ratting at night

[rushty 1]

Hi again folks. My passion for air gun shooting revolves solely around reducing rat populations, though if i am honest i guess i am only thinning down the said population on my permission. The owners seem to be happy, actually they are more willing to have me on their land with my gun than when i use the dogs , which is strange really because the dogs can mark nests of rats that are days old , rats that will become a major nuisance in the weeks to come , anyhow its their choice and to be trutheful it keeps my shooting permission in tact. I am no expert mind , iam just lucky enough to have a few places to shoot , so that said i wonder if any real experienced hunters could help me out a bit. Heres a few of queries I would be grateful if people could answer me

 

1, Has anyone noticed that rats arent that keen to show themselves in windy conditions , I have noticed that or it may just be coincidence. I ask cos if its a fact then at least I can stay at home rather than waste my time.

2, I shoot with NV scope and apart from the IR light ( which to be honest is more visible than I thought)the area is totally dark , exept when the moons out. I have noticed that some rats are well jumpy as I turn the corner and are off. As i dont use any kind of cover for my face or hands do people think they could be seeing my fleshy parts .

3, I have read that rats have amazing noses , and ears but poor eye sight , do people that shoot / hunt rats agree with that.

 

Any replies will be gratefully accepted , thanks agin Ted.

[Ron Weasley 83]

Right mate, a few things.

 

Yes, they could be seeing your exposed flesh, but if there's little to no light, I'd imagine they hear you coming before they see you, and that is what is sending them running.

 

Rat's eyesight is poor by comparison to their sense of smell and hearing, but also they rely a great deal on touch. If you watch rats, you'll notice that they generally use the same paths time and time again, and they usually run along side something. This is to reduce their vulnerability as much as possible. For example if a rat moves along a wall, it has the ground beneath it, and the wall to one side- so nothing can attack it from underneath, or the side where the wall is, automatically reducing the possible angle of attack by 50%. They use the same paths time and time again, developing what's called 'kinesthesis', or muscle memory. Ever noticed how quickly a rat moves when you disturb it? You never see them look where they're going though do you? That's kinesthesis at work.

 

I'd suggest ambushing them if you're having trouble with them running off. Find a place to sit quietly and bait them into your line of fire.

[davyt63 1,845]

hi rushty

flesh will stand out a mile,so you need to cover it up.and my experience all though it little,best sit tight and pick em off! NV works well to for me! also a dull red filter!

i agree with what Ron has said too so take his good advise

 

regards

 

davy

[Phantom 631]

 

1, Has anyone noticed that rats arent that keen to show themselves in windy conditions , I have noticed that or it may just be coincidence. I ask cos if its a fact then at least I can stay at home rather than waste my time.

2, I shoot with NV scope and apart from the IR light ( which to be honest is more visible than I thought)the area is totally dark , exept when the moons out. I have noticed that some rats are well jumpy as I turn the corner and are off. As i dont use any kind of cover for my face or hands do people think they could be seeing my fleshy parts .

3, I have read that rats have amazing noses , and ears but poor eye sight , do people that shoot / hunt rats agree with that.

 

Any replies will be gratefully accepted , thanks agin Ted.

 

Hi Ted,

 

I suppose Rats are like many other vermin, for instance Woodies and Ferrals prefere to stay out of the wind. when they are in the fields you will very rarely find a bird letting the wind blow up is butt, they always face into the wind.

I've noticed that bunnies prefere to face into it as well, suppose its so they can smell danger?

Try looking at more sheltered area during the windy sessions (unless you want to stay at home?).

 

Regarding NV, talk to Davy about his NV set up, simple lamp with a NV filter seems to work a treat for him. Check out his Ratting NV video's

 

I assume that Rats see in mono like most animals so human flesh will stick out like a beacon if there is a slight light and to make it worse, our eyes are forward looking which screams "predator"

 

Mark Vinning (sp?) is a newcommer to shooting (and a naturally talented shooter as well) who is probably the authority on shooting rats around here along with Si (Zini) he may be able to give you more info with his intense ratting sessions.

 

Phantom

[davyt63 1,845]

 

1, Has anyone noticed that rats arent that keen to show themselves in windy conditions , I have noticed that or it may just be coincidence. I ask cos if its a fact then at least I can stay at home rather than waste my time.

