Grey Squirels

[stevenshire1981 0]

Are the grey squirels still classed as vermin and legal quarry when hunting with air rifle does any one know?

[walshie 2,804]

Yes. they certainly are. My wife insists on assassination on sight as they keep breaking her bird feeder.

[kev1065233333 8]

i had a couple in my garden so hope so lol

[bunter885 1]

aye they r so good luck gettin them there sneaky as f*ck

[kev1065233333 8]

yes they are also think they have bullet proof jackets on lol

[stevenshire1981 0]

Yes. they certainly are. My wife insists on assassination on sight as they keep breaking her bird feeder.

nice one I am sure i will be able to assassinate a few of the grey ones round here as there are still a few reds around and i know the greys are killing the poor little buggers off.

[barrywhite 282]

I think if you have a grey squirrel in captivity injured or sick ect [or shot] and you bring it back to life .It maybe an offence to release the grey squirrel back into the wild .

[walshie 2,804]

I think if you have a grey squirrel in captivity injured or sick ect [or shot] and you bring it back to life .It maybe an offence to release the grey squirrel back into the wild .

 

Absolutely. Once trapped they have to be despatched.

[phill kettle 21]

Grey squirrels are perfectly legal quarry when shooting with an air rifle providing you have permission on the land. Winter and early spring are the best times to shoot them when their is little or no leaf cover on the trees. Squirrels can be elusive and are easily spooked by sudden movement or noise so good stalking skills are a must. Squirrels can also freeze in trees and become almost invisible so patience is needed. They will often skirt around a tree trunk as you move around so just wait and only shoot when you have a clear shot. Head shots are the most effective but sometimes a body shot can be the only option so take it if you can before the squirrel spooks and makes off through the branches.

Remember squirrels make good eating..............tastes just like rabbit. Great in stews or curries or on it's own, jointed and shallow fried in garlic with a pinch of dried mixed herbs. Young but near full grown squirrels are the best to eat.................more tender meat.

Iv'e had a life long passion for squirreling. You can't beat it.

Good luck mate and enjoy.

Phill.K.

[gurtwurz 792]

Oh yeah, certainly the most fun you can have with an air gun in my book, and theyre far tastier than rabbit, although a sod to skin..

 

As already said,from now til early aprils the best time to catch em out and about. I find theyre about from early morning til mid afternoon on one permission, but I've shot them at dusk on another. Another thing to be wary of is taking front on head shots as sometimes the pellet can ricochet off leaving the squirrel stunned but able to move like greased lightning as you try to take a follow up shot, so I generally go for side on head shots, neck or heart shots depending, of course on what's best available if theres plenty of foliage or twigs in the way(and there always is lol). If your field craft and observation is good enough you should be able to get close enough for supported standers, but I generally find kneelers the best stance to take.

 

Cheers, wurz

[stevenshire1981 0]

Grey squirrels are perfectly legal quarry when shooting with an air rifle providing you have permission on the land. Winter and early spring are the best times to shoot them when their is little or no leaf cover on the trees. Squirrels can be elusive and are easily spooked by sudden movement or noise so good stalking skills are a must. Squirrels can also freeze in trees and become almost invisible so patience is needed. They will often skirt around a tree trunk as you move around so just wait and only shoot when you have a clear shot. Head shots are the most effective but sometimes a body shot can be the only option so take it if you can before the squirrel spooks and makes off through the branches.

Remember squirrels make good eating..............tastes just like rabbit. Great in stews or curries or on it's own, jointed and shallow fried in garlic with a pinch of dried mixed herbs. Young but near full grown squirrels are the best to eat.................more tender meat.

Iv'e had a life long passion for squirreling. You can't beat it.

Good luck mate and enjoy.

Phill.K.

sounds good i will have to try that. as i love rabbit. would probably need around 3 to fill the gap in my stomache tho!

[Mooch. 177]

Yes. they certainly are. My wife insists on assassination on sight as they keep breaking her bird feeder.

nice one I am sure i will be able to assassinate a few of the grey ones round here as there are still a few reds around and i know the greys are killing the poor little buggers off.

If you have reds too then it is your duty to shoot the greys!

 

I find them on the ground more often than not at the moment but if you spook one up a tree then get within range and stand still. Keep scanning the branches and it won't be long before the squirrel pokes it's head up to see if you're still there or not.

[Whizzie 38]

If you've got a few of em about, set up a feed station for them, give em the opportunity to get used to raiding it, then sit n wait on it, and just pick em off from a safe, comfortable spot.

 

Make sure they're dead when handling! Pick up with the tail! A lively one will give you one hell of a bite!