need help with squirrels

[RickH]

My dad keeps the population in check with a "have a heart trap". They are widely available, you can even order one off of Amazon.com. He also uses an old corrugated garbage can full of water to "give them a little bath". Be sure to clip the doors down before dunking though, otherwise they will get out, run up your arm and escape. This is a lot quieter than an air rifle so the neighbors will never know.
If you know any fly fishermen that tie their own flies, they are happy to get a squirrel tail every now and again.

 

[buttrap]

I use DECON for the things here.

 

[JWarren]

I guess its odd that I actually FEED my squirrels.

-- John

 

[daddyo]

We had trouble with squirrels in our first house. Turned out the people we bought it from had been feeding them. No way I was feeding a bunch of lousy tree-rats. When we didn't "pay-up", they started eating our house! Gnawing on the deck, ate the knobs off my grill, the wicks out of the citronella candles! So I went by Wally-mart and picked up a Crossman 1077. Its a semi-auto CO2 in .177 caliber. Killed over 70 of the little @#$% with it. It has a 10 round rotary magazine and a CO2 cartridge has killing velocity for about 30 shots. I used it to take out a small rabbit with a head shot a couple months ago.

 

[beretta92d]

I guess its odd that I actually FEED my squirrels.

same here.we only have but maybe 2-3 of them.

though a friend of mine that has a good size backyard has(had) a squirrel problem and he'd simply sit at his bathroom windom with a daisy pump rifle (w/scope) and pick em off..one shot,one kill with the hunting pellets in .177

(not to mention,his shots were all head shots through the eye most of the time)

myself,i own several cheap 1911 copys in .177 and two beretta airsoft pistols (with fake silencers,scopes and cheesy laser pointers the attach to the rails..but my pride and joy(besides my beretta 92) is this..hy-score target pistol in .22cal.single shot,breech loading..(kinda loud and slight feel of recoil)

need to clean up the surface rust..

 

[Nate C.]

Maybe you should call these guys.

(Image shamelessly ripped from the internet.)


Kidding aside, I concur with previous recommendations for a Daisy 880 or Crosman 760 with repeated pumps. You can by pointed 'hunting' pellets, but I went on most of my juvenile safaris with regular old BBs.

 

[Meta]

Absolutely, without question, the CB .22 short or long is QUIETER and MORE powerful than almost any pellet gun. They are deadly on squirrels over reasonable distances out to 25 yards or so with body or head shots. You can stretch it out further but approaching 50 yards the trajectory gets problematic. Either way, a FAR better choice than an air gun.

 

[JohnKSa]

Either way, a FAR better choice than an air gun.

Sure, as long as one cares nothing about the law. The OP has stated repeatedly that it is not legal to shoot a firearm in his back yard.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I guess its odd that I actually FEED my squirrels.

My folks do too, they are like pets. In fact there was a feral cat that had to be dispatched for eating em. There are some little chipmunks however, that like to crawl into the engine compartments of the vehicles, chew up the hoodliner, and make nests :banghead:
What is your budget? That Gamo Whisper pellet rifle might be worth a look. I haven't heard one but a lot of those high powered pellet rifles are dang near as loud as a .22 and the Gamo has an integral suppressor (but isn't considered a firearm so no tax stamp).

 

[icebones]

if you already own a .22 rifle check this out...

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=163096

these are aguila .22 long rifles, but they have no powder, only a primer.

i use 'em around mom and dads house to take care of birds ,squirrels and one pesty possum that got into the garbage.

they live in the suburbs also...

these rounds are very short range, about 20 yards maximun, and they make almost zero noise. quieter tham most pellet rifles i have seen, and they seem to have more power.

just be aware that these obviously wont cycle the action of semi auto rifles.

 

[icebones]

Guitargod1985 I could use a suppressor but I would have to get one pay for a tax stamp and mod my ruger single six so I could put it on.

dude you cant suppress a revolver, but thats a story for another thread...

