The autumn months can present airgun shooters with something of a quandary when it comes to controlling grey squirrels. This year’s litters have bolstered the invasive rodents’ numbers, as confirmed by numerous sightings as they scurry around making the most of the seasonal glut of natural food. The problem is that the abundance of easy pickings often draws squirrels away from feeding stations, which can make it hard to make sizeable bags — frustrating when there are so many of them around.
I don’t doubt that shooters who use wheat or maize in their feeding stations are noticing a serious dip in squirrel activity. The fact is that these humble offerings can’t compete with acorns, beech mast, hazelnuts, sweet chestnuts and all the other natural goodies in the woodland larder. Loading feeders with peanuts can get things back on track; they have serious pulling power but are also comparatively expensive.
Productive places
Another way around the problem is to give your feeding stations a break for the next few weeks. Take the hoppers down and treat them to any necessary maintenance. The hours that you would have spent cooped up in a hide waiting for greedy greys to venture out for a snack can be put to use wandering the woods in search of more productive places to site your feeders when they go back up. The squirrels will soon be looking for an easy meal when natural pickings run low and a few frosts have put an edge on their hunger.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 23, 2020 من Shooting Times & Country.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 23, 2020 من Shooting Times & Country.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
United we stand
Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors
Serious matters
An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning
They're not always as easy as they seem
While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort
Debutant gundogs
There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting
When the going gets rough
Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make
A step too far?
Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work
Two bucks before breakfast
A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem
Stalking Diary
Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill
Gamekeeper
Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside