Fire 12 gauge remotely? (Shell crackers)

[peck1234]

Currently sitting on about 10 acres of farmland upstate NY. We have some birds and pests that like to eat our crop. Recently purchased some shell crackers (pretty much fireworks) that scares the pests away. Wondering if there is any simple system/solution I can use to set up one of my shotguns in the center of our crop field so we can shoot the shell crackers off from a distance remotely? Basically im Using the shotgun as a mortar tube; I just need a device to pull the trigger remotely.

 

[jmorris]

I have done this.



and this.



With the liability of firing a potentially lethal round while you are not physically there, I would suggest a device designed and made for the purpose. Like this.

https://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/animal/WCSRJM8.html

I suggest the 3 shot cluster on 30 second delay, on only 10 acres, you are going to be the neighbor everyone is talking about and they just might actively kill them so you stop trying to scare them away.

 

[peck1234]

Shell crackers are far from llethal and only go about 250ft. . I do appreciate the recommendations. Thank you.

 

[jmorris]

I didn’t know what they were but I found this.

http://www.suttonag.com/shell_crackers.html At $1.45 a pop, won’t take too many bangs and the propane ones will be cheaper. Also less of a fire hazard, I would imagine.

 

[Meeks36]

Why not set up a speaker in the middle of the field. And blast some unpleasant sounds. Like a hawk squawk. Or just random loud noise. Could hook it up to a motion detector. Or have some kids grandkids come over and offer a $.50 bounty.

 

[cslinger]

Would a couple Owl statues/figures do the trick. They play hell on small pests and some small birds.

 

[Rex in OTZ]

Im from Alaska, cracker shells we use have been known to cause tundra fires if they detonate on the ground.
Just be aware they can cause a fire when conditions are dry.
Air burst is the best.
Problem is weather and wind.

 

[George P]

They make "bird bombs"; we used them around the office building to TRY and scare off the Canadian geese.............didn't really work and there was no food source, just water and nesting on the roof.

 

[burrhead]

A few years ago I hunted on a ranch that raised goats. The ravens would peck the eyes of the newborn kids. They used these for bird control. I don't know how well it worked but they're certainly loud.

http://www.suttonag.com/zon_mark4_cannon.html

 

[jmorris]

Years ago, we had an English sparrow problem and we tried running air hose with an old 10 speed inner tube tied on the end so it flailed around hissing air. Different noises and decoys. Even killed 120 birds with a box of 25 shells, just shooting into the two trees. We finally did get rid of them though, all it took was cutting down the trees.

Once birds become acclimated, they don’t pay much attention, really wouldn’t shock me if that were the same with the noise makers if they are persistent enough.

 

[hso]

Would that work? Since it is a tripwire alarm you could just attach a pull cord.

 

[Texas10mm]

Years ago, we had an English sparrow problem and we tried running air hose with an old 10 speed inner tube tied on the end so it flailed around hissing air. Different noises and decoys. Even killed 120 birds with a box of 25 shells, just shooting into the two trees. We finally did get rid of them though, all it took was cutting down the trees.

Once birds become acclimated, they don’t pay much attention, really wouldn’t shock me if that were the same with the noise makers if they are persistent enough.

View attachment 922736

Birds are smart. I'm owned by one. He's sitting on my shoulder preening right now.

 

[kBob]

So in Southern Germany in 1973 the Farmers had shall we say issues with deer coming out of the managed forests and feeding on grapes intended for the wine vats and the leaves and vines themselves. On a Pershing Missle site I worked the slopes away from the wire on one side were a vineyard, with a buffer of woods beyond our forty meter clear zone and then over the crest of the hill the vineyard started.

My unit was briefed about all this, but the unit that relieved us (three different units worked that site that year rather than just the one assigned) appearently did not get the word. This unit did not run foot patrols either.

Well soon after we left and the new folks took over a tower guard reported movement in the wood line. So a Team of ten folks with an M-60 MG and a 90 mm recoiless rifle both with ammo were dispatched to that area inside our outer wire and between it and the inner wire fence (eight foot chain link with four wire top leaners facing out).

Remember the start of this tale when I said Herr Bower had issues with deer eating his crop? The German Farmers bought and implaced these little trip wire sets that fired a .38 Special blank along the vineyard edge of the woodline.

Now F-troop shows up with their cannon and theme music and Bambi's Mom Dad Aunts Uncles and cousins are startled and all make a run for the down hill side. They made a fair bit of noise like a crowd rushing though the woods. One of the deer hit a trip wire. The device the trip wire was attached to functioned as designed.

Immediately after that blank shot fired someone started shooting into the wood line and was very soon joined by the M-60 and most everyone else that had an M16a1. Fortunatly the 90 team had not decanted a round from the black cardboard tube they came in and by the time they had done so the NCO in charge realized there was no incoming fire. He called a cease fire and eventually got it. I dread to think what would have happened if a 90 mm RCL had been fired into a chain link fence at five yards!

Our briefing was that over 250 rounds of 5.56 and 7.62 Nato went out over the little valley and that Comrade was not happy with the results.

After we stopped laughing, we had a class on identifying targets and knowing the area around our regular site well. Because of this incedent myself and a couple of other regular night patrol leaders would take newbees on "nature walks" unarmed in day light over the next two years about "our site". Thankfully folks that grow grains, as in our area, do not use trip wired "guns".

Sorry you guys just jarred loose a -kBob Story and had to suffer for it!

-kBob