| James_the_cripple |
| (member) |
| 11/01/2008 13:56 |
Squirrels
|
Has anyone tried using a squirrel call? I'm thinking of buying one but wondered how good they were. My film case of pellets and rice doesn't seem to work anymore, so a new call is needed torid these parts of the grey menace.
| sandersj89 |
| (stranger) |
| 11/01/2008 14:45 |
Re: Squirrels
|
I have heard good things of the primos call but never tried it.
I am looking forward to some drey poking once we have finsihed with the pheasants.....
| CptCarling |
| (member) |
| 13/01/2008 11:32 |
|
Re: Squirrels
|
Lucky of us, we don't have any grey tree rats here, only reds.
Greys taste nice though!
| James_the_cripple |
| (member) |
| 13/01/2008 17:18 |
|
Re: Squirrels
|
I've killed 23 on a small acreage alone this year. Cant drey poke as I'm only meant to shoot with modded rifles as there are alot of horses about. Still I've got acess to a high seat overlooking 2 feeders within rimfire range and thought a call might up the anti a little now that I can see through the trees. I'll be ordering the Primos this week and will let you know how I get on
| sandersj89 |
| (stranger) |
| 14/01/2008 10:12 |
|
Re: Squirrels
|
If it works let me know. Some one else I was speaking to got over 20 one day using it and swears by them!
| RobJones303 |
| (member) |
| 07/02/2008 13:13 |
|
|
Re: Squirrels
|
A Squirrel caller! Legendary!
I come from Merseyside where the red squirrels are heavily threatened by the greys - thus the public attitude towards greys is not a positive one.
I know that grey squirrels live in/around the farms we rough shoot over - I think I may invest in such a caller and sit out one evening over some bait.
I think some steel shot might do the trick....
Good hunting guys!
| James_the_cripple |
| (member) |
| 09/02/2008 21:08 |
|
Re: Squirrels
|
I've got it, tried it and by eck it works, if a little too well on one occassion.
For a start the caller can be used in three ways for chatter, alarm and mating calls. you ca shake it tap it and blow it, and to top it off you can call foxes with it.
I was out yesterday for its first real outing. I called in three with relative ease. One of them I couldn't get a safe shot, the second died, the third came in the wrong side of a hedge and appeared about 15feet away. Too close for a scope but close enough for a John Wayne off the hip line it up and hope. A good afternoon in all, four shots fired 2 squirels, 2 rabbits.
The build quality and the instructions are really pleasing, and as long as I dont ovr use it in one area I think it will work for a very long time.
Rob jones, Why steel shot? I use and air rifle or .22 rimmy for squirrels. Shotguns are too loud for this type of work, quietly does it. The only time it gets loud is drey poking or if I happen across a long range one when I have my .22-250. Slight over kill but 250yd squirrels make me smile like a schoolboy with a catapult.
As for the foxes, the call has a squeaker in it for maternal mothers etc to immitate young, you can either blow into it or close the end and use the bellows. It wouldn't be any good for long range calling but for drawing charlie into a close range it really does give the last death cry f a rabbit. Not too loud but enough to be heard.
In summary I love it and the squirrels are going to be alot thinner on the ground very soon.
BTW I purchased it from Bushwear.co.uk, ordered on the Monday, here Wednesday. Brilliant service.
| Edward |
| (stranger) |
| 19/02/2008 17:58 |
|
|
Re: Squirrels
|
Quote:
I've got it, tried it and by eck it works, if a little too well on one occassion.
For a start the caller can be used in three ways for chatter, alarm and mating calls. you ca shake it tap it and blow it, and to top it off you can call foxes with it.
I was out yesterday for its first real outing. I called in three with relative ease. One of them I couldn't get a safe shot, the second died, the third came in the wrong side of a hedge and appeared about 15feet away. Too close for a scope but close enough for a John Wayne off the hip line it up and hope. A good afternoon in all, four shots fired 2 squirels, 2 rabbits.
