them down....rats are tough and clever,head/chest shots needed to knock 'em over and ideally within @ 25 yards.you will never eradicate them with shooting/need poisons and traps as well if big problem but be very careful with poisons..we dont use as have alot of owls don't want to hurt.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycho Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 (edited) Use a .25 zeroed at 15 yards.wait till dusk,you will will hear loads near the grain then use a small torch on your gun to shoot. Or Thermal to spot and night vision to shoot the 2nd option gives more kills I have never found peanut butter to give any more kills than not baiting.. If you want lively then use a smoker an open door and a .410 its then as exciting an Olympic sceet running rats all over..Dont forget to took your trousers into your socks and never eat a sandwich before scrubbing your hands Edited August 22, 2016 by psycho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jega Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 Get round there during the day and sort out the various ranges ,use any bits and pieces for range markers i.e. a shovel at 25 yds ,rake at 35 yds etc .Just takes the guess work out of it when its dark. Like the other guys have said .177 or .22 both equally fine . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 I had a crack at shooting rats in a farm shed once, and placed an old white sheet on the floor, held down at each corner. Bait was placed near the middle, and left for the rats to eat a few times. Then when I went to shoot them, they could be clearly seen on the white sheet, even in low light. For bait, I use melted cooking chocolate mixed with a bit of cooking oil to stop it resetting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 Its not rocket science. Just good sense to make things easier and more efficient. Having a comfortable set shooting position where you aren't likely too have rats running over your legs and arms helps. As does a baited area of a known distance from the shooting position. A decent back stop to prevent any damage and a discrete steady light rather than a bright lamp moving about on top of your rifle. Then all that's needed are means of disposal of the carcases. One pig farmer I used to shoot for just tipped them into the pen for the pigs to eat - pellets and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manthing Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 Head on between the eyes is the best target. Pcp is better as they are tough little burgers and don't often stand around waiting to be shot. Started with a 97k in .22 and a Ledray but they soon sussed the light so now use a dedicated night setup of .22 ultra with a Yukon nv. I prefer .22 but I have a mate shoots rats with .177 and another who uses .25, use what your used to using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxwell Posted August 22, 2016 Report Share Posted August 22, 2016 My favourite type of pest control, as said either calibre, I use NV and shouting sticks, super steady and comfortable, you will soon find the runs and best places, I have recently taken 108 from one barn at the farmers request before harvest, they were on old wheat left over, enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxo Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 Used to love rat shooting. Don't have a rat shoot now. They will get used to any light on the rifle. Even the faint glimmer from my nv infra red spooked them in the end. Best way is to have a light permanently lighting up the baited area. If no electric then maybe a 12v system or one of those solar garden lights. That way you can change positions if neccessary and the rats will always be visible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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