 

[WayneConrad]

In Ohio, are squirrels covered by game regs? Is hunting lawful within city limits?

icebones, It's an unusual city that permits the discharge of firearms within city limits, suppressed or not.

 

[lovegbt]

What kind of air gun should I get?
Q: Do you want to hunt or eliminate pests?
A: If so, you need to buy as much power as you can afford and use comfortably. Almost all air pistols are eliminated, because they don't have enough power. Also, .22 caliber is more desirable than .177 caliber for hunting. Click here to learn more

 

[Mandirigma]

All these replies and no one mentioned a squirrel pole (or maybe I missed it)

 

[Bendutro]

I used a 60" 50 caliber on squirrels when I lived in town.

(Ok, so it was a blowgun that shot 6" piano wire darts) Quite effective and fun.

 

[icebones]

they dont live in a city, but they live right next to a very large suburb development.

also they have about 4 acres or land, so any noise from a .22 short wont disturb the neigbors.

also, if discharging a firearm isnt permitted, would they allow airguns, and if they did, would any of the neigbors know the diffrence and call the law on him anyway?

i never though of using a blowgun. good idea

i bought my blowgun from cheaper than dirt, only used it for targets, but i did manage to nail a mouse to a wall with it one night

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ZWN125-422-51.html

 

[WayneConrad]

icebones, mike6161 lives in the city. That's why I got confused when you suggested a suppressed rifle.

 

[1911Tuner]

In a mood today...and don't mean to side-track the thread...but I gotta say it or bust. Every time I see the title heading, I keep hearing Ray Stevens' "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" in my head.

Anyway...Back on topic. Carry on, lads!

 

[frogomatic]

Sligshots have always worked well on squirrels for me, just takes a bit of practice.

"Mississippi Squirrel Revival" HOOOAHH! funny stuff man!

 

[LKB3rd]

Squirrels are incredibly destructive varmints, widely known to gnaw the crud out of anything they can get their teeth on... They've even been widely blamed for starting HOUSE FIRES (no kidding) by gnawing live wires.

I work for the phone company and squirrels frequently chew phone wires. If wires go through or close enough to a tree for them to jump to, they chew the insulation off of the wires, and phone terminal covers up on the cables.
Very common to see chewing damage, and not uncommon to have wires that need repairs, usually because they get water on the copper and corrode.
I worked at a house that had squirrels nesting under the corner of the roof, with the phones wires going right past it and they chewed it, it corroded, they chewed it more, and it finally broke.

 

[66912]

I will be putting up a "Squirrel Pole" the day my girlfriend leaves on vacation! Thanks for the link.

 

[icebones]

i didnt suggest a suppressed rifle,

a guy posted a commend saying he was going to get a tax stamp and buy a suppressor for his ruger single six, and i said "you cant suppress a revolver"

sorry about the confusion...

 

[Sato Ord]

There is a quicker way to deal with an infestation, though you have to be careful where you put the stuff.

Put a bowl of anti-freeze where only the squirrels can get it. Ethylene Glycol is highly poisonous and will do the trick. I've had to use it on an infestation of rats (idiot neighbor set a compost heap fifteen feet from four dumpsters in the city). The anti-freeze killed all of the rats over night and inadvertently got a couple of squirrels in the process.

Preserve wildlife, Pickle a Squirrel!

 

[WayneConrad]

icebones, I think it's I who must apologize. I should have read better.

 

[Im283]

Why do you want to kill them?

Why do you need a reason?

I have tons of squirrels, but luckily we are rural enough that they stay out in the trees and have not attempted an assault on my house.

I do have chipmunk trouble in the winter and I have used HavaHeart traps to nab the little bastards. Of course the traps were set in the garage and basement where they were having their chipmunk parties.

For kicks though I will put traps outside, baited with peanut butter and they never fail to catch squirrels.

It gets the grandson all excited, and thats why i do it, LOL.

I would shoot them but he likes catch and release better. Of course Alvin and his buddies met their end. Once they get indoors they are eligible for the death penalty.