squirrel control

[arjimlad]

@Sciurus funny having that corpse whack you on the shoulder like that. I bet it made you jump!

[ratchers]

Went down to the farm this morning as it wasn't raining! let me say I was pleased I took my wellies, squelch squelch.

Seems as though I was a day late as the red squirrel group had been down and shot 26 greys, there was two of them and they had thermal spotters( I still want one,maybe Santa  will help)but a good result so I wasn't expecting to see anything. Got into the wood and thought if any animals can't hear me paddling through the sogginess they must be deaf, well I found the deaf one, it was jumping about through the branches, onto one tree then the next, down the trunk and onto the ground, it was about 20-30 yards away and I was tracking it through the scope when at least it stopped for a scratch and I had a clear shot,the jsb did its job,watched it for a few seconds to make sure it was a clean kill only to hear a grey barking, well there was another just a few yards away from the shot one wondering what had happened to its buddy, took a few moments to locate it but thanks to the tail swish found it, it was in a tree but I thought if I waited it would eventually come to see the dead grey and five minutes later it also took a jsb to the head.

When I first started shooting this wood years ago there was a pair of reds but both succumbed to squirrel pox but I keep plugging away at the greys and am hopeful we will get the reds back.

[Mice!]

2 hours ago, ratchers said:

Seems as though I was a day late as the red squirrel group had been down and shot 26 greys, there was two of them and they had thermal spotters(

Did you know someone else was going down? Seems a bit off for someone else to turn up and shoot when your the one filling the feeder every week.

Yes they did well,  but you should have at least been invited. 

[ratchers]

2 hours ago, Mice! said:

Did you know someone else was going down? Seems a bit off for someone else to turn up and shoot when your the one filling the feeder every week.

Yes they did well,  but you should have at least been invited. 

Theres no competition,a dead grey is good whoever shoots it and as it happens they have been shooting on this land longer than me, wer'e all working to the same goal, the return of red squirrels.

[Mice!]

11 hours ago, ratchers said:

Theres no competition,a dead grey is good whoever shoots it and as it happens they have been shooting on this land longer than me, wer'e all working to the same goal, the return of red squirrels.

Fair enough, things just must be done differently over your way, there are a few of us can shoot the same ground around here, but it doesn't happen often. 

[sam triple]

Been a really slow year on the squirrels, got a mate to make me up so feeders  

[Mice!]

1 hour ago, sam triple said:

Been a really slow year on the squirrels, got a mate to make me up so feeders  

They won't chew that 😆😆

[Sciurus]

Some days your best laid plans turn to squirrel poo !!! 😡

It all started last week, I was offered 12 acres of private woodland in the garden of a rather nice house. The wood was perfect, I could park outside, it wasn’t overgrown and there were even some level spots if I wanted to bring a chair- luxury!
Walking round the wood, I spotted 4 or 5 greys, either zooming along the ground or very high up in the oak tops. The 12g would sort them out.

Yesterday, I dumped bait at the base of various trees in preparation and this morning I was there around 8.30 am.

As I went through the gate, I saw the first grey running about the canopy, unfortunately at the same time a couple of tourists came out of a public footpath from the wood opposite and decided to pass the time of day with me. After exchanging pleasantries and explaining that I was a Red Squirrel volunteer culling greys, I bid them farewell but it was too late, the grey had gone.

50 yards further on, I spotted another grey high up a beech. As I crept closer I spotted a police van moving slowly down the road. Thats odd I thought. Just then another grey appeared in the canopy- Game on! Unfortunately it was game off!!! The police van had returned and parked in front of my car- damn!

Unloading the gun, I walked back to the two bobbies - “ You can guess why we are here” they said. Apparently a passing motorist had seen me enter the wood with a gun and driven straight to the police station in the village, half a mile away. The police station has been closed for years but occasionally passing police use it for having a brew and a chat. Just my luck that just as I entered the wood,  there were two policemen in a van in the police yard ready to have a brew! To be fair, after checking my licence and photographing my number plate, they went on their way, presumably before their tea break finished.

Long story short, the day was spoilt, there were lots of roe deer acting like greys in the bushes but I only saw one grey which I shot.

A disappointing morning, which was made even worse. As I returned to the car, what should I see but a grey in the branch immediately above my car roof in the woodland to the house opposite.😡

 

[Mice!]

4 hours ago, Sciurus said:

Apparently a passing motorist had seen me enter the wood with a gun and driven straight to the police station in the village, half a mile away

Must have been a tourist mate, but on the rare occasions I do see someone I tend to wait before I get the gear out, hopefully you still had a good look around. 

