Author Topic: War On Squirrels Heats Up  (Read 2372 times)

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Offline Sourdough

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War On Squirrels Heats Up
« on: October 24, 2006, 05:53:13 PM »
Found two squirrels in the garage today.  OK that's it, time to go on the war path again.  The Red Squirrels we have here in the interior of Alaska are no bigger than a chipmunk.  They are the most destructive little beast you ever laid eyes on.  They were trying to pull the insulation out of my boiler again.  So I went out and set up a bird feeder on a post in front of a big cottonwood tree in the back yard.  I have a piece of 4" ABS pipe going through the back wall of the garage, so I can run a small engine at my work bench and exhaust it outside.  I placed this bird feeder where I can take the cap off the pipe and look through the pipe and see the feeder.  Now I can sit at my work bench and set my .17HMR Sportster in the varmit rest and shoot right through the opening in the wall.  Today I shot seven of the little rascals, in about two hours. It makes for some fast and fun shooting.  It's about 40 yards from the back wall to the feeder.  Sometimes I get a shot while they are on the ground coming to the feeder on out to 80 and 100 yards.  I crank the sterio up in the garage and the wife never knows I am shooting.  She does not like it when I shoot the squirrels.   
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2006, 06:24:44 PM »
 ;D Good on ya, Rog!!

Tim
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline lefty red

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2006, 12:43:46 PM »
Get some "rat traps" or some #110 Conibears!

LEFTY
I'll be needing that for squirrels and such.....

I ain't never been lost in my life, been a might confused for a month or so.....

Pilgram, are you sure you know how to skin grizzer bear.....

Don't run little squirrel, you'll only die tired....

Offline hillsider69

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2006, 12:17:43 PM »
The best trap is a fenn trap in a tube about 4" dia. Bait with peanuts for 2 day with out the trap set, then get them!

Offline GRIMJIM

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2006, 05:37:06 AM »
Get some "rat traps" or some #110 Conibears!

LEFTY
Come on, what fun would that be? I say shoot the little buggers.
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Offline hillsider69

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2006, 08:47:25 AM »
 ;D
There better to cook if trapped!

Offline MSP Ret

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2006, 09:15:57 AM »
I never heard that hillsider69, do you cooked trapped squirrels any differently than ones you shoot? Perhaps drop them whole iin a pot of boliing salted water like you with lobsters that you catch in a trap?....<><.... ;D
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline jack19512

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2006, 03:27:51 PM »
Perhaps drop them whole iin a pot of boliing salted water like you with lobsters that you catch in a trap?....<><.... ;D




Yum...Yum... ;D

Offline Sourdough

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #8 on: December 29, 2006, 05:51:11 PM »
1.  Their too little to bother with cooking.
2.  They eat Black Spruce cones and taste horriable.
3.  By the time the .17HMR finishes, the half in the area of the hit (usually the middle) is vaporized.
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline GRIMJIM

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2006, 05:24:50 AM »
I can believe that about the taste. I hunted in some pine grtoves for treerats once and they tasted like pine from eating the cones. Ended up throwing the whole batch of stew away. >:( It was still fun popping them out of the trees though. ;D
GBO SENIOR MEMBER "IF THAT BALL COMES IN MY YARD I'M KEEPING IT!"

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IF GOD DIDN'T WANT US TO EAT ANIMALS, WHY DID HE MAKE THEM OUT OF MEAT?

Offline MSP Ret

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2006, 05:30:20 AM »
Are you guys talking about red squirrels, aka pine squirrels? I have never heard of anyone trying to eat them!!!!....<><.... :o
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline DWTim

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #11 on: December 30, 2006, 07:37:00 AM »
After being hit with a .17 HMR, about all you'll be able to do is inhale them.

Offline groovyintheusa

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #12 on: December 30, 2006, 08:41:22 AM »
When I was much younger, I tried eating 'em too...just like eating pine cones!!! I have taken my trusty .17 hmr to plink fox rats. You can take nice long shots, and as long as your shot is good, you can all most take the head clean off!!! (If the little buggers twitch, you can end up wasting most of one side though!) As far as the "Reds"...I say "explode" 'em!!! ;D

Offline GRIMJIM

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #13 on: December 30, 2006, 11:43:24 AM »
Are you guys talking about red squirrels, aka pine squirrels? I have never heard of anyone trying to eat them!!!!....<><.... :o
I used to hunt fox and grey squirrels. Never heard of them being called pine squirrels but that's sure what they tasted like.
GBO SENIOR MEMBER "IF THAT BALL COMES IN MY YARD I'M KEEPING IT!"

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IF GOD DIDN'T WANT US TO EAT ANIMALS, WHY DID HE MAKE THEM OUT OF MEAT?

Offline MSP Ret

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #14 on: December 30, 2006, 01:22:10 PM »
around here we have grey squirrels which are the kind some people eat and the smaller red squirrels which frequent the pine trees, hench the name, pine squirrels, I have never heard of anyone trying to eat them....<><....:)
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline GRIMJIM

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #15 on: December 30, 2006, 02:03:05 PM »
Here in Illinois we have greys and fox squirrels which are bigger than the greys. They both are pretty good but you have to get them in hardwood areas prefferably around corn fields.
GBO SENIOR MEMBER "IF THAT BALL COMES IN MY YARD I'M KEEPING IT!"

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IF GOD DIDN'T WANT US TO EAT ANIMALS, WHY DID HE MAKE THEM OUT OF MEAT?