The build quality and the instructions are really pleasing, and as long as I dont ovr use it in one area I think it will work for a very long time.
Rob jones, Why steel shot? I use and air rifle or .22 rimmy for squirrels. Shotguns are too loud for this type of work, quietly does it. The only time it gets loud is drey poking or if I happen across a long range one when I have my .22-250. Slight over kill but 250yd squirrels make me smile like a schoolboy with a catapult.
As for the foxes, the call has a squeaker in it for maternal mothers etc to immitate young, you can either blow into it or close the end and use the bellows. It wouldn't be any good for long range calling but for drawing charlie into a close range it really does give the last death cry f a rabbit. Not too loud but enough to be heard.
In summary I love it and the squirrels are going to be alot thinner on the ground very soon.
BTW I purchased it from Bushwear.co.uk, ordered on the Monday, here Wednesday. Brilliant service.
What make is it???
It sounds good!!!
| James_the_cripple |
| (member) |
| 20/02/2008 13:28 |
|
Re: Squirrels
|
Edward,
Its a Primos call. Comes with a good instruction CD, although you do have to allow them the american accent.
Call's still doing its job very well, 2 in 20 minutes this morning both called to a feeder.
| timmyfishfinger13 |
| (member) |
| 20/02/2008 22:29 |
|
Re: Squirrels
|
james, i'm a bit concerned that you are shooting squirrels at 250yds. how in the heck are you seeing them let alone hitting them?????
I'm an airgunner and whilst i know my gun will shoot 45yds+ i restrict my shooting to 35yds to be sure of a clean kill everytime, the more distance the more chance of wounded game/vermin. Are you going to go looking for a 3 legged squirrel if you misjudge the distance? i dont think so. It's in everyones best interest to give even the vermin a humane death. I'd rethink my max distance if i were you, but thats just my view.
| sandersj89 |
| (stranger) |
| 21/02/2008 12:46 |
|
Re: Squirrels
|
The 22.250 is a very capable round and a 250 yard shot is well within it's capabilities if he person pulling the trigger is up to it.
Decent glass on top and it is a doable shot.
I have taken them at 150 yards with an HMR.
Jerry
| RobJones303 |
| (member) |
| 26/02/2008 18:15 |
|
|
|
Re: Squirrels
|
Sorry - steel shot because we can't use lead due to the fact there there is wetland in a very close vicinity.
| subaru |
| (member) |
| 27/02/2008 17:07 |
|
Re: Squirrels
|
Well this started well and then people started to talk a load of rubbish there seems to be some people talking a load of bull here and they don't know sod all about field craft. To use a 22.250 well what can i say.
Iam fed up of reading about I can do this and I can do that. Every web site is getting the same.
It is about time people that shoot started to get their act together.
Subaru.
| Alastair_Balmain |
| (stranger) |
| 28/02/2008 13:00 |
|
|
Re: Squirrels
|
Hi Subaru,
If you look through the posts, you will see that neither James or Jerry was being particularly boastful, I thought. James wrote that the .22-250 was in fact slight overkill and he uses his only when it's to hand, while Jerry noted that in the right hands the .22-250 is a useful calibre, capable of distance shots.
That is not really the same as claiming to shoot the ears off a squirrel at 500 yards.
Let's not allow this forum to degenerate into a slanging match over capabilities, ballistic recommendations and personal preferences.
It's meant to be a friendly site where people can come for advice and assistance. Please don't criticise others unless you'd be prepared to have the same conversation to their face.
Yours, Alastair.
| subaru |
| (member) |
| 28/02/2008 15:31 |
|
Re: Squirrels
|
I do not want to get into a slanging match on this site and if it seems that way I am sorry but we have to take care in what we do and say with regards shooting or any field sports come to that, you must agree with me on that!.
If I have something to say I will that's me and if some people don't like it I am sorry.
If I have said any thing that has offended any one I am sorry, may be I could have worded it better.
