The Winter Squirrel War of 2018-2019...

I was watching two scramble all over the porch this morning thinking it's been a minute since I had some squirrel.
Maybe tomorrow.
 
Just watch out for their heavy weapons company:

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I've been in a battle the last few days also. Only killed 3 since they broke our truce and decided to go back in my attic. I always put them in my neighbors yard belly up and they typically disappear that day or are gone by morning. Hawks and coons are living well around here.

I had a fun one this summer. Shot one on a tree in my front yard that a hawk must have been watching. Hawk swooped in and finished him as he was flopping around on the ground.
 
This is where I would actually like to have a Ruger Charger to use. Just add a can and a lightweight 4X scope add pick you vantage point ... windowsills makes sure the window tracks are greased up for quick and quiet opening.
 
I also keep a live trap in the attic and have started a fun game when we catch a squirrel. I used to drive them a distance away and release them. Now, I go up in the attic, cover the trap in a towel and bring it outside. Dogs are going nuts wanting to get at the squirrel. Bring the dogs outside and make them sit and stay at the entrance to the porch. I walk out to the middle of the yard and release the squirrel while telling the dogs to "get the squirrel!" It's pretty fair as they are at least 20 yards away and the closest tree is 20 yards from the squirrel. They caught 1 out of 3 so far. I shot 1 out of 3 and one got away. My wife is not a huge fan of this new game.
 
We got 20" of snow with that last storm, and not a squirrel anywhere.
There's still some snow in the shady spots but it's most all gone. Now the squirrels are in full blown nut-finding mode. A week without chow waiting for the snow to melt is why I choose not to be a squirrel.
Well that, and @rdinatal shootin at me ya know. I'm out there trying to locate my nuts and next thing I get a .22 center-mass then a one way trip on Raptor Airlines.
And I hate flying.
 
Another one is in the trash today. He only moved 3ft before he gave it up.

Up to 20 so far. They're starting to relate the slight window creaking with danger. I'll probably cut some cardboard to keep the cold air out (and the cat in) while the window is open.
 
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I'm missing one of my plastic knows for my Weber gas grill, they chewed up the other one and the push lever for
the igniter and chewed the aluminum side plates.
I can't shoot them since I am in city of Raleigh annexed so I will use large rat trap when my wife is not home.:):):)
 
The ones around the house got so wise that you could touch a doorknob inside and they would haul ass to the woods.

Had one jump out of the top of an oak tree, about 60', instead of staying put so I could shoot him. You could tell it knocked the breathe out of him when he hit.
 
My border collie loves to chase them. She’ll get after one and chase it from tree to tree circling the tree until it moves again

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Strange year for me. No mast in the pecan or oaks in the yard...same for the rest of the hardwoods on the place. Tree rats were virtually non existent. You are right...they can and will detect you moving around in the house getting ready to attack. They are not nearly as observant as crows though.
 
I have been have one sit on the rail on the back deck taunting my dog as she looks out the window. Next time I see it doing it, I'm going to slip out the front door and come around the end of the house and take care of it.
 
It's been calm in the back yard last week. I should have known reinforcements were called up. The offensive started Saturday and continues into this morning...

- Three KIA on Saturday in the early morning hours, coffee still in the air...
- Two more while the home front watched the AFC Divisional game. Sneaky squirrels always attack when I'm distracted...
- The latest was 10 min ago, had to report online in case the walls are breached like last year...
- Tally is 26 this year

Off to check the battlefield and remove the dead. The sniper rifle is dialed in and I have ample supplies.

Update: Just heard local air support...
 
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I quit counting at 40 in the last 3 weeks. Just got 2 this morning. My hawks love me around here.
 
They're going to have to summon in their legendary hero:

Pick up my gauntlet, human.

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^
Before anyone else jumps on it, yes, yes, I know: don't bring a greatsword to a gun fight. Phbbttt.
 
GreatGazoo said:
^
Before anyone else jumps on it, yes, yes, I know: don't bring a greatsword to a gun fight. Phbbttt.
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His head is exposed, I’m still good. Kinda looks like one I killed Sunday afternoon. Was standing at the base of a tree. Shot him through the left eye and he just fell over backwards. Funny thing was, he didn’t even twitch or flop around. Dropped dead in his tracks.
 
rdinatal said:
This week was interesting. The young ones aren't going to be growing up, took out three since Monday. Also had to call in CAS as one almost got away. First time I saw a Coopers hawk attack and pick off a squirrel at a full run across the yard.

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Was at my moms house a couple months ago looking out the window I saw a hawk just like that land in her driveway just below my line of sight. WHen "he" took off again in just few seconds, squirrel in talons. Never seen that before. Hawks around my house so fat from eating squirrel they have hi cholesterol.
 
Loving this thread. It’s war in my neck of the woods too. As it was in Iraq in 04, all the slow ones are gone. Only fast ones left. They even know to maintain defelade, staying both on the ground and behind trees until they are out of range. Sure does keep my skills with the air rifle on an upward curve.
 
Rockchucker said:
Loving this thread. It’s war in my neck of the woods too. As it was in Iraq in 04, all the slow ones are gone. Only fast ones left. They even know to maintain defelade, staying both on the ground and behind trees until they are out of range. Sure does keep my skills with the air rifle on an upward curve.
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This is what I'm experiencing. I have to move to the window real slow or they see the movement. Then the window sound needs to be varied. The dumb ones don't survive...
 
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My neighbor started live trapping them a couple of months ago. He's up to 50 something already. He takes them about 5 miles away to a local park and releases them. He paints a red spot on their back. I haven't seen any red spotted squirrels yet.
 
rdinatal said:
This is what I'm experiencing. I have to move to the window real slow or they see the movement. Then the window sound needs to be varied. The dumb ones don't survive...
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As to movement, think about a thin sheer piece of material (like a window sheer) over your shooting window where you can hide your movement from them. Leave a small opening (maybe 2” or so) you can shoot thru without moving the material.

For the noise of opening the window take a piece of plexiglass, cut a piece the width of the window, then cut a port large enough to shoot thru but small enough to block cold/rain/etc from really flowing in. Place the piece in the slightly open window and you go a perch to shoot from without opening the window.
 
NCFubar said:
As to movement, think about a thin sheer piece of material (like a window sheer) over your shooting window where you can hide your movement from them. Leave a small opening (maybe 2” or so) you can shoot thru without moving the material.

For the noise of opening the window take a piece of plexiglass, cut a piece the width of the window, then cut a port large enough to shoot thru but small enough to block cold/rain/etc from really flowing in. Place the piece in the slightly open window and you go a perch to shoot from without opening the window.
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You aren't married, right??
 
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