Evil Elvis Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 :thumbs: I just spent the evening bunny stalking, how-ever the bunnies werent playing ball. But while standing motionless, i watched a pair of squizzers run down the trunk of a massive oak, one stopped long enough for me to ventilate its skull, the other went down the tree to look at it and got the same treatment ( I also shot one more on the ground.) I know people frown upon the rimmie for the squizzers but....the oak was massive, there was another 3-400 yards of dense forest behind it and to either side, had the slug ricoched, It would only have hit tree, and it didnt. Do other people take this type of shot or is it ground only? The oak was at least 4-5 foot across.(even i couldnt miss that!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Can't see a problem with shooting oak trees myself, however, you should be aware that they are not on the general list, and unless it's a young one, cooking them can be a bit hit and miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweepy Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 In my honest opinion it would be reckless to shoot at anything in a tree with a rifle.Also to say that there are trees as a back drop is very unsafe as you need to know where the bullet is going to end up not to just hope that it hits a tree on is way Sweepy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Forest as a backdrop isn't safe. Even though they might not have permission to be there people wander (especially at this time of year, walkers, ramblers etc etc) and then again some people may have a right to be there (keepers, farmers etc) it's leaving too much to chance. Personally I like to know exactly what's behind my target before taking the shot as NOTHING is worth shooting to have an accident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Forest as a backdrop isn't safe. Even though they might not have permission to be there people wander (especially at this time of year, walkers, ramblers etc etc) and then again some people may have a right to be there (keepers, farmers etc) it's leaving too much to chance. Personally I like to know exactly what's behind my target before taking the shot as NOTHING is worth shooting to have an accident. :good: :hmm: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Isn't he saying though, that the squirrel was IN FRONT of the trunk, and therefore the trunk was immediately behind the squirrel? Surely that would provide a pretty solid back-stop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomasbeaton Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 i shoot a 22lr at trees for crows and squirrles all the time as long as the bullet isnt in the direction of a town or house ect. i.e if its clear with a hill in the back round or a tree. thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 EE the simple answer its up to you to make the judgement, I know I've taken squirrels in trees and also rooks with the HMR but only when I've judged it safe to do so, usually with a large amount of trunk behind the shot or if the angle allowed it I have used general trees, nothing skyward nothing at people height and nothing where I hadn't been sitting for long enough to know there wasn't a rambler off a path. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 (edited) EE the simple answer its up to you to make the judgement, I know I've taken squirrels in trees and also rooks with the HMR but only when I've judged it safe to do so, usually with a large amount of trunk behind the shot or if the angle allowed it I have used general trees, nothing skyward nothing at people height and nothing where I hadn't been sitting for long enough to know there wasn't a rambler off a path. Yep, spot on. And if you don't shoot squirrels in trees, maybe some of you negative posters can tell me where you should shoot them? Edited May 7, 2008 by bob300w Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandmartin Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 The main thing is there's three less ******* tree rats around! Good shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweepy Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Ever heard of shooting them with a shotgun a lot safer for shooting them up trees.I have nothing against anybody shooting but remember that its safety that comes first and shooting in the air with a rifle ain't safe. Sweepy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 all depends where you shoot sweepy, I've got copses that I can get above on hillsides and shoot downwards to take them out of trees, as ever its all down to common sense, shooting into the sky is a definite no no but there are occasions you can do it. Taking more than one gun out isn't always practical and **** law states you'll be out looking for rabbits and squirrels will be all over the place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweepy Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 I totally agree with you al4x to use common sense all I was referring to was shooting towards the sky line where people are shooting squirrells of tree bows where there is no defined backdrop Sweepy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 yep thats just silly, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 I'd say if it's on the main trunk of a big tree like an Oak then it will be safe. That's as long as it's very close to the centre of the trunk so there's no angle for the bullet to ricochet. I wouldn't shoot branchers or rely on a wood for a backstop, but if there's a good couple of feet of trunk behind the target then go for it. IMO it's as safe as a ground shot if the tree is big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted