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Downsizer Forum Index -> Shooting and Trapping for the Pot

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Nicky cigreen

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9887
Location: Devon, uk

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 13 3:11 pm Post subject: squirrels
we have a new problem with squirrels - they are stealing food and probably eggs, (since I found some stolen chewed duck eggs), and we have seen them pop casually under the net and to the food. How to get rid? I'm thinking something in the trap, kill, make squirrel pie line ?

Marionb

Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Posts: 5267
Location: Mid-Wales

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 13 3:32 pm Post subject:
Are you able to shoot them? I've shot 3 in the last 4 days with my 4-10. They were getting in my shed and knocking everything onto the floor, and chewed a hole in the hen's feed bucket. I'm pretty sure they were eating the food that I was putting down for the hens too... since shooting the 3rd yesterday, all seems quiet so far today...

Nicky cigreen

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9887
Location: Devon, uk

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 13 3:33 pm Post subject:
don't actually own a gun.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 13 3:54 pm Post subject:
You need to be careful with despatching greys as there's been a case or two of people being convicted of animal cruelty and you can't release them once caught. There's some advice on basc of how to set a trap and despatch: https://www.basc.org.uk/en/departments/game-and-gamekeeping/gamekeeping/basc-grey-squirrel-control.cfm

Nicky cigreen

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9887
Location: Devon, uk

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 13 4:49 pm Post subject:
thanks for that link doesn't seem too tricky to dispatch humanely - might be worth obtaining an air rifle- are air rifle still unlicensed?

12Bore

Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 9089
Location: Paddling in the Mersey

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 13 5:45 pm Post subject:

Nicky Colour it green wrote:

thanks for that link

doesn't seem too tricky to dispatch humanely - might be worth obtaining an air rifle- are air rifle still unlicensed?

Yup, up to ft/lb, which is plenty for a close range grey, head shot, clean kill.
ETA, remember, if you beat your kids you get a free social worker, injure a squirrel and the law will come down on you like a ton of bricks...

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 13 8:59 pm Post subject:

12Bore wrote:

law will come down on you like a ton of bricks...

HSE might have something to say about that.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46238
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 13 11:10 pm Post subject:
very tasty,boil and finish for best results trap or gun or puss cat or gravity or rta tasty yum

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 13 11:19 pm Post subject:

12Bore wrote:

Nicky Colour it green wrote:

thanks for that link

doesn't seem too tricky to dispatch humanely - might be worth obtaining an air rifle- are air rifle still unlicensed?

They're the badgers of the rat world

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46238
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Jun 25, 13 11:22 pm Post subject:

mark

Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 2191
Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 13 12:37 pm Post subject:
They keep eating my strawberries ! Anyone want to come and hunt some Strawbery flavoured squirrels in my garden you are welcome! What with the swarm of sparrows eating the peas and the hoard of pidgeons wolfing the Brassicas there's nowt left for us ! And that is disregarding the slugs and snails and the mice that sever the emerging pumkin and squash fruit. All God's creatures indeed!

mark

Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 2191
Location: Leeds

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 13 12:43 pm Post subject:
They keep eating my strawberries ! Anyone want to come and hunt some Strawbery flavoured squirrels in my garden you are welcome! What with the swarm of sparrows eating the peas and the hoard of pidgeons wolfing the Brassicas there's nowt left for us ! And that is disregarding the slugs and snails and the mice that sever the emerging pumkin and squash fruit. All God's creatures indeed!

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 13 3:05 pm Post subject:

12Bore wrote:

Nicky Colour it green wrote:

are air rifle still unlicensed?

Yup, up to ft/lb...

How many?
I assume mine is within the limit, but how would I tell?

Quote:

which is plenty for a close range grey, head shot, clean kill.

And how can you tell what range it is effective at?
Obviously accuracy is one limitation which is fairly easy to test, but hitting power is more tricky.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 13 3:14 pm Post subject:
You can use a chronograph to measure the speed of a pellet and then work out the rifles power from that and the weight of the pellet. Chronos can be bought or borrowed or a gun smith should be able to help. If it's over the legal limit and you don't have a licence then you're in trouble.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 13 3:18 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

If it's over the legal limit and you don't have a licence then you're in trouble.

I would be extremely surprised if it is anywhere even close.
If we were talking cars, mine would be a Morris minor.

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