I shot three on Saturday, two out the feeder and one out the trees, a friend topped the feeder up last week and it was already empty, then there were squirrels in the distance playing kiss chase, with all the leaves now off I expected to see more but it was a cold one so that may well have affected things.

I forced myself to get out late last night and check a feeder, I topped it up last Wednesday and was sure it couldn't be empty, the other close by was still half full after a few weeks but this one was empty for the first time in ages.

And it was almost empty again 😬😬 I couldn't believe it, and I'm so glad I checked, half filled with good stuff. The brolley and nets will be up tomorrow,  and I'm expecting quite a few.

It takes a few squirrels to empty this.

 

[Sciurus]

@Mice! You have to laugh- all my permissions are tourist attractions with 24hr public access and only received 1 visit in 6 years from police 3 days later . Yet I get a police van within 5 minutes of entering a private wood!

Anyway good luck tomorrow- I’m off to RH with a new volunteer 

[Mice!]

9 hours ago, Sciurus said:

@Mice! You have to laugh- all my permissions are tourist attractions with 24hr public access and only received 1 visit in 6 years from police 3 days later . Yet I get a police van within 5 minutes of entering a private wood!

Anyway good luck tomorrow- I’m off to RH with a new volunteer 

When you look at it like that, it is very funny. Cold one today mate, wrap up 👍

[Sciurus]

This morning, I Scraped the windscreen and was at the permission just after 8 with a new volunteer. Me with.410 and him with 12 g.
We parked up in the car park and saw our first squirrel- a red one, followed up with a second red in a nearby yew. A good start.

Just like the last visit, no greys were spotted in the Hall grounds and campsite (very unusual) but it was still cold.

Up the steep hill path (to get warm), we intended to walk the wood from top to bottom. The thermal soon spotted the first grey. After positioning ourselves either side of the oak, the 12 bore brought it down.

Further down, I remarked that greys were often spotted in a small clump of firs. Sure enough we spotted a grey in the firs which I dropped with  the .410.

Further down another grey was spotted on the boundary in the lower wood about 100m away. We had to walk through an area of brash - crunch, crunch, crunch but the grey stayed put, we got as close as we dared and the 12g did the business (& I wished I had ear defenders!).

10.30 - off to Greggs for a celebratory bacon butty and welcome coffee. It had warmed up by then and time to take off a layer

Then back to the permission to shoot a different wood that I rarely visit because it is halfway up another steep hill and completely overgrown and blocked with large wind blown trees.

As usual, another grey is spotted on the far boundary, we had to do a wide detour to get closer. Bang my pal quickly spotted and dropped a grey on the ground, this shifted the original grey, which he shot at, but it carried on running. I tracked it through the canopy into the next tree and was about to shoot it, when it decided to give up and drop dead.

Five for the morning, which is quite alot for the area. The volunteer did well and should be a great addition to the Society.

After a quick bowl of soup at home, I went back to yesterdays wood. No police this time. It really is a lovely wood.

 

The temperature was dropping quickly and the greys were staying put rather than running off and within 15 minutes, I had shot 3 with the .410. The wood owner and his gardener be pleased .

A total of 8 and a great day out.

 

 

 

[sam triple]

Just got myself 130 acres of squirrel control in the grounds of a country house , feeder and camera are up , I’ll be back there Sunday to check it out , they even offered to pay me !,

[Sciurus]

@sam triple Very nice, enjoy it👍

[Mice!]

2 hours ago, Sciurus said:

total of 8 and a great day out.

With the bang sticks! I SAID WITH THE BANG STICKS, get some ear plugs in you pocket mate, sounds like a good but noisy day out 👍

46 minutes ago, sam triple said:

Just got myself 130 acres of squirrel control in the grounds of a country house , feeder and camera are up , I’ll be back there Sunday to check it out , they even offered to pay me !,

Sounds great mate, ask if they'd pay for a few bags of nuts or a couple of feeders 👍

[oldypigeonpopper]

hello, where is the cheapest place for peanuts, putting 2 feeders up, i have done 2 X 2ft square boards with a piece of board screwed to bottom to catch any dropped nuts from feeder, need a way to make a cheap feeder ??

Edited November 28, 2023 by oldypigeonpopper

[Mice!]

22 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

hello, where is the cheapest place for peanuts, putting 2 feeders up, i have done 2 X 2ft square boards with a piece of board screwed to bottom to catch any dropped nuts from feeder, need a way to make a cheap feeder ??

https://www.birdfood.co.uk/squirrel-feeder-xxl?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA35urBhDCARIsAOU7QwmM5iUItKx5syIGWB6TikUfaQna3MLCUG6VYo26dId3_vLnIhx6f_IaAuigEALw_wcB

I don't think you'll get much cheaper or easier than this, positioned sideways so your not shooting at the perspex, there not that big but they'd get you started.

