Would a decent air rifle kill a grey squirrel?

[Tyre Smoke]

I have a problem in my garden (very rural) in that the grey squirrels have found the bird table and associated food supply.

I was toying with the idea of an air rifle anyway, not for harming wildlife (except for the bloody squirrels) but for taking pot shots at tin cans, etc across the garden. But since the little grey f--kers have been making a nuisance of themselves, I thought I could take them out with a decent air rifle.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

I've put this in the lounge because there's always someone down the pub who knows about these things, right?

[SHutchinson]

I quite like grey squirrels. How about a squirrel proof bird feeder?

[NormalWisdom]

Yes, though sometimes you might need to "finish them off". Furry-tailed rats are a blight

[johnxjsc1985]

not unless you are a very very good shot chances are you will injure it and it will die a painful slow death.
I used mine to kill Rats and they often took two shots to finish them off.

[paulrockliffe]

A rifle at the legal limit (without a fire arms certificate) is capable of killing a squirrel with a shot to the head. A body shot would be possible too, but might be inconsistent, it's best not to maim them if you can avoid it.

[oilydan]

I bought a Hatsan AT 44 for exactly this purpose. Pesky vermin stealing food.

I had rabbits in the fruit cage, pigeons eating the pea shoots, pheasants stealing the chicken food and squirrels on the bird table.

After a good season of 'rapid onset lead poisoning' it all seems quite quiet and peaceful in the garden this year

With a decent scope, you can even use it for taking the slugs off the cabbages later in the year

I'm just applying for a FAC this year, a bit more power for the long range bunnies in the paddock that run as soon as they catch a whiff of you coming too close with the air rifle.

If you don't want to spend a fortune a good springer will do, but a PCP is great for low-effort, low noise pest control.

[Orchid1]

I'd be careful, squirrels are known for always getting revenge...

[Foliage]

NormalWisdom said:

Yes, though sometimes you might need to "finish them off". Furry-tailed rats are a blight

No, you shouldn't be shooting them unless you can guarantee a 100% clean humane kill.

I think you'd want a 12lb/ft .177 spring rifle, with a telescopic sight, but someone with more knowledge will be along soon, im sure.

But please make sure you get good before shooting at live targets.

[Tyre Smoke]

Foliage said:

NormalWisdom said:

Yes, though sometimes you might need to "finish them off". Furry-tailed rats are a blight

No, you shouldn't be shooting them unless you can guarantee a 100% clean humane kill.

I think you'd want a 12lb/ft .177 spring rifle, with a telescopic sight, but someone with more knowledge will be along soon, im sure.

That's fairly comprehensive!

[Rosscow]

Foliage said:

No, you shouldn't be shooting them unless you can guarantee a 100% clean humane kill.

I think you'd want a 12lb/ft .177 spring rifle, with a telescopic sight, but someone with more knowledge will be along soon, im sure.

But please make sure you get good before shooting at live targets.

I don't agree with this. Nothing is 100% guaranteed. How else would you recommend controlling them that is 100% humane?

[Don1]

As long as you can make the shot count, then yes, a springer air rifle will dispose of tree rats.

(Webley .22 springer here for short range, a FAC over-powered one for longer range).

[wilwak]

Pointed hunting pellets are essential. They are far more effective than round nosed pellets.

[CaptainSlow]

.177 for feather, .22 for fur

[Monkeylegend]

If you crept up behind them and hit them hard with the butt then yes it probably would kill them.

But don't they have as much right to a life as you do?

[norush]

Had the same problem; bought a squirrel dome, end of problem. Don't try shooting them with an air rifle or you could end up maiming them.

[DonkeyApple]

If it's just about stealing bird food then I'd be inclined to just buy a proven squirrel proof feeder. If you want to eradicate them as a pest then a squirrel trap and a bucket of water to drown them in is probably the most efficient means.

[coldsnap]

If it annoys you, why not just get rid of the bird table (the birds will do just fine) then you won't have to go killing anything!

[anonymous-user]

SHutchinson said:

How about a squirrel proof bird feeder?

Quite

The problem isn't that squirrels are eating the birds food, it's that you are attracting squirrels with food. It's a bit like saying I want to shoot sparrows because they're eating the food I leave out for the blue tits.

Have you just put up a bird feeder or something, it's quite easy to make it squirrel proof without shooting them constantly.

[anonymous-user]

Rosscow said:

Foliage said:

No, you shouldn't be shooting them unless you can guarantee a 100% clean humane kill.

I think you'd want a 12lb/ft .177 spring rifle, with a telescopic sight, but someone with more knowledge will be along soon, im sure.

But please make sure you get good before shooting at live targets.

I don't agree with this. Nothing is 100% guaranteed. How else would you recommend controlling them that is 100% humane?

Making the bird feeder squirrel proof? Not leaving food outside on a table?

[Buster73]

A single .22 pellet will take a rabbit out with one shot , a much smaller squirrel will not be a problem.