May 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Of course i have heard of shooting them with a shotgun, but i was out bunny bashing at the time, my shotties were 30 miles away!!! the shot arose,i took it, dead squizzer. As someone said, I wasnt worried about a backstop.....i had a 5 foot wide oak, i was worried about richochet after it had gone through the squizzers head. i shot a rabbit recently that i thought i had missed, the bullet went whizzing off and i thought I had missed, It was only when the rabbit didnt move, i looked through the scope to see it jaw hanging off and it was very dead, i wondered if it had richoched off the jaw, however, the reason I hesitated at all about shooting the squizzer on a 5 foot wide trunk was richochet, not back stop, and what i said about trees stopping it was stopping the richochet, the trees are dense and there is also 100'S of acres of arable land either side of the woods. and before anyone says it......I know Im not the worlds greatest shot with a rimmie(yet!) I CAN hit the middle of a 5 foot wide oak tree.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salisburykeeper Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 "I wouldnt shoot a squirrel in a tree with a rifle" WHAT A PILE OF **** ! you all would!, but you wouldnt admit it on a public forum! that WOULD be stupid! If you see it to be a safe shot then why not? only you can judge if its safe at the time. Everyone knows one careless shot could see your licence gone for good, so shooting irresponsibly wont last long! Hopefully anyone that has any sort of gun has enough sense to be able to make an educated judgement for any shot, anyone that hasnt got that sense should not own a gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Well I was going to stay out of this one but figured I would just put my tin hat on and let you all take a shot. Yes I shoot squirrels out of trees with a .22 usually shorts or cb's oh and yes cb's do kill them very dead. I also shoot raccoons out of trees with a .22 ,shorts for smaller ones and longs for the bigger boars. If you have the trunk behind your target, in both of these species head shots, then that is a safe back stop. As to richochets I can not think of one happening in this type of hunting to me personally....can think of a few while shooting squirrels and ground hogs on the floor but not in trees. Bears and Cats while they get a little bigger gun 6.5 x 55 and usually get one just behind the ear, but again from an angle with the trunk directly behind the shot, and no I have never had a richochet with these shots. It would be kind of senseless to run tree dogs for the above species if you were only ever given unsafe shot opprotunities. As it is.... if it is an unsafe shot or a non targeted animal then pass and cut loose again. It once again boils down to common scence and ability. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted May 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 :look: tHANKS NTTF!! I am slightly paranoid since the richochet that went through the rabbit, I even spoke to my feo and he said that exactly the same thing had happenned to him recently and not to worry. :look: I dont think Id deliberately go squizzer shooting with my .22 but if a shot presents itself, ill take it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 I've used cb longs for rooks and sqizzers, there's plenty of open land around and the shot is as close to vertical as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 (edited) sorry, double post.. Edited April 21, 2010 by GRAM71 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gixer1 Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 sorry, double post.. And 2 years out of date.... :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 And 2 years out of date.... :blink: But interesting, wouldn't a .17 go through a tree? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordhardup Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 I just spent the evening bunny stalking, how-ever the bunnies werent playing ball. But while standing motionless, i watched a pair of squizzers run down the trunk of a massive oak, one stopped long enough for me to ventilate its skull, the other went down the tree to look at it and got the same treatment ( I also shot one more on the ground.) I know people frown upon the rimmie for the squizzers but....the oak was massive, there was another 3-400 yards of dense forest behind it and to either side, had the slug ricoched, It would only have hit tree, and it didnt. Do other people take this type of shot or is it ground only? The oak was at least 4-5 foot across.(even i couldnt miss that!!!) I know this problem well, so I solved it by getting a .22lr and 20g combination. now I can take out two guns to cover all I might encounter. ATB Clynt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 Let me apologies for not having read everything previous here!!! I always cringe at the thought of shooting a rifle upwards...but..... :o Different I know but...must be about 8, maybe even 10 years back, I was out with my lad, he would have been about 12-14 then, Grey up a big Oak tree, it kept running around it as they do, I ended up one side and my lad the other...he had a clear shot but I was the other side of the tree, held myself close to the tree and he let go with the 12g...the squirrel got blasted clean out of the tree and ended up about 20-25 feet in front of me..... Safe, dangerous or what..... Still not the best plan shooting in trees with a rifle, and something perhaps best NOT discussed with your FEO! :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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