My neighbors to the right of me use to hate me shooting in my backyard until their old dog got jumped by 5 raccoons one morning at 5am. Now they text me whenever one is in their yard so I can go outside and shoot it, go figure.
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The duality of man
- Thread starter squirrelgator
- Start date
They chew up my chicken coops and get inside and drive my hens crazy. To the point they won't lay eggs sometimes. So if I see them back there I shoot them. I eat them or feed them to my snake.
Thing is I don't know why they go in there they don't go for the eggs and the food is outside of the coops. Think they're just being little A holes lol.
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I have one neighbor that gets uppity about my shooting but that's because last grackle season a few flew over the fence before dying. Her young kids were playing with the dead birds!
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I am only shooting animals for food or to stop them damaging my property. Everything gets a pass in general. Except chipmunks, mice and rats. I pay attention to the squirrels and rabbits mostly because they are the first things I'll be eating if stuff gets tough, but they are safe until that time. I have a hard time killing things that just show up in my yard, minding their own business, even if they are pests. Those critters gotta go all out to survive, all day every day. I can't help but think of that when the thought crosses my mind to eliminate something. A younger me may not have cared as much, but older me does.
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Actually we have bird/squirrel feeders out and a large feeder hanging on in a large crepe myrtle near our dining room window. We place dog food and sometimes better protein type table scraps in it for raccoons and possums. My wife loves seeing them.
We have been doing this quite a few years and have never had any of the wild life cause any damage, other than occasionally knocking the lid off an old metal trash can where we store bird seed so they can get to more.
We have been doing this quite a few years and have never had any of the wild life cause any damage, other than occasionally knocking the lid off an old metal trash can where we store bird seed so they can get to more.
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Had a problem raccoon that kept tearing up my trash and dragging chicken bones into the yard. Was also pulling on the mesh of my chicken pen, I keep them penned up at night.
Anyhow, he caught a 22 hades between the eyes and haven't had a problem since. Seen one of his buddies a few nights later and missed him but not even a coon track since then. Problem solved.
I have a like/dislike relationship with them. Theyre a cool critter, but when they destroy my stuff or attack my dog like they did before, it's game on in my yard.
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There are 3 critters that have earned my disdain because of extensive damage to my home and property. Listed in order of financial impact.
1. Chipmunks
2. Squirrels
3. Armadillos
1. Chipmunks
2. Squirrels
3. Armadillos
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WE only feed the birds in the winter. Seed amounts to about 80 pounds a season . Squirrels can empty a 4 pound feeder in a few hours so ...............................
And the squirrel feeds the Fox's .
And the squirrel feeds the Fox's .
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I shoot the squirrels that get on my house and shop. Other than that I like to watch them. I was a hardcore hunter with my daisy red rider when I was a child but the older I get the more I think about those things. Squirrels do get upset when their relative dies. I've seen them many times try to get another squirrel up that's been killed by a car. Crows seem to have a strong reaction when a member of their mob is killed also. I don't look to sway others, to each his own. When I need to get the job done there is no hesitation.
I learned many years ago that if you startle a squirrel it will run for safety but if you immediately start talking to it it will stay very close as long as you keep talking and don't make sudden moves.
I learned many years ago that if you startle a squirrel it will run for safety but if you immediately start talking to it it will stay very close as long as you keep talking and don't make sudden moves.
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I have had squirrels come down from a tree after I shot their buddy or mate, and they try to help them. It's sad really, but I shoot that one too. Into the pan you go!
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English sparrows, grackles, starlings, chipmunks and red squirrels are all kill on sight. I leave the black, grey and fox squirrels alone.
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Real structural damage and attacking my dog will earn an absolute eliminate with extreme prejudice.
Still I’m ending an earthlings life. I won’t do it just to do it ….
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Live and let live until,what every1 else has said already.lol. 1 day I was walking up to the edge of my properties fence line to hang a can or solar light maybe. Anyhoo, I saw this grey squirrel just laid out on a branch of the tree I was approaching about 15 feet away. Soaking up a beautiful day. Keeping his 1 eye on me and hoping I figured that I don't come any closer. I tried not to disturb the critter. I was thinking, I'd be doing the same thing if and when I could. But when it comes to starlings? IT'S ON !!!
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I admit. I like to shoot critters to eat as well as pesting them. My family have several farms. I grew up shooting the woodchucks eating beans and digging in the barns. Squirrels getting into the corn- cribs and the corn fields. Coons in the barn or attics. Crows plucking freshly planted corn seeds. Pigeons and rats craping in the barns. The list goes on. But at the same time I make brush piles for the rabbits. Food plots for the deer and plant fruit and nut trees for other critters. And yes, I like to shoot them too.
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