Offline Sourdough

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #16 on: January 15, 2007, 01:38:40 PM »
Back in Tennessee, when I was growing up, hunting squirrels was about the only hunting we got to do.  Rabbits had some kind of diese and there were no Deer then.  For those poor Tennessee hill folks Squirrels and Groundhogs were their main meat dish.  My Dad always hunted with a .22LR.  When we went out with 10 rounds he expected to bring back 10 squirrels.  My Grandmother could really make them taste good too. 
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline 45north

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #17 on: January 21, 2007, 09:37:34 PM »
Sourdough,

  How are you liking that 17 hmr sportster, Accurate arn't they.

  45north

Offline Sourdough

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #18 on: January 22, 2007, 06:09:33 PM »
45north:  I put the BSA Sweet-17 scope on it and love it.  I can hit a 4" target out to 300 yards everytime.  Actually at 100 yards you can cover three shots with a dime.  At the range where I shoot it is 337 yards from the benches to the burum backstop.  I can throw a bunch of 4" clay targets on the bank and sit and hit them all day.  The post where the cross hairs get smaller is the aiming point at 337 yards.  When I am sitting there and busting clay targets on the bank everyone comes over and wants to know what I am shooting.  I show them and they can't believe it.  Inveriably they have to try it.  Usually one out of three hits a clay.  But I have learned not to shoot foxes at close range broadside with it.  It makes a big mess.  Makes the pelt worthless too. 
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline georgeld

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #19 on: February 07, 2007, 09:01:34 PM »
Sourdough:

I've got three of those same scopes. haven't shot two of them much. One's on a HMR,
the other's on the M2 and not quite zeroed yet.

 The third is an extra for the next one that comes along.

Only problem I've seen with them so far is the idiots at the store spun the dial a bunch of times right
after I came in from zeroing it. So had to make another trip to the range. After I bitched about it long enough he handed me a full box of ammo. But, it's still a 26 mile R/trip and two hours to do it when it wasn't needed.

I only wanted him to reset the inner dial to the numbers as the set screws were too tight.

You think they'll be a good glass for these guns?  I do. but, feel the dials sure need to be watched as they look like they could be spun if the gun is laid down and slides a bit.  What do you think?

George
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It's about Control, join the NRA today!!"

Offline ironglow

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #20 on: February 08, 2007, 01:49:40 AM »
Sourdough;

  You probably have thought of it already..
   
   ..But please make sure you have clear enough view that noone can unexpectedly walk past the end of that pipe just as you shoot..

   Happy hunting...Like you..I sure enjoy the accuracy my .17 hummer offers..
If you don't want the truth, don't ask me.  If you want something sugar coated...go eat a donut !  (anon)

Offline Sourdough

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #21 on: February 08, 2007, 05:15:44 AM »
georgeld:  The set screws are a metric size.  If you try and use a standard allen wrench you can easily strip the head out.

ironglow:  Have thought of that.  That area of my back yard is fenced and posted.  It is where I let my Beagles run.  Also here in Alaska it is about as populated as it was 100 years ago down south.  As for kids, there is not any.  All the kids in the neighbor hood have grown and gone, and in most cases left the state.  It's just the wife and our son that is 18.  The wife works, (won't retire) the son goes to school half days, then to Hockey for the rest, so he is never around.  And for anyone to get there they have to go through my garage, there is no gate in the fence.  The only thing that might be in the back yard would be a stray Moose, they jump the fence.  Have been having trouble with a young Bull lately.  He likes to lye down next to my front porch.  Scared the heck out of me this morning as I went out for the paper.  It's still dark here till around 8:30 and I go out at 5:30, but we are gaining 8 minutes a day of sunlite.  I did not think to turn the porch lite on, so when I opened the door and steped out he jumped up and stood there looking at me. We were 5ft apart, and at a standoff.  I yelled and he turned and left.  Going to set booby trap out today, so that when he comes in he will set of blank shotgun shell.  I have an old 12ga that is too rusted to use anymore.  I put it in a frame that holds it straight up then load a blank (primer, powder, and tissue paper) in it.  Then run a string around the area.  Anything runs into the string they fire the old gun into the air.  That scares off most Moose.  Also I let the neighbors know so they don't trip the string if they take a short cut through the woods to the house.  In fact my neighbor uses it more than I do.  He put something in the shell that burned as it came out.  A Black Bear set off the gun about 2AM one morning and lite up his whole yard, haven't seen that bear again.
Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline Badnews Bob

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #22 on: February 08, 2007, 06:48:06 PM »
Who's winning? ::)
Badnews Bob
AE-2 USN retired

Offline georgeld

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Re: War On Squirrels Heats Up
« Reply #23 on: February 10, 2007, 10:08:11 PM »
IF it get's dry around there that kinda deal could set off a forest fire.

Hope you and the neighbor play safe.

Had a friend that worked fixing things at a resort. Collected soda, beer can's and had
 three drums of them in an old shed behind the house.

One night it sounded like a war going on out there. He fired a couple in the air to run the bear off.  It might have been too late, but, said he heard one loud crash and a drum of can's start rolling down the driveway. Next day when he went to check, there were can's scattered everywhere for  50yds he claimed.

The smell of the syrup I'm sure pulled it in.

Guess he and wife were having a ball playing pick up can's for weeks.
To me, it's mighty funny, but I'll bet by the time they finished it wasn't a happy time.

George
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"Gun Control is NOT about guns,
It's about Control, join the NRA today!!"