I should not have to say sorry all the time, should we not express our veiws on this web site?
Yours Subaru.
| James_the_cripple |
| (member) |
| 01/03/2008 16:39 |
|
Re: Squirrels
|
Quote:
Well this started well and then people started to talk a load of rubbish there seems to be some people talking a load of bull here and they don't know sod all about field craft. To use a 22.250 well what can i say.
Iam fed up of reading about I can do this and I can do that. Every web site is getting the same.
It is about time people that shoot started to get their act together.
Subaru.
The reason for the .22-250 was that it presented a nice safe opportunity, with an effective 35yd high backstop, shooting into nice soft earth. If I wasn't 100% sure I could make the shot I wouldn't have pulled the trigger. I practice at long range in case somethig presents itself that I cant get any closer to. When you bear in mind I can't walk very far, and due to being on crutches stalking is very difficult, no matter what the target is, I do sometimes have to take longer shots than I would like to. However if I can call something in close or manageto use natural cover to sneak in un-noticed then I do.
Since the first on January I have killed 32 squirrels, only one has required a second shot to finish it off. It was shot at 25yds or so with a 12b. Most have been rifle shot and all of those killed cleanly. The one squirrel that didn't die instantly is the first thing I've had to dispatch for a long long time. I probably let 55-60% of targets go for one reason or another be it safety, or the fact that for the time it would take to fire the shot I can't control my muscles well enough to hold a dead steady bead, be it at 100yds or 20 with the air rifle. I use more lead on paper and innanimate targets than I ever do at living things, to make sure I keep my muscle memory good and my gun well zeroed. Perhaps you should spend a bitmore time plinking then you would have the confidence of a long shot should it appear.
I dont brag or boast about long shots, I make many shots that people wouldn't try because I spend the time practising. If I feel there is a chance of wounding I wouldn't fire. If I thought that I could make the shot but the bullet wouldn't kill outright, I sit and watch whatever is before me and enjoy it for that.
Be carefull critisising peoples ability without having all of the facts or knowing the person, it's not the talk of long clean kills that get the antis going, it's other shotters questioning these shots and saying that thet are unsporting.
After all antis know very little about what we do or they wouldn't question it in the first place, silly comments challenging what has happened factually gives them information.
| James_the_cripple |
| (member) |
| 01/03/2008 16:58 |
|
Re: Squirrels
|
Are you going to go looking for a 3 legged squirrel if you misjudge the distance? i dont think so.
If I have to yes no matter what pain or time it takes. I'll search for hours for rats that other people have hit that haven't died, let alone if I hit one that doesn't die straight away.
At that sort of range if I judged it wrong I would miss either way, any form of hit from such a fast round that expands the way federals do, is going to remove so much body matter it would die instantly.
For the record I hit the squirrel in the chest. There was a small slither of skin holding it's back legs to what was left of the head, the rest of it was spread out behind it. Not a nice icture but that was the way it was. Very dead and in no way did it know I was there or there was a bullet coming. In my view that is a stress free way to die.
As for seeing them I use binoculars alot. With respect to your air -rifle I'm in the same boat as you. I can hit well to 50yds with it but shoot no more than 35yds. If I know the ranges are likely to be longer I use the rimmy. If it's not safe for a .22, I build a hide as close as I can and shoot from there.
I spend alot of time researching and practising. I know I can shoot well to 300yds, but I don't generally tend to. The furthest fox I've shot is around 200yds. The shot felt good, the bullet was about 3/4inch away from where I wanted it. If I hada deer legal gun would I take 200yd shots, no I wouldn't. Maybe after alot of training and researching into the effects of certain bullets on deer at various ranges, I may start practising out to that range, but it would be a long time before taking the shot at a living target. Plus the other side of it, I can't drag a deer, or carry one, and I certainly aint leaving the carcass where it drops. Hence why I don't shoot them. I may start shooting muntjac soon. but only when I've researched different bullets and know that I can call on someone to help me with the carcass.