2, I shoot with NV scope and apart from the IR light ( which to be honest is more visible than I thought)the area is totally dark , exept when the moons out. I have noticed that some rats are well jumpy as I turn the corner and are off. As i dont use any kind of cover for my face or hands do people think they could be seeing my fleshy parts .

3, I have read that rats have amazing noses , and ears but poor eye sight , do people that shoot / hunt rats agree with that.

 

Any replies will be gratefully accepted , thanks agin Ted.

 

Hi Ted,

 

I suppose Rats are like many other vermin, for instance Woodies and Ferrals prefere to stay out of the wind. when they are in the fields you will very rarely find a bird letting the wind blow up is butt, they always face into the wind.

I've noticed that bunnies prefere to face into it as well, suppose its so they can smell danger?

Try looking at more sheltered area during the windy sessions (unless you want to stay at home?).

 

Regarding NV, talk to Davy about his NV set up, simple lamp with a NV filter seems to work a treat for him. Check out his Ratting NV video's

 

I assume that Rats see in mono like most animals so human flesh will stick out like a beacon if there is a slight light and to make it worse, our eyes are forward looking which screams "predator"

 

Mark Vinning (sp?) is a newcommer to shooting (and a naturally talented shooter as well) who is probably the authority on shooting rats around here along with Si (Zini) he may be able to give you more info with his intense ratting sessions.

 

Phantom

 

 

hi tony

shame on you!!

pionter is the pied piper of this forum what he dont know isnt worth knowing!

 

regards

 

davy

[Phantom 631]

Who? :icon_redface:

 

Sorry Pointer

 

Phantom

[davyt63 1,845]

Who? :icon_redface:

 

Sorry Pointer

 

Phantom

 

 

lol

[rushty 1]

Thanks lads , one thing which sounds like it might be better than shooting rats woulkd be havin a pint with you all, cheers Ted. Camo and moving quieter he we come.

[pointer 543]

Who? :icon_redface:

 

Sorry Pointer

 

Phantom

 

We cant all be trophy winning marksman

Theres nothing to learn about ratting with airguns..........because its really fecking easy to do,simple as that.Its fun but thats it,nothing to get excited about..........thats what working dogs are for.Proper sport With rats all you need are places with a rat problem,nothing more and you need a few places because you might soon get them under control.It wouldnt bother me in the slightest if i never shot another rat,rabbit or pigeon ever again.

Its becoming seriously boring.........roll on winter for some hunting

[markvining 18]

Hi mate,

 

I agree with all that has being said also changing what time you go out if going to the same permission after a few night at they seem to be a bit hesitant to come out at that time. Rats are not stupid and will wait till it feels right.Using food what they are use to eating as bait seems to work as well as anything. I love my night vision its like shooting fish in a bowl.

 

mark

[Phantom 631]

Seriously Sorry about not putting your name to ratting Pointer

 

I've never really been interested in shooting rats until a last week when I was doing a recce on an "ON OFF now ON again Permission" where I noticed a few at the far end of the garden. So I quickly developed an interest and Davy's vid's do look like fun

 

I dont have dogs, but I got a Kitten a couple of days ago and she loves to attack the moths that make it into the house Does that count as sport

I'm also getting a couple of Kits in a few days

 

Phantom

[pointer 543]

No need to be sorry Phantom,anybody on here could easily shoot as many rats as what i do.Ive shot a couple tonight,it just fills in the odd night.I certainly dont consider myself a serious airgunner or a good shot.

 

and yes i probably would enjoy watching your kitten catching moths more than i do shooting rats.

[Phantom 631]

and yes i probably would enjoy watching your kitten catching moths more than i do shooting rats.

 

I left a window in the kitchen open slightly tonight so a few moths could get in, I'm gonna have to video her having a go, she's had me in stitches trying to catch em. Wife aint too pleased though as two plants got in the kittens way :laugh:

 

Only down side is I had to clean the soil n compost up

 

Still was worth it just for the entertainment value

 

Phantom

[Sweeney-Todd 208]

and yes i probably would enjoy watching your kitten catching moths more than i do shooting rats.

 

I left a window in the kitchen open slightly tonight so a few moths could get in, I'm gonna have to video her having a go, she's had me in stitches trying to catch em. Wife aint too pleased though as two plants got in the kittens way :laugh:

 

Only down side is I had to clean the soil n compost up

 

Still was worth it just for the entertainment value

 

Phantom

 

 

 

Hi Tony.

 

 

I just dont know mate ....will you NEVER learn .....that Pussy will get you into trouble