[Mice!]

Shift change this week so I was busy, I got three Saturday from one wood, two off a feeder and one I finally caught up with after a good climb, but it warmed me up.

Then out today to the coldest feeder in the world, but it's been hammered recently, 5 ish kg going in a week, great result between 8 and 9.

I had more layers on than an onion and they were needed.

I had a quick walk around the wood in the sun but didn't see any squirrels but it got the blood going. 

The feeder lid was chewed a while back, but they've had a real good go since Sunday.

Quick fix. Chew through that!

Back for elevenses and pack up the caravan,  then much to my own surprise I gave the caravan a quick clean outside, it was sunny and I was well dressed for it and the wife commented Saturday that it was looking a bit green 😳😳 fun when the water is freezing while your using it😁😁

Then I called at the new spot on my way home, but I thought that @Sciurus mates were coming for a chat, driving down the A590 when two Fast response police cars came flying up behind me!! Then just sat there after over taking several other cars??

I filled the feeder then took a look down the lane again and shot a bonus two this afternoon out the tree 50 yards from the car, followed by a fly over from the fast Jets playing in clear blue skies.

[oldypigeonpopper]

1 hour ago, Mice! said:

https://www.birdfood.co.uk/squirrel-feeder-xxl?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA35urBhDCARIsAOU7QwmM5iUItKx5syIGWB6TikUfaQna3MLCUG6VYo26dId3_vLnIhx6f_IaAuigEALw_wcB

I don't think you'll get much cheaper or easier than this, positioned sideways so your not shooting at the perspex, there not that big but they'd get you started.

thankyou 👍

[ratchers]

On 28/11/2023 at 22:34, oldypigeonpopper said:

hello, where is the cheapest place for peanuts, putting 2 feeders up, i have done 2 X 2ft square boards with a piece of board screwed to bottom to catch any dropped nuts from feeder, need a way to make a cheap feeder ??

I used to get mine from Wilkos £20 for a 12.5 kilo bag, shop now sadly closed but have found Home Bargains do a similar bag.

[oldypigeonpopper]

2 minutes ago, ratchers said:

I used to get mine from Wilkos £20 for a 12.5 kilo bag, shop now sadly closed but have found Home Bargains do a similar bag.

hello, thanks , we do not have a home bargains local so will try B and M

[Mice!]

7 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

hello, thanks , we do not have a home bargains local so will try B and M

My B&M were  £19.99 for 12.5kg of nuts, I mix nuts with black sunflower seeds,  it makes the nuts last longer as they'll eat both, but the SFS are half the price. 

[oldypigeonpopper]

4 hours ago, Mice! said:

My B&M were  £19.99 for 12.5kg of nuts, I mix nuts with black sunflower seeds,  it makes the nuts last longer as they'll eat both, but the SFS are half the price. 

hello, will look in B and M tomorrow, i can get some pig food as well free to mix in, the birds like it to, 

[Sciurus]

@Mice! I still think you are very brave sitting at a feeder in this weather. Dressing like an onion just keeps the cold locked in for me- blasted blood thinning tablets!

On Tuesday, I was shooting high up near Grasmere and the jets were lower than usual following the valley and the shock waves were setting off the car alarms below (& deafening me! -  along with my companion with a non moderated 12g) I’ll not do that again.😂

@ratchers. Will the Brampton Group give you some bait (& lend you a thermal?) even just for a weekend to help you?

Thermals really are a game changer. I took out a new volunteer on tuesday, he had been shooting greys for a few years and didn’t see the need for a thermal. However once he realised he could spot a grey, quietly sitting in a tree a hundred metres away, he was convinced and I can see him regularly borrowing my “Group” thermal in the future. Thankfully he is fitter than me, so I am hoping he will take over this wood.

Keep up the good work.👍Sciurus

 

 

[Mice!]

34 minutes ago, Sciurus said:

still think you are very brave sitting at a feeder in this weather. Dressing like an onion just keeps the cold locked in for me- blasted blood thinning tablets!

On Tuesday, I was shooting high up near Grasmere and the jets were lower than usual following the valley and the shock waves were setting off the car alarms below (& deafening me! -  along with my companion with a non moderated 12g) I’ll not do that again.😂

Mate, I had on 3 pairs of socks, Long John's top and bottom, trousers and over trousers,  2 t-shirts a hoody, fleece and coat, a buff and hat plus the hood up, then two pairs of gloves and a hot water bottle for good measure! It's a good job I wasn't elsewhere going up those bankings 😅😅