Squirrels - MOD NOTE POST #60

dodderangler

Two part question.
1. Best shotgun ammo for squirrels.
I missed one 3 times last night. Once with Eley camo 5 and twice with 7 1/2s at about 35-40 yards.
2. What is the law on feral cats. I know it's a touchy subject but just curious. If it's not the place mods feel free to move or delete it.
DA

Cass

dodderangler wrote: »

Two part question.
1. Best shotgun ammo for squirrels.
I missed one 3 times last night. Once with Eley camo 5 and twice with 7 1/2s at about 35-40 yards.

Forget the cartridge, check that your barrels/aim is straight.

Either cartridge should have dropped it, but definitely the 5.

2. What is the law on feral cats. I know it's a touchy subject but just curious. If it's not the place mods feel free to move or delete it.
DA

Don't go down that road cause after dozens, and i mean dozens, of threads on the subject they all end the same. Just do a search.

sniperman

so is it ok to shoot feral/wild cats?

Hitchens

sniperman wrote: »

so is it ok to shoot feral/wild cats?

why would you, are you going to eat them?

CJhaughey

Does it have a collar? If not I would consider it to be feral and deal with it in the appropriate manner.

DanWall

Can you eat Squirrels?

CJhaughey

DanWall wrote: »

Can you eat Squirrels

Yep, mighty tasty according to the folks that do.
Elvis was a particular fan of squirrel IIRC.

sniperman

Hitchens wrote: »

why would you, are you going to eat them?

just curious:)

sniperman

CJhaughey wrote: »

Does it have a collar? If not I would consider it to be feral and deal with it in the appropriate manner.

the ones i see dont have collers.

Cass

Lads.

As above. Lets leave the "cat hunting" for elsewhere. There are plenty of previous threads on the matter. Do a search for any answers you need.

xavier8228

Our cat lost its collar the other day. I would hope someone wouldn't shoot him thinking he was fair game! Most licences are for hunting game or shooting vermin. Cats don't fall into either catergory.

Cass

So it seems my requests to drop the matter are falling on deaf ears. So now the mod hat goes on.

STOP TALKING ABOUT SHOOTING CATS.

Hope that is clear enough for everyone.

dodderangler

Cass wrote: »

So it seems my requests to drop the matter are falling on deaf ears. So now the mod hat goes on.

STOP TALKING ABOUT SHOOTING CATS.

Hope that is clear enough for everyone.

Can you remove the cat posts cass. I knew it'd be tricky but I wasn't 100% clear on law.
Any tips on the squirrel hunting?
Seen a vid with Roy lupton and his mate.
Two shotguns needed. One shoots the dreys and if squirrel pops out other lads shoots him. Would that be best way?

dodderangler

Searched and seems it's been done to hell.
http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2055577698/14
First page is hunting but then others get involved so it's ok to drop the cat posts and stick to squirrels.
Cheers
Oh and all advice welcome and tree rats.

FOXHUNTER1

You will need a good heavy load for the squirrel reason being that most of the time they are among branches in trees of some sort or another and to get through the branches you need hard hitting stuff like BB or AAA.

I've gone as far as using 50gr 0 on them with excellent results.

TriggerPL

Cass wrote: »

So it seems my requests to drop the matter are falling on deaf ears. So now the mod hat goes on.

STOP TALKING ABOUT SHOOTING CATS.

Hope that is clear enough for everyone.

Anyone ever been lion hunting ??

Invincible

TriggerPL wrote: »

Anyone ever been lion hunting ??

Nobody I know, but 4200fps is hunting Cougars at the moment :P

Eo1n8wrd

Few cougars in the pubs round here!
:P

rsole1

FOXHUNTER1 wrote: »

You will need a good heavy load for the squirrel reason being that most of the time they are among branches in trees of some sort or another and to get through the branches you need hard hitting stuff like BB or AAA.

I've gone as far as using 50gr 0 on them with excellent results.

Sounds a bit like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Would have thought 32g 4 would be more than sufficient for tree rats.

rsole1

Eo1n8wrd wrote: »

Few cougars in the pubs round here!
:P

Don't like old pussy.

4200fps

Eo1n8wrd wrote: »

Few cougars in the pubs round here!
:P

What part of country are you spotting these creatures lol

Dian Cecht

Easiest way I find to shoot squirrels is to sit quietly & watch. Wait for them to move and **bang**. 32g in a 5 I use on 'em

TriggerPL

Eo1n8wrd wrote: »

Few cougars in the pubs round here!
:P

I was just about to say don't let 4200fps hear that , he like a vulture , prays on the week .


If ya can't shoot squirrel with a 32 gram 7 or 4 or 5 for that matter u need to look at what ur doing wrong , squirrel is fast shooting but doable

FOXHUNTER1

rsole1 wrote: »

Sounds a bit like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Would have thought 32g 4 would be more than sufficient for tree rats.

For the sake of a few euro I'd rather be sure :p

J.R.

FOXHUNTER1 wrote: »

You will need a good heavy load for the squirrel reason being that most of the time they are among branches in trees of some sort or another and to get through the branches you need hard hitting stuff like BB or AAA.

I've gone as far as using 50gr 0 on them with excellent results.

i would also use a fairly tight choke...full or three quarters.

If hunting grey squirrels in a wood on your own bring your camo gear....jacket, trousers, face mask, gloves.....full camo and also bring a bright coloured jacket....even a flouresent vest will do.

