The cost of not owning a pellet gun

[gspn]

I had squirrel problems last year. They would chew on the house (waking me up in the process), cause problems in the attic, and generally make themselves a nuisance.

I had been fighting a valiant but losing battle with an old Daisy pump gun. The gun didn't have the power or accuracy necessary for the battle at hand. For my birthday last November the family very thoughtfully bought me a new pellet gun. It's a nice break barrel gun…which tips the odds in my favor since I no longer have to go "clack-clack-clack" ten times to pump the gun up to power.

After some advice here on the boards I lightened the trigger, then tested an assortment of pellets to see what the gun liked the best.

Since November I have removed 43 squirrels from my yard. This is a big neighborhood…full of trees and acorns. I have had no squirrels in my attic and have only lost one morning of sleep to squirrels chewing on my house (I rectified that situation immediately by killing the offender before he got off the roof). I have knocked these vermin back to a point where I have a fighting chance at keeping my property in good shape. My gun, ammo, and all targets total less than $250.

Now lets consider my next door neighbors. They don't own a pellet gun. They have racked up $1,700 in "squirrel proofing" their house (this includes some rats they had too). They get no trigger time, and they never get the satisfaction of watching the perpetrators fall.

You be the judge…which is the better plan?

 

[Hullraiser]

I've heard they're good eating. But I associate them with bushy tail rats, so I'll pass.
I had a similar situation with my garden one year. They would eat a strip out of the corn on south side of ears.
They are smart and catch on quick to what's happening. After a few days they would run and hide on opposite side of branches in sight etc. I had to get earlier and earlier each day to get a few more. Within a cpl weeks I had killed around 25 and the garden did fine.
Soon after harvest within a cpl weeks , about 30 new ones took there place. It the suburbs they just don't have any predators to fear, so they flourish.
They'll be back

 

[rondog]

Might want to find out if they're considered game animals or not. Here, they're "small game" with hunting season, bag/possession limits, and license requirement. So that tells me that popping them as "vermin eradication" just might be frowned upon. Then there's that pesky stuff about shooting pellet guns inside city limits.....

 

[Chevota]

I have a similar problem but with gophers and rats. I'm always at war with both. A cat does a much better job, so I share duty with them. Squirrels are easy compared rats and gophers, for me that is, not the cats.
Proofing things is a waste imo, whatever the critter they just destroy somewhere else on your house.

 

[Merc41]

Nothing better than a pot full of fried tree rats and brown gravy!!

 

[horsemen61]

Mmmmmmm fried squirrel

 

[Hullraiser]

Chipmunks are a whole other problem for me. It's a ongoing battle every year. They like to dig holes next to the house down next to basement walls. This is a invitation for water damage. I poison them, trap them and my favorite,, shoot with pellet gun. My RWS will make quick work of them. They're harder to hit than tree squirrels though.

 

[Ben86]

I know a few in the "burbs" that could benefit from the judicious use of a quality pellet gun, but are much too "yuppy" to attempt a solution so violent. They would rather pay others to do things that hardly work, or try other silly things like shooting them with airsoft guns. That sounds fun, but it is not as if they will just learn there lesson and not come back.

If you have a food source or habitation in most cases only death will keep them away.

To me there is little more fun than popping rats at a junkyard with a pellet gun or .22 rifle.

 

[blarby]

I'm jealous.

I love squirrel

Sounds like a mighty entertaining way to keep a good dish in the house, IMO.

Your neighbors are still benefitting, but aren't paying for what is most likely doing the lions share of the work.

Send them a bill, or tell them to buy you some pellets.

 

[Hullraiser]

Some neighbors would take great offense of you shooting "there" squirrels. A lot of people buy food for those sweet fury-destructive varmints
Really the only thing I make a habit of shooting are those cute little chipmunks. It would take 2 or 3 to make a taco. Besides I don't eat rat like rodents of any kind unless starving. Rabbits are another story. Yummy!

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Good to eat. But I killed them over the years cause once they move in you got to kill them all to keep them out.

 

[craftsman]

I have a recipe for fricassee of young squirrel, if anyone is really interested.

If a pellet gun is not (for whatever reason) an option, you can always use a 0.625 cal. blowgun with the zytel broadhead darts, or a slingshot with 0.50 cal. round lead ball ammo (think black powder ammo). Both work wonders with a well placed head or body shot.

 

[C0untZer0]

And if you want to get some good training in for your 617, 586 or 686 in the process, S&W contracts Umarex to make the .177 CO2 revolver, heft and feel similar to the 617, 586 and 686:

 

[Panzerschwein]

OP, be careful you aren't breaking any laws by doing this.

If not, fry up them bushy-tailed buxton brats and serve with a side of gravy and biscuits!

 

[wally247]

Rabbits have been my problem this year. I haven't shot one with my pellet gun yet, but my bow has been keeping busy.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Rabbits have been my problem this year. I haven't shot one with my pellet gun yet, but my bow has been keeping busy.

Have you been munching on rabbit flesh? I sure would be!

Goes well pan fried with a side o' taters!

 

[wally247]

Unfortunately there's not a whole lot left after an arrow goes through 'em. As long as they aren't digging up my yard and in my garden I don't care.