Starlings

[dens228]

I'm lucky to have several neighbors that not only could care less about my airgun hobby but ask me to rid their yards of pests. Two with gardens, one with a lot of expensive floral landscaping, one who's truck was given giant wiring workover by squirrels. Today I had a neighbor knock on the door and ask me if I'd thin the starlings around his feeders. Being a helpful sort of guy I obliged. I was three for three before they decided to leave for awhile. Damn those things never sit still though.
Next time I go back I'll attach the Pard for some video.

 

[Dr. Kralenstein]

I hear ya. If I so much as walk out my back door, they scatter to the outer trees where I won't shoot since they're in the direction of houses.

 

[Struckat]

I have yet to get a shot around here. They spook at the slightest anything.

 

[dens228]

I have yet to get a shot around here. They spook at the slightest anything.

A farmer who's farm I used to deer hunt on told me to come on out and shoot starlings around his barns. He said the problem is I'll shoot two or three and they'll be gone for hours.....it's a 90 minute drive. A bit far for two or three starlings.

 

[L.Leon]

I'm lucky to have several neighbors that not only could care less about my airgun hobby but ask me to rid their yards of pests. Two with gardens, one with a lot of expensive floral landscaping, one who's truck was given giant wiring workover by squirrels. Today I had a neighbor knock on the door and ask me if I'd thin the starlings around his feeders. Being a helpful sort of guy I obliged. I was three for three before they decided to leave for awhile. Damn those things never sit still though.
Next time I go back I'll attach the Pard for some video.

Sweet situation with your understanding neighbors… good for you and them, the only ones disgruntled, are the pests.

 

[Firewalker]

Around here, the Starlings spook easily but I find that if I let them roost in the trees and take them at 100 yards, they will pop up but not leave the area. I got 4 of them this evening off hand, braced at 100y+, DRT!

 

[Firewalker]

Around here, the Starlings spook easily but I find that if I let them roost in the trees and take them at 100 yards, they will pop up but not leave the area. I got 4 of them this evening off hand, braced at 100y+, DRT!

I checked distances with a range finder and the distances were more like 60-80 yards.

 

[mtnGhost]

Around here, the Starlings spook easily but I find that if I let them roost in the trees and take them at 100 yards, they will pop up but not leave the area. I got 4 of them this evening off hand, braced at 100y+, DRT!

Yeah, this has been my experience as well. Using the starlings and English sparrows as targets for my wind holds / DOPE in the treeline between 100-130y.

 

[Chuck-in-Ohio]

I checked distances with a range finder and the distances were more like 60-80 yards.

ONLY 60 to 80 yards......

To some, probably considered a chip shot.
To the rest of us mere humans, good going man!

 

[Firewalker]

Guys, I'm not kidding, this gun makes kills an expectation rather than a wish!

I hit a Starling this morning at the top of a black willow, the twig was bouncing up and down, I timed it at the bottom of the bounce and let her fly.

The Starling looked right at me when the pellet dropped down on its crown.

Think of what a grape would look like with a pellet dropped on it.

Grizzly and disgusting but amazing at the same time. Off hand shot with my shoulder pressed against the boiler.

PRO TIP: A 16 oz bottle of day-glow orange paint is only a few bucks but allows you to see the pellet through the scope as it lands.

 

[dens228]

Well, two more starlings and four squirrels. My neighbor loves me........haha

 

[beerthief]

Guys, I'm not kidding, this gun makes kills an expectation rather than a wish!

I hit a Starling this morning at the top of a black willow, the twig was bouncing up and down, I timed it at the bottom of the bounce and let her fly.

The Starling looked right at me when the pellet dropped down on its crown.

Think of what a grape would look like with a pellet dropped on it.

Grizzly and disgusting but amazing at the same time. Off hand shot with my shoulder pressed against the boiler.

PRO TIP: A 16 oz bottle of day-glow orange paint is only a few bucks but allows you to see the pellet through the scope as it lands.

powder coating is easy but messy but very effective . Even coat and does not mess with trajectory or pellet balance .

 

[orangeokie]

Around here, the Starlings spook easily but I find that if I let them roost in the trees and take them at 100 yards, they will pop up but not leave the area. I got 4 of them this evening off hand, braced at 100y+, DRT!

Sounds like a fun and challenging way to hunt them.

 

[Firewalker]

powder coating is easy but messy but very effective . Even coat and does not mess with trajectory or pellet balance .

I've been powder coating for several years now but I have only seen decreased accuracy with slugs using PC.

I'm shooting NSA's out of the Mav.

 

[orangeokie]

Guys, I'm not kidding, this gun makes kills an expectation rather than a wish!

I hit a Starling this morning at the top of a black willow, the twig was bouncing up and down, I timed it at the bottom of the bounce and let her fly.

The Starling looked right at me when the pellet dropped down on its crown.

Think of what a grape would look like with a pellet dropped on it.

Grizzly and disgusting but amazing at the same time. Off hand shot with my shoulder pressed against the boiler.

PRO TIP: A 16 oz bottle of day-glow orange paint is only a few bucks but allows you to see the pellet through the scope as it lands.

I have found that copper covered lead pellets also show up well in the sunlight on the way to the target.

 

[Firewalker]

I bet they do but I don't shoot coated pellets or slugs.

 

[beerthief]

i shoot mostly targets 10 to 40 yards. when my club range opens this weekend ill try 50 and 100 , club had to close to raise the berms up higher . Seems a lot of people cant stay below the 8 foot ABOVE target stands berms . what is that about ????

 

[Contndr35BB]

i shoot mostly targets 10 to 40 yards. when my club range opens this weekend ill try 50 and 100 , club had to close to raise the berms up higher . Seems a lot of people cant stay below the 8 foot ABOVE target stands berms . what is that about ????

BT . sounds like the berm issue is the same here at the Game Commision Public range , The no good #$!%^&*! that HAVE to shoot rocks, cans ,shotshells ,etc etc. off the top of the berms . Even though not permitted. It's an unfortunate side effect of the AR /AK craze of the last few years . I've watched it happen , politely advised the shooters not to do so, many of which have never owned a firearm until the Semi was purchased ! I'm fortunate to have airgun & firearm shooting spots at my permission. AND , I'm not bashing AR/AK owners , I had one "assigned" to me for six years and was an automatic weapons trainer.

 

[Pfddi]

I was able to get 5 yesterday! I have a covered porch so I can hide so they don't see me. But I have to wait until they get on the power line/phone line so they fall in my yard! I work remotely so my shooting is during the day when no one else is home! I use a .177 Wolverine with a Huggett Sniper on it and the loudest noise is when it hits the birds! I immediately clean them up so no one sees anything. I also can sit out in front of my small shed and pick them off in 2 of my trees without being noticed. I find once I'm sitting, they will come in but if I'm standing they move off quicker than I can get a shot! It seems like once I clear out a few, even more return. I did shoot one in a large cottonwood that was in the neighbors front yard at 65 yards and went out and cleaned it up immediately!

 

[orangeokie]

I try to make sure everything falls in my yard as well. My neighbor told my wife "something was killing the birds." She has a German Short Hair who sniffs out any dead bird found in her yard and brings it to her. he he he Sometimes an injured starling will fly the 15 yards to her large shrub tree right on the other side of the fence, and eventually die and fall into her yard.