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what squirrels taught me
mlincoln
Member Posts: 5,039 ✭✭✭
The backyard is overrun with squirrels. They've gnawed through the gas line on the grill, have gnawed the trim around the porch all to Hades, ate two lawnmower gas tanks, and the tops off six chairs.
I had enough. I bought several Hav-a-hart traps and have used them pretty effectively to catch them. Some get drowned, some get relocated. They sort of get wise to the trap, though, so I've busted out the air rifle.
It's a German-made .177 that puts them out there with a whole lot of zip. If I hit the squirrel in the guts it will blow the guts pretty well out the other side, often with several inches of intestine hanging out. Like I say, pretty powerful.
What amazes me is unless its a hit in the brain or spine, they are capable of zipping all over the place, climbing trees, and running off after being shot. They'll die of blood loss, but it takes a couple minutes and they can often scamper across the yard and up a tree before doing so.
When I ponder the size of the .177 pellet and the size of the squirrel, I am astounded by this. I would imagine, proportionality, this is equivalent to a human being hit solidly in the torso with a 12 gauge slug, if not by perhaps a grape-shot ball. I would think that any person so shot would be totally down for the count and out of the fight, but if human beings are even half as tough as squirrels, such is surely not the case. I remember reading in Blackhawk Down how Delta Force soldiers were shocked to see Somalis shot two and even three times with an M-4 continue to run down the street.
Truly, nothing hand-held is reliable.
I had enough. I bought several Hav-a-hart traps and have used them pretty effectively to catch them. Some get drowned, some get relocated. They sort of get wise to the trap, though, so I've busted out the air rifle.
It's a German-made .177 that puts them out there with a whole lot of zip. If I hit the squirrel in the guts it will blow the guts pretty well out the other side, often with several inches of intestine hanging out. Like I say, pretty powerful.
What amazes me is unless its a hit in the brain or spine, they are capable of zipping all over the place, climbing trees, and running off after being shot. They'll die of blood loss, but it takes a couple minutes and they can often scamper across the yard and up a tree before doing so.
When I ponder the size of the .177 pellet and the size of the squirrel, I am astounded by this. I would imagine, proportionality, this is equivalent to a human being hit solidly in the torso with a 12 gauge slug, if not by perhaps a grape-shot ball. I would think that any person so shot would be totally down for the count and out of the fight, but if human beings are even half as tough as squirrels, such is surely not the case. I remember reading in Blackhawk Down how Delta Force soldiers were shocked to see Somalis shot two and even three times with an M-4 continue to run down the street.
Truly, nothing hand-held is reliable.
Comments
..I wouldn't mind feeding the critters, but I like the cardinals, finches, etc. much more.
The backyard is overrun with squirrels. They've gnawed through the gas line on the grill, have gnawed the trim around the porch all to Hades, ate two lawnmower gas tanks, and the tops off six chairs.
I had enough. I bought several Hav-a-hart traps and have used them pretty effectively to catch them. Some get drowned, some get relocated. They sort of get wise to the trap, though, so I've busted out the air rifle.
It's a German-made .177 that puts them out there with a whole lot of zip. If I hit the squirrel in the guts it will blow the guts pretty well out the other side, often with several inches of intestine hanging out. Like I say, pretty powerful.
What amazes me is unless its a hit in the brain or spine, they are capable of zipping all over the place, climbing trees, and running off after being shot. They'll die of blood loss, but it takes a couple minutes and they can often scamper across the yard and up a tree before doing so.
When I ponder the size of the .177 pellet and the size of the squirrel, I am astounded by this. I would imagine, proportionality, this is equivalent to a human being hit solidly in the torso with a 12 gauge slug, if not by perhaps a grape-shot ball. I would think that any person so shot would be totally down for the count and out of the fight, but if human beings are even half as tough as squirrels, such is surely not the case. I remember reading in Blackhawk Down how Delta Force soldiers were shocked to see Somalis shot two and even three times with an M-4 continue to run down the street.
Truly, nothing hand-held is reliable.
I'm not a biologist, but maybe they have a more primitive nervous system. Also, consciousness of the wound is different. A human may stop and recognize the fact that he has been shot, and says to himself, "Self, better lie down, you done been shot." The squirrel may FEEL the impact or the shock, but doesn't know that he has been shot and is expected to die.
Humans have demonstrated this many times when they have come out of a firefight or accident and someone had to TELL them they were injured and need to sit down for treatment.
