Permanent Zeroing Target?

[jimjam 0]

Hi,

 

I am in the process of getting rid of a small rat population. Space is limited so in order to set up I place a target in the vicinity of where the rats are coming from and fire a few shots in order to zero. Once zeroed I then remove the target and retreat and wait. The problem is that after this it takes the rats quite a while to brave coming out into the target area which is resulting in some cold lengthy waits. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can set up a permanent zeroing point in that area. I know I could use the metal flip/reset type targets but that won't help in my initial scope zeroing process which given space limitations has to be extremely accurate.

 

Any tips would be good, including luring the rats out quicker after zeroing.

 

Also any tips on getting the rats to reappear after I have shot one i.e.. do I remove shot rat or leave in situ?

 

Also of note is this shooting is done during the day (if I don't shoot they are extremely active during the day)

 

Thanks

 

JT

[BenjaminCadd 109]

Peanut better never fails for me, but i would work out the distance your are using on the rats, get an average and zero before going to the barn / yard, rats will soon cotton on to your routine and the waiting game will only get worse, they are clever and after a while they even become immune to poison! i normally leave all the dispatched rats till the end of the night, but i also wear gloves with rats as they are dirty things!

Atb.

[secretagentmole 1,701]

First off, do not zero anywhere near where you are shooting! How would you like it if some swine put a metal bucket over your head and hit it with a hammer?

 

Zero somewhere else. The wait may be due to rats hearing your ballet like footsteps and deciding to hole up until you have gone past!

 

So zero somewhere else, do not go hoofing it all over where your quarry is appearing and wrap up warm, invest in some good thermal gear and some gloves!

[The one 8,474]

As said check your zero before hand and pre bait the area if you can

[ghillies 209]

aggreed, the kiss of death is having a battle before you sneek up on them lol. a pound to a penny they all line up some where and watch you..seriously, then bugger off when your done! seen it plenty times.

 

a quick zero check shot isnt so bad, 3 max(but not rapid fire..take yu time there, couple minutes or more), tbh your zero should be on bar banging something, i think the problem is if you zero at 10 yards or below, chances are you've moved so many clicks to get there its actualy way out if you check it at 20-30 or more. best to zero at 25-27 else where, then take care not to knock anything, even if it means kid-gloves and shhhhhhh dont wake the babey type. once there one shot should see your on, up to 3 if its a touch out, but again, battles before sneeking up??

 

last..if its a springer and theyre well aware, get a pcp silenced down to a tiney no noise,shhhh then they wont twig so fast..theres a hint.

 

bait wise, wheres the shoot? e.g. chicken ranchers may well 'spill' a very neet mound f what ever the every day feed is, caww...right out in the open lol. let one or two get a sniff and munch then shoot the inrush lol.

 

its abit like watching some cartoon about no IQ'd slap stick style...if one gets fed they all wants it wants it wants it...but, a few bits-a-lead in their asses really wises them up.

Edited March 25, 2013 by ghillies

[Acuspell 329]

Rats are very quickly educated. Sound, smell and even new items that appear in their habitat - they will treat them with caution for weeks.

 

Give us a bt more information to go on about where you are having to shoot. ALL rats need a certain degree of accuracy, but you don't have to zero every time you go out. I zero my rifle once a year, maybe - but I practise often, in all weathers. There is nothing like getting the feel of the rifle. Some questions for you:

what sort of range are you able to shoot at? (My rats are anything from 2 feet to 40 yards) At 2 feet don't aim, just point. At 5 yards I need a full 2 mildots hold over, because the shot is still very low.

 

If you are shootin gduring the day, have you been at night? I bet they are even more active then!

 

What is this deadly accuracy you need - shooting through a gap in boarding?

 

The more information you cangive, the better the advice you will get. You don't have to be so secretive about the type of situation you know. We are all only 10 feet from a rat, right now!

[jimjam 0]

Hi Acuspell,

 

The rats are by a small exposed part of a stream that passes through our garden. The area is fenced off for the safety of the kids. They come under the fence and feed in the area just below the bird feeders but they don't venture out to far so if I'm lucky they will expose their heads and shoulders. My wife loves the songbirds so she doesn't want to stop feeding them.

 

I would say that from the position that I'm shooting from to the area in question is about 10 yards and the furthest distance that I can safely place a target to zero is about 16 yards.

 

I am only shooting in the day at the moment as I setup my rifle and rifle rest in the kitchen aiming through the open door (I initially did this to try and create a bigger distance from my gun and the rats as I thought this would allow for more accurate targeting through the scope. At the moment I would not be able to do the same at night as I'm sure you know, it's pretty cold.

 

Since posting the original question I have managed to shoot five of them (in descending size order as well, not sure if that's the norm?) There only seems to be one left but as you said it has quickly become educated. I can get it to appear by spreading some chocolate and peanut butter mix on a hop up which is under the bird feeders. However the minute the kitchen door is opened it lies low and will not appear until the kitchen door is closed again.

[jimjam 0]

Thought about what you said Acuspell, so changed my routine and decided to stake out late afternoon/early evening as normally I'm done by 1630 and sure enough the little fella was soon out having a sniff so managed to despatch so touchwood that's all of them (for now).

[davyt63 1,845]

hi

remove the food source and you will remove the rats

they will soon look else where for food

[Acuspell 329]

Hi Acuspell,

 

The rats are by a small exposed part of a stream that passes through our garden. The area is fenced off for the safety of the kids. They come under the fence and feed in the area just below the bird feeders but they don't venture out to far so if I'm lucky they will expose their heads and shoulders. My wife loves the songbirds so she doesn't want to stop feeding them.

 

I would say that from the position that I'm shooting from to the area in question is about 10 yards and the furthest distance that I can safely place a target to zero is about 16 yards.

 

I am only shooting in the day at the moment as I setup my rifle and rifle rest in the kitchen aiming through the open door (I initially did this to try and create a bigger distance from my gun and the rats as I thought this would allow for more accurate targeting through the scope. At the moment I would not be able to do the same at night as I'm sure you know, it's pretty cold.

 

Since posting the original question I have managed to shoot five of them (in descending size order as well, not sure if that's the norm?) There only seems to be one left but as you said it has quickly become educated. I can get it to appear by spreading some chocolate and peanut butter mix on a hop up which is under the bird feeders. However the minute the kitchen door is opened it lies low and will not appear until the kitchen door is closed again.

 

Thought about what you said Acuspell, so changed my routine and decided to stake out late afternoon/early evening as normally I'm done by 1630 and sure enough the little fella was soon out having a sniff so managed to despatch so touchwood that's all of them (for now).

Well done! You thought that one out for yourself. zeroing is only a matter of regulating the sight picture to the point of impact - it is easier at slightly longer range, but if you split he difference and called it 13 yards - you would be close enough from 10 - 16.

[hunter100t 56]

Be sure they are rats and not water voles jt, dodgy ground if they are voles. still an infestation with either, but one could carry repercussions if discovered. .

 

atb phil