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squirrel shooting advice needed


nderfel
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hi all,

 

shooting a new permission and the landowner is really keen for us to thin the squirrel population for her as they are ring barking a load of oak trees she put in about 8 years ago.

 

Anyways, the problem I have is that the drays are really high up in fir trees (60, 80ft) and the foliage is really dense. I cant seem to make an impact on the drays to get them running, and even when I do they are too high and with too much foliage in the way to zap the little critters.

 

Any ideas on how to deal with them?

 

cheers all

 

Nick

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Thanks, I was using a 12g yesterday, I even tried a few 36g BB rounds on the damn things but all I did was rattle them slightly, the squirrel equivalent of junk mail through the letter box I suppose.

 

a few feeders might work very well, you usually have to beat them off the pheasant feeders with a stick about now so that's not a bad idea. I would have liked to destroy the drays as well but I cant see that happening.

 

would you just use pheasant feed or something similar?

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I go out at first light when the squirrels are usually on the ground feeding. That way I catch them when they are more busy looking for breakfast than danger. Also if you can visit the permission everyday I would use Fenn traps in tunnels or live cage traps to sort of the majority of them. Feed stations are a good idea to concentrate them to one area.

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Try making a sort of low bird table with some nuts, wheat etc. give it a day or two then spread some peanut butter onto the table along with the food you have been using. press the food into the peanut butter. As the squirrels sit and faff with the food and butter mix, shoot them with .22 airifle or rimfire.

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My grandad had a trap he made for this which was genius put a 6ft plank at 20 degrees to the tree trunk, about 4-5ft up plank nail a baked bean can (empty) so the can lid faces the shooting position, put some feed/nuts/peanut butter in the base of the can, when squizz puts his head in the can to get the nuts you have the exposed rear to shoot, 22rf ideal and from an upstairs window makes a very safe shot (works best for elevated shooting position) he used an air rifle or occasionally a shot gun. it was quite effective for a while. They do learn quick though......

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You don't need big shot for shooting dreys, they are mostly made of leaves, use No5 shot and a nice tight choke instead. Squirrels can take big hits, only a pellet in the right place will kill them cleanly, increase your chances with tight choke and lots of pellets.

 

As an example, a 12ft-lb air rifle pellet in the brain will kill a squirrel on the spot, whereas a 275ft-lb HMR bullet in the mid body won't stop it. I've done it and seen it myself.

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a little tip,,,,,

 

as already quoted, build some feeders, you will see how on you tube, once built put a couple on the trees,, fill them with cornflakes and peanuts and also smother the bottom of the feeders with peanut butter,

 

peanut butter is like crack to them,they cant resist it,

 

zero your rifle in to 30yrds (air rifle) then sit off and wait for the little critters to come down to the feeders(and they will) then pop them off,

 

they love cornflakes and peanut butter and will go out of their way to get it,

 

using a shotgun will only spook them ,, one bang and there off, its an air rifle all day for me on the greys and great sport, but if your drey poking then a shotgun comes in handy

 

good luck

 

Evo

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I fully agree with Evo.

Air rifle, full power or FAC, or rimfire.

I only use the shotgun in areas where I can't sit quietly. I use a 20g which is nice and tight, but mainly the .22lr.

This is a link to my feeders.

 

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/topic/243295-squirrel-feeder/?hl=%2Bsquirrel+%2Bfeeder

 

Hang a few on trees and top up every week.

They can't resist the nuts at this time of the year.

Find yourself a suitable spot where you can sit quietly. Need to be still. I sit on a small tripod stool with my back against a pine tree about 30 yards away from the feeder.

A face veil helps otherwise just olive green drab seems to do the trick.

ATB

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yeah we had drey poles but even at full extension they werent reaching, the few that we could reach with the poles were a real ball ache because of the branches and foliage.

 

either ay we are going to thin them out so i shall cheers all, hopefully i'll be reporting back with a nice piccie of a pile of tree rats

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I'm surprised this hasn't already been said, but try to avoid shooting dreys, squirrels aren't the only thing that use them.

Last time I went shooting dreys, my mate had the choice between shooting two, he shot the left first, then a ******* tawny owl flew out of the one on the right

Poking them at 80ft is a bit much I know, but better safe than sorry.

Edited by Bleeh
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Hi again all, hoping to get up to the permission at the weekend. If I am baiting squirrels would you leave dead ones about as you do with pigeons and corvids to attract other in or clear them up?

And that's a good point bleeh, thanks

 

Id remove them, as squirrels aint thick, in my woodland I set up a feeding area and placed three kania traps in the trees, in the first two weeks we had caught four, but as we were not getting to the woods daily, the live squirrels probably saw their dead loved ones in the traps, now they wont go near them, and yes, we still have squirrels

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