I'm no expert. Just speculating. [:)]
"Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee
it should be dead.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
One day after school I'd noticed a bushy tail hanging down off the corner of the porch roof. Wife wasn't home, I was home early from work, why the heck not?
I got the air rifle, loaded it up, and went out on the porch. This crazy squirrel was sitting sort of tucked into the corner of the porch roof, just its tail and nose sticking out. I held up the rifle like the Statue of Liberty and put the muzzle right by its nose. I couldn't believe the squirrel was just sitting there with me just a few feet away.
It poked its head out to look around, and I had the muzzle literally touching the underside of its chin. I pulled the trigger and it tumbled off its little perch and fell to the ground.
And even with that, the thing twitched and its feet scrabbled for a good thirty seconds. I reloaded and put one in its chest and it still twitched for another 10 or 15 seconds. Granted, it wasn't really doing anything, not running around or anything, but it was still moving 45 seconds after taking a (comparatively) huge round right under the chin.
If you don't know you're supposed to flop down and be dead, you can keep going for a good long time after being shot.
You are simply undergunned. Try a .338 Lapua with some Nosler Partition bullets for deep penetration. Try to break both front shoulders on the 1st shot. If that fails, you can always try to break the spine by shooting under the tail.
Careful with the wounded ones, they will circle around and watch their trail to see what is following them. If they get up higher than you they can jump you. Maybe try wearing one of those funny looking beekeeper hats with the netting to save your eyes.
I shot a big red under the right armpit for a straight through and through.
Solid blood trail, but it made it over the high fence to the neighbors.
I spoke to the neighbor in case he found it. But no sign. Figured an owl, hawk or other snatched it up.
Except two months later, the mrs called me to come look at this "mangy" squirrel in the back yard.
Yep. Looking at the right profile, he had a spot missing hair about twice the size of the pellet.
And on the other side, had a bald scar the size of a quarter or so.
I have no idea how he survived (if it was the same squirrel- but I think it was).
..Regrettably, I've had to eliminate a few tree rats lately. I get no pleasure from it but the damage is out of control. Some bird feeders are supposed to be "squirrel proof", however they get wise pretty quickly. If there is even a speck of wood or plastic on the feeder, they will gnaw holes in it rather than eating what's on the tray.
..I wouldn't mind feeding the critters, but I like the cardinals, finches, etc. much more.
Agreed.
Tree rats with emphasis on "Rats"... Will destroy a bird feeder.
They also knock out most if not ALL the seed to the ground...
And then keep the birds at bay while they scoff it all up.
.177 pellet to the ear slightly quartered to the gear takes 'em out of the feeder... Pronto.
A body shot allows them to scamper off to suffer... Something I despise doing.
I'd prefer they not frequent my bird feeders...
But, since they persist, one shot one kill... Quick no suffering.
now you know why police shoot someone 9 times, or someone gets stabbed 25 times
hollywood makes killing look easy, in fact its not just imagine if that squirrel had a weapon and was coming at you with it
Try Beeman Crow Magnum 8.8 Gr. Hollow Points. Chest shots are DRT.
For head shots Gamo Rockets, have a hardened steel ball tip.
I have a Gamo Silent Stalker Whisper. Air guns are fun.
Good gracious, do I have to think of everything?
You are simply undergunned. Try a .338 Lapua with some Nosler Partition bullets for deep penetration. Try to break both front shoulders on the 1st shot. If that fails, you can always try to break the spine by shooting under the tail.
Careful with the wounded ones, they will circle around and watch their trail to see what is following them. If they get up higher than you they can jump you. Maybe try wearing one of those funny looking beekeeper hats with the netting to save your eyes.
Child's play. I've rigged a claymore right by the birdfeeder.
http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/LA_Outlaw.htm
458 Caliber, 430gr bullet at 732fps, which is 509fpe
As many times I have thought about buying an air rifle I should be rich.
Of course you can buy one that lobs a 45cal pellet but those are spendy.
quote:Originally posted by MG1890
Good gracious, do I have to think of everything?
You are simply undergunned. Try a .338 Lapua with some Nosler Partition bullets for deep penetration. Try to break both front shoulders on the 1st shot. If that fails, you can always try to break the spine by shooting under the tail.
Careful with the wounded ones, they will circle around and watch their trail to see what is following them. If they get up higher than you they can jump you. Maybe try wearing one of those funny looking beekeeper hats with the netting to save your eyes.
Child's play. I've rigged a claymore right by the birdfeeder.
That is another effective method. As a last resort, you may need to call in a napalm strike if the 'rat makes it to the treeline.