jamesleee123 Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 Hi, due to a change in shifts I've found myself home alone 8 am to 11 am and I noticed my bird feeder was plauged by grey squirrels. I've only a small garden, so shooting out of the bathroom window, one foot in the bath and the rifle bag on the window sill I've accounted for 11 in 2 weeks. Number 12 is the problem, it just grabs a nut and jumps back on the fence, not giving me either a definite kill shot or a safe backstop. Any ideas to make it stay still for long enough to get a head shot, I tried scattering nuts on the floor but same scenario. Any advice much appreciated, the bird numbers gave almost doubled since I started shooting. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 Peanut butter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good shot? Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 Use a bird feeder with 1/4" mesh so it cannot take a whole peanut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 Have you logged those on the annual total.....Β Β other vermin .......grey squirrels.Β Β Β Peanut butter may help, if not then a live catch cage.Β I put a bird feeder in the back of mine so the little birds can still feed but not get caught. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 Suet blocks are good for this, just position it where you want to shoot, . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spr1985 Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 (edited) Half a nut superglued downs d no other feed just for an hour or so to see if it presents itself?Β ....but peanut butter as stated prevents them running off with it, Iβm told it works very well with rats alsoΒ Edited December 4, 2020 by Spr1985 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesleee123 Posted December 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 Peanut butter is on the shopping list cheers for the adviceΒ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 (edited) I found that peanut butter in theΒ livetrap was sometimes delicately removed, however a pileΒ of peanuts, Araldited together, did the trick. Edited December 5, 2020 by amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 I WILL take a photo of one of my live catch traps tomorrow. I made wire mesh peanut baskets which fit behind the treadle and so all the small birds can feed but a squirrel entering and stepping on the treadle to reach the nuts is trapped.Β I also put cages over some to stop pheasants getting inside but also a frame reducing the size of the entarnce also works.Β Watch this space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 Two now in two days from the bedroom window π there on the move looking for food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesleee123 Posted December 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 Wife and daughter home all weekend, they think they are cute fluffy things, my boy and I know better, so shooting on hold until Monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 54 minutes ago, jamesleee123 said: Wife and daughter home all weekend, they think they are cute fluffy things, my boy and I know better, so shooting on hold until Monday. That's a shame,,,, roll on Monday for you and your boy π You can't beat the sound of a pellet hitting a squirrel's skull π Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 1 hour ago, jamesleee123 said: Wife and daughter home all weekend, they think they are cute fluffy things, my boy and I know better, so shooting on hold until Monday. My wife was the same, but years of education have worn her down, she woke me up this morning saying there was another squirrel on the feeder, gun out job done. And the garden being full of songbirds is the reward.Β Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 16 hours ago, Walker570 said: I WILL take a photo of one of my live catch traps tomorrow. I made wire mesh peanut baskets which fit behind the treadle and so all the small birds can feed but a squirrel entering and stepping on the treadle to reach the nuts is trapped.Β I also put cages over some to stop pheasants getting inside but also a frame reducing the size of the entarnce also works.Β Watch this space. Still watching and waitingβ¦. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesleee123 Posted December 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 Since I started shooting them we've had the woodpeckers back on the feeder, an over wintering blackcap and three nuthatch, I'd never before seen a nuthatch in my garden. As well as all the usual songbirdsΒ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 45 minutes ago, old'un said: Still watching and waitingβ¦. This is Nev's live catch trap, he has put other pictures on before,Β its finding things that's the issue π π Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, old'un said: Still watching and waitingβ¦. Your so kind to a poor old fella.Β Was just about to load it and saw that old photo.Β Thattre rat has eaten so much it has fallen aleeep look. Joking apart, I buy a sheet of expanded from B&Q.... not cheap but will last for ever. Tehn cut and bend it into a full width peanut holder that fits just at the back of the treadle ....tree rat asleep on top of the treadle.Β Using the top half of a plastic milk carton as a funnel you can put the peanuts through the wire to fill it ip.Β I have seven in my ten acre wood and if the 17HMR or the 22RF doesn't get them then a desire for peanuts will. The joy is that the little birds can come and feed in total safety and they act as decoys. If you have pheasants or moorhens then the entrance has to be restricted just enough for a tree rat to be able to get in. Avertical piece of plywood a couple of inches off the front keeping clear of the gate would work and I am about to modify some of mine thus.Β Plenty of room still for Mr Squidge to enter at the sides. Edited December 5, 2020 by Walker570 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 If you are anywhere near me, I will be happy to loan you a live catch trap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesleee123 Posted December 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 As far as I can tell its only the one left in the area, for now at least, and its become rather personal. If I don't get it this week I will take you up on your kind offer @Fisheruk. CheersΒ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sciurus Posted December 6, 2020 Report Share Posted December 6, 2020 A greatΒ offer from Fisheruk ,Β Also tryΒ putting a walnut and hazelnut in mesh birdfeeder along with peanuts and sunflower seeds & shoot it! There is an expression round here that it only takes 10% of your time to get 90% of the grey squirrels, however it takes 90% of your time to get the remaining 10%!Β Β Its survival of the fittest and you are now dealing with the clever one.Β Β Keep going, you will get it one way or another. If you have shot 11 already, it sounds like your house is βsquirrel heavenβ, so they will be back.Β By the way, woodpeckers and nuthatches are my two favourite birds. Keep it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesleee123 Posted December 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2020 Well its taken nine days but number twelve just ate his last free meal. I smearedΒ peanut butter on the little border fence and he stopped long enough for a clean safe shot. Ten minutes later there us a nuthatch on the feeder, doesn't get much better than that. Cheers for all the advice and support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted December 9, 2020 Report Share Posted December 9, 2020 Great stuff, number 13 will be along next week some time while you are doing the pots, just you wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted December 9, 2020 Report Share Posted December 9, 2020 Brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesleee123 Posted December 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2020 The dogs started going mad at the patio door and I thought not another one surely, but no a rat. The wife won't mind me shooting themΒ so its a session in the bathroom with the boy Saturday evening. Wish me luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sciurus Posted December 9, 2020 Report Share Posted December 9, 2020 πππ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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