Stealth Stalker Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 I went out with the gamekeeper yesterday squirrel drey poking. It was bl**dy cold and didn't stop raining, but these conditions were ideal. About 1 in 2 dreys were occupied as opposed to the last time we went out it was about 1 in 5, seems like they prefer to be snuggled up in bed when cold & wet! We ended the day with 36 squirrels. 4 of which were babies that fell to the floor after raking the nests I didn't like dispatching them, they were making a dreadful high pitched squeeking. Thats 116 squirrels in 3 outings. Cheers SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 I've never heard of that - Could you tell us more about it - with photo's of the dreys maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
il cacciatore Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 Yeh would be interesting, have a forrest full of greys on one of my permissions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 Poking normally means using a large pole which fits together quickly, to poke a drey, this sends the squirels running which are then shot with shotguns. We no longer use polls on my shoots takes too long unfortunatly. Instead they use the rather louder and more expensive method of shooting the drays (dray bashing) unfortunatly this time of the year you are bound to get young ones and they count. in a few months time they would be chewing their way through the feeders just the same way their parents do. 2 outings for 136 squirels with 7 shooters for my lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyCM Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 I agree Nick - poking is the long way. Bashing is the louder way. A bit of choke and some heavy shot is ideal for shifting a drey and a mate with a more reasonable 6/7 shot load to shoot the squirrels as they emerge. I always come away with back ache - a combination of heavy loads, looking and shooting straight up and laughing too much - when there are 4 or so of you around a tree and the object of the exercise is pest control, not many get away. An essential job on a shoot before the leaves are on the trees. Cheers AndyCM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kip270 Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 Yeh would be interesting, have a forrest full of greys on one of my permissions. Drey poking is illegal in Scotland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyCM Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 (edited) Kip, Is that so the Red's don't get it by mistake, I can see the reasoning if that's the case. I have visited the Lake District regularly for the past 25 years (mmmm, must be getting and old *** ) and the drop in the Red squirrel population and the influx of greys (admitedly on a small patch I am familiar with) has been marked. When I first visited, if you saw a squirrel - it was a Red, now if you see a squirrel it's a grey. Was it DEFRA that wants greys reduced (last 6-12 moths news) well in my opinion they are about 20 years, if not a lot longer, too late with their advice. Cheers AndyCM Edited April 12, 2006 by AndyCM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kip270 Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 Yes mate, Also multi-catch traps and poison feeding stations are also illegal. As you say DEFRA are too late as usual. The big problem at the moment is the squirrel pox virus to which the grey is a carrier and has no ill effects on them, but it kills the Reds within 7 days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted April 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2006 The problem that we've found with shooting the dreys is it dosn't actualy destroy them, trust me these things can be massive & quite indestructable. I know the feeling of aching neck, shoulders & back, I'm still feeling it today What we do is have 2 people with guns either side of the tree to be poked then the third person gently nudges the nest with the pole, hopefully 2,3, or even 4 will bolt out in different directions, once the squirrels have been shot, the nests are then thoroughly raked out of the tree. If the dreys have been shot at within a week or so we've found they have been repaired and are back in use. The shoot that I beat on is absolutely over run with squirrels there must be atleast 400 dreys around the estate, and the damage they do to woodland and the feeders not to mention the corn,eggs & fledglings they eat is amazing. According to the gamekeeper the only good squirrel is a dead one. SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted April 13, 2006 Report Share Posted April 13, 2006 Trust me .... the bunch i go with could get anything out of a tree. We put alot of lead up in the air on both occasions and they dont stop shooting the dreys untill they fall out different methods for different area's. The end result is the same, lots of effectively culled grey tree rats (always a good thing) keep up the good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted April 13, 2006 Report Share Posted April 13, 2006 We no longer use polls on my shoots takes too long unfortunatly. Instead they use the rather louder and more expensive method of shooting the drays (dray bashing) Aye but be careful mate... This time of year redundant Dreys are sometimes used by. Buzzard, Kestrel, Tawny Owl and other smaller song birds. Cheers, FM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted April 13, 2006 Report Share Posted April 13, 2006 We no longer use polls on my shoots takes too long unfortunatly. Instead they use the rather louder and more expensive method of shooting the drays (dray bashing) Aye but be careful mate... This time of year redundant Dreys are sometimes used by. Buzzard, Kestrel, Tawny Owl and other smaller song birds. Cheers, FM. :thumbs: one of the major downsides of the method normally you can tell which is which, the drays tend to have alot more leaves in their construction than any birds nests etc... But you point is unfortunatly very valid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted April 13, 2006 Report Share Posted April 13, 2006 Sorry to spoil your fun lads but as far as i know shooting the dreys out is illegal so i wouldnt tell too many people. Not sayin that cetain people dont do it lol how so? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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