Freudianfloyd
Member
Growing up at the grandparent's farmhouse, I was awakened every morning by the sound of a shotgun blast outside my bedroom window. My grandpa had lots of trouble with starlings building nests in the eaves of the old farmhouse, and he was always worried about fires. He made it a point to shoot any and all that tried to get into his house. When I got a little more experience hunting, and would go over to visit him, he would hand me his 1100 and a 3 shotgun shells and tell me that I need to come back with 3 starlings. I got pretty good at it, but never could hit him like he did.
After getting married, having my own family, and my own guns, I made it a point to visit often with my own shotgun and my own box of shells, and take out as many as I could. They are plentiful for sure.
Fast forward a few years, and my wife and I bought the old farm. We attempted to save the old farmhouse, but between termites, old age, and just a rough life, the house could not be saved. When the house was torn down, we could see the walls and attic full of large starling nests. I always thought he just liked shooting them, but he was right, they were turning his house into a giant fire hazard.
My wife and I have since built a new house on the farm. A big white one just like the old one, and sitting in the same spot. Well the starlings must think the old house is back, because they are everywhere. I haven't seen any get into the soffit or eaves yet, but I'm ready. Since it has warmed up here, I have been trying to make it a point to go out in the mornings on my days off and shoot a few. And honestly, I think I prefer "hunting" starlings to just about anything else.
They are plentiful, you don't need to spend big money on equipment, you don't need to wear camo, they come to you, and you don't have to clean them. You can also make as much noise as you want.
I shot two earlier today as they were coming in to the tree next to the house, and I took my son out for the first time with his own shotgun, and he got one.
They are a blast to shoot, they are tricky enough to hit that they keep your skills sharp, and you usually don't have to wait long for them to come in. On any given day, I see hundreds of them in the fields. I pick off the ones that come to the house.
Anybody else dealing with these? I never hear anybody else in my area that shoot them, even though they are considered a pest and season is open year round.
After getting married, having my own family, and my own guns, I made it a point to visit often with my own shotgun and my own box of shells, and take out as many as I could. They are plentiful for sure.
Fast forward a few years, and my wife and I bought the old farm. We attempted to save the old farmhouse, but between termites, old age, and just a rough life, the house could not be saved. When the house was torn down, we could see the walls and attic full of large starling nests. I always thought he just liked shooting them, but he was right, they were turning his house into a giant fire hazard.
My wife and I have since built a new house on the farm. A big white one just like the old one, and sitting in the same spot. Well the starlings must think the old house is back, because they are everywhere. I haven't seen any get into the soffit or eaves yet, but I'm ready. Since it has warmed up here, I have been trying to make it a point to go out in the mornings on my days off and shoot a few. And honestly, I think I prefer "hunting" starlings to just about anything else.
They are plentiful, you don't need to spend big money on equipment, you don't need to wear camo, they come to you, and you don't have to clean them. You can also make as much noise as you want.
I shot two earlier today as they were coming in to the tree next to the house, and I took my son out for the first time with his own shotgun, and he got one.
They are a blast to shoot, they are tricky enough to hit that they keep your skills sharp, and you usually don't have to wait long for them to come in. On any given day, I see hundreds of them in the fields. I pick off the ones that come to the house.
Anybody else dealing with these? I never hear anybody else in my area that shoot them, even though they are considered a pest and season is open year round.