Find a good squirrel spot and decide where you want to set up.......put the bright jacket in a spot, at eye level, on the opposite side to where you are, in the vicinity of the trees you hope the squirrel will be on.

when a squirrel spots the bright jacket he will immediately hide from it, on the back of the tree, peeking out.......now clearly visible on your side, in full view...BANG

xavier8228

I think red squirrels are protected so make sure it's the grey ones.

landkeeper2

50g of 0s for a 8oz creature :eek: well i suppose the squirrel was dead by the time the tree fell over

it's pattern not pellet power you want ,any load of 7s will kill any grey squirrel known to man

Vegeta

Gently does it Bacchus wrote: »

Can you back that up?Just saying "Yep" isn't really good enough.

Yes it is when a mod has asked for the discussion to cease. PM me if you wish but do not post about it on thread again please

FOXHUNTER1

landkeeper2 wrote: »

50g of 0s for a 8oz creature :eek: well i suppose the squirrel was dead by the time the tree fell over

it's pattern not pellet power you want ,any load of 7s will kill any grey squirrel known to man

When you need to break through heavy cover a 7 won't cut it.

landkeeper2

FOXHUNTER1 wrote: »

When you need to break through heavy cover a 7 won't cut it.

i have shot thousands of grey squirrels starting with an air rifle when i was in my early teens then a 410 and a 12 bore. the only time i have used anything bigger than a 7 in a shotgun is maybe a bb or such on a high drey we couldn't reach with the poking poles but maybe squirrels have got tougher of late :cool:

mathepac

xavier8228 wrote: »

I think red squirrels are protected so make sure it's the grey ones.

Hopefully the hunters who hold firearms licences know.

Longranger

mathepac wrote: »

Hopefully the hunters who hold firearms licences know.

What hunters wouldn't hold them?
Are you implying that some of us here are breaking the laws regarding protected species?

sniperman

QUOTE=Longranger;89444084]What hunters wouldn't hold them?[/QUOTE]
lads with catapults:P

Longranger

sniperman wrote: »

QUOTE=Longranger;89444084]What hunters wouldn't hold them?

lads with catapults:P[/quote]

Ah sure, tis a hoor to get a license for a black widow these days! ;-)

landkeeper2

don't mention cat apault agin LR

aaakev

Longranger wrote: »

What hunters wouldn't hold them?
Are you implying that some of us here are breaking the laws regarding protected species?

To be fair I dont think mathpac was having a dig or implying anything like that. ..

Longranger

landkeeper2 wrote: »

don't mention cat apault agin LR

Oops! My bad!

Longranger

aaakev wrote: »

To be fair I dont think mathpac was having a dig or implying anything like that. ..

Fair point, it's just that sometimes us hunters don't get the credit we deserve for obeying the rules.

aaakev

Longranger wrote: »

Fair point, it's just that sometimes us hunters don't get the credit we deserve for obeying the rules.

Why should we?? Stick to the rules and enjoy your hunting you dont need a pat on the back for it

Longranger

aaakev wrote: »

Why should we?? Stick to the rules and enjoy your hunting you dont need a pat on the back for it

I do enjoy my hunting and I'm not looking for a pat on the back, I'm only saying that too many people don't realize that the vast majority of us do know the laws and regulations the govern our sport,probably better than the people who wrote them.

Dian Cecht

Hitchens wrote: »

probably best to describe it as something other than sport

No it's not. It's not illegal.

Longranger

Hitchens wrote: »

probably best to describe it as something other than sport

As per forum charter we are not here to debate the morality of hunting so I'll decline to reply.

Hitchens

Dian Cecht wrote: »

No it's not. It's not illegal.

of course, but it isn't sport as such

Grizzly 45

What would you define it as then??

Victor

mathepac wrote: »

Hopefully the hunters who hold firearms licences know.

So, given that the OP says "I missed one 3 times last night.", how do you tell the difference between a red and a grey at night?

Hitchens

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

What would you define it as then??

for a few years now, to avoid abuse from antis, I always describe it as an 'outdoors pursuit'

mathepac

Longranger wrote: »

What hunters wouldn't hold them? ...

Hunters who do not need firearms or firearms licences. There is more to hunting than simply firing bullets or shot at birds and other animals.

Longranger wrote: »

... Are you implying that some of us here are breaking the laws regarding protected species?

My post says what it says. Feel free to interpret as you wish, but your interpretation is your business not mine.

I am a former firearms licence holder. I disposed of my licences and firearms when my former partner moved into my home. She was nervous having the guns around.

valerossi

Victor wrote: »

So, given that the OP says "I missed one 3 times last night.", how do you tell the difference between a red and a grey at night?

Seriously? if you can see the animal to shoot you can identify the species.

Hitchens

valerossi wrote: »

Seriously? if you can see the animal to shoot you can identify the species.

no sir, that's not always the case

Grizzly 45

Hitchens wrote: »

for a few years now, to avoid abuse from antis, I always describe it as an 'outdoors pursuit'

Why not just call it what it is a field sport?? Why should you have to apologise or avoid abuse from "antis" for what you like doing?? That's their problem if they dont like it not yours. Should gay folks call themselves " peferred same sex person" just to satisify homophobes?Be proud of what you are and make no apologies for it to anyone.We are too sensitive o offending the "professional PC offended ones" these days. Theyhave the right to be offended,doesnt mean we must apologise or change to suit thier stupid life outlooks.

valerossi

[quote="

I am a former firearms licence holder. I disposed of my licences and firearms when my former partner moved into my home. She was nervous having the guns around.[/quote]

I no I no I'm always worried my guns will break out of the safe and attack me too;)