Grey Squirrel Cull

BigAl>>

So here it is a simple question.

Should there be a cull of these invaders??

For my two cents, I say put a price on thier heads and have them shot on sight untill they are all dead.....every last one!


It may be wiping out our native red squirrel, but the American grey has finally met its match. Tim Adams meets a pair of modern-day pied pipers hellbent on extermination http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/oct/19/red-squirrels-protection


We need the same action here.

Atleast they have the right idea.

meathstevie

Amazing stuff, a lord, a gang of old dears, a couple of bouncers,....and together they've done a hell of a conservation job. It's an example we should all attempt to follow on our permissions and with our gunclubs and syndicates. I suppose in way farmers could be involved as well through incentives for allowing hunters on their land to cull pest species ( maybe a small extra payment in their REPS scheme subs ? ).

bunny shooter

myself and my brother will be going on our annual grey squirrel hunts very shortly :cool: We have got quite a few over the last few years. We wait till the leaves are gone off the trees and we target a few groves for 'em. Fast little feckers but good sport. They do serious damage to the trees too.

Mellor

Sounds interesting,
although, how save is it to be picking them out of threes with a 22lr,
i imagine 12g with no.7s would be better

pullandbang

I shoot the regularly with the 12g but I often wonder about the damage to the tree from the shot. Does it do any harm to it?

BigAl>>

Mellor wrote: »

Sounds interesting,
although, how save is it to be picking them out of threes with a 22lr,
i imagine 12g with no.7s would be better

I have found in the past it is better to use a surgical scalpel(rifle), rather than a chain saw(12g).Thts not me saying take your .22 and blast rounds into the air,cause thts just a no no, my tool of choice is a 24ft/lbs air rifle with a sufficient scope fitted. gives you both range and killing power. Thats not too say we dont bring along the 12g u/o too.........just incase it gets up close and personal with the little feckers, have the handy buck knife on belt incase it goes hand to hand combat.

Mellor

I'd say the chainsaw (12g) is more than capable of feling the guys, bigger and slower than snipe for a start
Its most the 22lr I'd be worried about

BigAl>>

Mellor wrote: »

I'd say the chainsaw (12g) is more than capable of feling the guys, bigger and slower than snipe for a start
Its most the 22lr I'd be worried about

As I said b4 I agree tht using the .22lr wouldnt be considered safe practise as you would be missing a backstop. 12g is ok....but find its like using a hammer to crack a nut??

cavan shooter

Not at all find the drays first a BB then a 7.5 to get the runners:D

they are fond of old magpie nests

Terrier

He lets them into the killing trap and trains an air gun through the mesh. The car door is open and a Queen CD is playing. As the squirrels find their way over to the gun barrel, 'Don't Stop Me Now' is booming

Brilliant article, if Greys ever make it across the Shannon i'll be resetting my mink traps with nuts

BigAl>>

Terrier wrote: »

Brilliant article, if Greys ever make it across the Shannon i'll be resetting my mink traps with nuts

Yea I agree, its a good artical.....hence why I felt it needed to be shared.

bunny shooter

I normally use 12g and 6's but this year have bought a lovely BSA Lightening XL .22 air rifle set at approx 20ish ftlbs, so they are in even more trouble this year

BigAl>>

bunny shooter wrote: »

I normally use 12g and 6's but this year have bought a lovely BSA Lightening XL .22 air rifle set at approx 20ish ftlbs, so they are in even more trouble this year

A man after my own heart...........Air rife so they can be picked off one by one.

pullandbang

On the basis that the only gun I have is a chainsaw (12g) it's the best I can do:D
The best about it is the fact that little twigs and leaves don't get in the way..:p

BigAl>>

pullandbang wrote: »

On the basis that the only gun I have is a chainsaw (12g) it's the best I can do:D
The best about it is the fact that little twigs and leaves don't get in the way..:p

I honestly dont care if you throw the kitchen sink at the little buggers......just as long they are killed.(in large numbers)

Auldloon

Thats one of the best articles i have read in a long time and has given me something to think about.

BigAl>>

Chuileog wrote: »

Thats one of the best articles i have read in a long time and has given me something to think about.

Its just made me think of somthing...........!

I am thinking of running a contest on who can bag the most grey squirrels between now and xmas.

Actually I am going to run it. I will put up a suitable prize for the winner. Rules to follow for those who are interested.

greenpeter

BigAl>> wrote: »

Its just made me think of somthing...........!

I am thinking of running a contest on who can bag the most grey squirrels between now and xmas.

Actually I am going to run it. I will put up a suitable prize for the winner. Rules to follow for those who are interested.

Nice one BigAl, when can we start?

bunny shooter

BigAl>> wrote: »

Its just made me think of somthing...........!

I am thinking of running a contest on who can bag the most grey squirrels between now and xmas.

Actually I am going to run it. I will put up a suitable prize for the winner. Rules to follow for those who are interested.

I'm well up for that

BigAl>>

I have to come up with a way so no one cheats....... was thinking pics of kills but people can just keep posting pics of same bodies If we allow just one pic then people would have to keep the bodies untill the end and post one pic of all bodies. Any suggestions on how to keep it fair are welcome.

Also I am thinking of somthing like a scope for the winner (cause I like the one shot kill and not the chainsaw approach)

pullandbang

BigAl>> wrote: »

I am thinking of somthing like a scope for the winner (cause I like the one shot kill and not the chainsaw approach)

If I win the scope I'll promise I'll buy a rifle to go with it and take up surgery

Mellor

I think the best option is to keep the tails, and photo at the end

bunny shooter

Mellor wrote: »

I think the best option is to keep the tails, and photo at the end

+1 some of us do this with foxes already

BigAl>>

Mellor wrote: »

I think the best option is to keep the tails, and photo at the end

ok its set...........As stated b4 the competition is open from 1st november untill 20th Dec.

So guys keep the tails of all the greys you kill between now and then and the one who has the most will win the scope.

(pics to be posted by 12 midnight on the 20th)

Good luck all.

MarchHare

I use a 4-10, with 5 or 6 shot. When you are spending allot of time straining your neck looking up into the trees, it's nice to have a light gun. So far have shot 20 this October in about 40 acres of mature woodland with under planting (which is v. prone to squirrel damage). They re-populate very quickly, lots of feed this autumn. We trap in Feb-March when feed is scarce, using whole pigeon maize (available from Connolly's Redmills Feeds). Good article that started this thread; handy work for the guy driving around dispatching trapped greys for volunteer trappers; of course they couldn't possibly just put the whole trap in some of that 'Devil's water'!

BigAl>>

MarchHare wrote: »

I use a 4-10, with 5 or 6 shot. When you are spending allot of time straining your neck looking up into the trees, it's nice to have a light gun. So far have shot 20 this October in about 40 acres of mature woodland with under planting (which is v. prone to squirrel damage). They re-populate very quickly, lots of feed this autumn. We trap in Feb-March when feed is scarce, using whole pigeon maize (available from Connolly's Redmills Feeds). Good article that started this thread; handy work for the guy driving around dispatching trapped greys for volunteer trappers; of course they couldn't possibly just put the whole trap in some of that 'Devil's water'!

If you ever need a hand just let me know.