Tree rats

JimAnderson · Post by **JimAnderson** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:45 pm

Hello all,
I live in the woods and have had problems with squirrels eating my
tomatoes and dropping acorns on me for years.The close proximity of
my neighbors and a nearby public school have made hunting them with
firearms hazardous.That said today I drove my truck out for the first
time in quite awhile.The check engine light comes on and water seems
be leaking from some where.I get home, open the hood and see
this huge mass of leaves over the passenger side battery.Closer
inspection reveals a ful grown squirrel .He ain't moving much I guess
roasting in the engine bay.I get a stick and flip him out onto the
ground and play hockey with him until he ain't moving.
I take the stick and start clearing out the debris on top of the battery
and soon realize that two more squirrels are in the nest.I got one and
the other got away.There seems to be little damage but I have had
enough.I am thinking of a high powered pellet rifle and scope.I would
welcome your comments.Thanks,JimAnderson

Tigerhaze · Post by **Tigerhaze** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:56 pm

That is probably the best overall method to quickly eradicate them, although squirrels are pretty tough if you don't get a good head shot.

If hesitant to shoot because of neighbors (even pellets can riccohet), you could live trap them and release somewhere else but that is more work. You may also get the local cats, coons, possums, etc. that way.

Willyr · Post by **Willyr** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:09 pm

I have a regular pump action daisy bb-gun (rifle) that is used only for squirrels. Effective at 30 feet. Even if you hit them in the hind quarters you will severly slow them down.

If this is a diesel, like mine, squirrels love that block warmer. Easier to get some cats and a battery charger for those cold winter months. Word of caution, cats love to show off their trophies. We have a enclosed porch that the cats use to get out of the weather till the wife gets home, it collects mice birds, and squirrels (mostly the dead variety). Our Maine coon seems to take great pride in showing off her latest headless kill.

Cats will be more appreciated by the school kids too.

Post by **Lavoy** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:34 am

Any of the good 1000FPS .177 pellet rifles will be hell on squirrels. My son has or I should say had one that came with both .177 and .22 barrels so you can change caliber if you want. Can't tell you the brand, it got rusted to death in the fire.
Lavoy

Pammark · Post by **Pammark** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 11:01 am

I had a nasty competition with birds making nests on top my tractor engine. If left there, the dry straw and grass could catch fire. My solution was to place two rat traps on the engine without bait. When they crawled up and hit the latch, the snap scared them away. I never caught a bird, but so what if I did. Each day I would reset the traps again and again until the birds got the message.

You might want to try that trick on your battery. It just takes time to check often enough to reset it each time. Plus the wood base will not short out the battery.

I had cats too that eat everything of the chipmunk but the tail. I had a slew of chipmunk tails at my door step each day. Not enought meat on one to bother, I suspect.

Mark

gus · Post by **gus** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:11 pm

Gammo Wisper model.....

JimAnderson · Post by **JimAnderson** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:59 am

Thanks for the comments and ideas guys.We have a couple of cats
that are good for mice and lizards.I feed one by leaving his food in
a bowl on the front porch.I have gone out late at night to find a possum
or coon at the bowl and he's laying there four feet away watching them
eat.I have a neighbor who used to trap squirrels but got starting using
his 22 after they got smart.In my opinion he has more balls than brains.
I've seen more than a couple of skunks around here so I'm leary of
setting traps.I've set mouse traps in some of the vehicles that are in
storage"Honest honey I'll get it running again" but know that I'd forget
them in something running and be bouncing them on the pavement
somewhere. I think I see a Gammo Wisper in my future.I know I can't
completely eliminate the squirrels but I know I can create a dead zone
around here.Might thin out the crows around here too.Thanks again,
you guys are the best. Luck JimAnderson

waterman28 · Post by **waterman28** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:36 am

I have a Gamo 1000 .177 cal that is hard on ground squirrels. I put a 3x9 scope on it and it is very accurate. The only problem i see with it is the factory stock trigger is hard to pull so if you don't shoot off a rest it isn't as accurate. I see on the internet you can buy a new trigger for it, something to think about as soon as I get some spare dollars that i don't need to spend on my crawler and that will most likely be never. Happy hunting.
Scott

gus · Post by **gus** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 3:31 pm

waterman28 wrote:I have a Gamo 1000 .177 . The only problem i see with it is the factory stock trigger is hard to pull
Scott

Yes, you may need the trigger. Best $30.00 I spent. It made it into an excellent rifle!!

Sorry, it's been 3 yrs and I don't remember who I got it from but it was an off the wall name.

___________________________________________________

Just looked it up...Charlie Tuna is the guys name? Current price is about $35.00 Very good trigger, takes about 10 min to put in with very little "skill" required.

www.charliedatuna.com

KenP · Post by **KenP** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 5:41 pm

deleted

Scottyb · Post by **Scottyb** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:18 am

DAD SHOT AT A PESKY CROW WITH THE KIDS PAINT BALL GUN AND TO OUR SURPRISE THE CROW TOOK ONE HIT TO DO IT IN. SINCE THEN WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT PAINT BALLS ARE DEADLY TO SMALL ANIMALS. WE LIKE THE ANIMALS IN THE YARD BUT IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, THE PAINT BALL GUN IS OUR ANSWER. SCOTTYB

whiteclipse16 · Post by **whiteclipse16** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:39 am

I second the Gamo Whisper.
Drops birds like nothing, its really accurate for a pellet gun.

waterman28 · Post by **waterman28** » Mon Nov 21, 2011 12:24 pm

Yes, you may need the trigger. Best $30.00 I spent. It made it into an excellent rifle!!

Sorry, it's been 3 yrs and I don't remember who I got it from but it was an off the wall name.

___________________________________________________

Just looked it up...Charlie Tuna is the guys name? Current price is about $35.00 Very good trigger, takes about 10 min to put in with very little "skill" required.

www.charliedatuna.com[/quote]
Thanks for the info, I will look into it

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