Hunting Hide or stalk for greys ?

[Dr B]

I thought I'd just add a little more in terms of the merits of a pop-up hide. Across my shoots I have natural hides, hides that have been boosted with netting, and pop-ups. The problem with natural hides is one of scale - you simply cannot build them and then maintain them when you're covering say, north of 800 acres (and I am very north of that). If you tried it, you'd be spending 40% of your time building hides and not shooting greys. So once one gets on some serious projects - pragmatism (not romantic ideals of 'old school') kicks in. Pop-ups help in this regard. There is still a fieldcraft to using them and getting the most out of them as there is with any hide.

My advice is to avoid chair hides as they are cramped, unstable on uneven ground, and transfer your movement into the hide itself (useless for pest birds for example) - though I know many here use them and that's cool. I prefer a basic tent style hide - more room, no movement is conveyed into the hide, and they are very stable. Just my 10-cents worth.

Bring decent paracord if you want to set it up semi-permanently.



Paracording - essential for fieldwork.

Pop-ups.

I also like loose-leaf netting. I will still try and set these up semi-permanent if possible. Add paracord to the poles to keep them in place during high winds - make sure, as much as you can, other wildlife cannot get entangled in it (Deer, Hedgehogs, etc). Cracking approach on Greys and Rabbits (and against hedgerows for the pest birds).

 

[collierboy]

Any update on the Forestry England response to the refuting their allegations? I suspect their stance on airgun control is just a political ploy to not have to deal with the situation. To be seen to condone airguns as a legitimate method flies in the face of all the political/media hype around air rifle uses. BASC are slowly coming round as they realise their is a huge commercial resource to tap into with airgun ownership! Money talks.

There was a similar response to the tails bounty from 1953 to 57. One and a half million bounties paid. at least one million squirrels killed out of an estimated population at the time of nearly two million. They stopped the bounty in 57 citing it as a failure. How can reducing an invasive species by 50% be classed as a failure ? Maybe it's time to bring back the bounty.

 

[Dr B]

There was a similar response to the tails bounty from 1953 to 57. One and a half million bounties paid. at least one million squirrels killed out of an estimated population at the time of nearly two million. They stopped the bounty in 57 citing it as a failure. How can reducing an invasive species by 50% be classed as a failure ? Maybe it's time to bring back the bounty.

I didnt know that - but was that also the time they were culling reds as well? Reds were once culled as well. Nearly wiped out in Scotland.

 

[collierboy]

I didnt know that - but was that also the time they were culling reds as well? Reds were once culled as well. Nearly wiped out in Scotland.

Apparently 1903 to 46, the mind boggles.

 

[Accuspell]

Good question Simon. The answer is both yes and no. So, in doing the report for the ESI I asked them to put their weight behind the report and ensure it was distributed to all UK Forestry organisations - this they duly did. So far no formal reply - but there wouldn't be would there? I mean, I've basically argued that their position is factually and logically flawed and likely reflects (as you've noted) a political anti-shooting or anti-air rifle position. However, this position is untenable and I think this is being acknowledged behind the scenes.

I think the tide is turning in our favour - but there is an important issue to address at some point. Now, I have to be careful what I say in a public forum - but put simply I personally know more than one senior forestry manager who would love to have airgunners on shoots, and they have the remit to make it happen (with some small hoops to jump through). The problem for them is the ridiculous BS of certain squirrel groups that have highly undesirable members with corrosive attitudes. The forestry peeps want nothing to do with them. So some groups, ironically, are making it worse.

In contrast, I'm a lone gun. The Forestry groups seem to like that and that I dont get involved in the BS. I know one or two others that also dodge the BS, and they get acknowledged as well. Let's see how it pans out - but broader success might happen with a culling of corrosive members from some squirrel groups. Sadly, politics gets involved. It's time to clean house. But the squirrel groups, on the whole, don't like the existence of lone guns, or being told anything by them. They can be so deluded that they think they own squirrel shooting. They do not, and never have.

I think I know who you mean, his surname might begin with an A.....

 

[Accuspell]

Since I started using a thermal spotter i tend to get more stalking. But, I tend to have 2 feeders on the go and shoot from a hide if it's forecast for a couple of days of storms.

How do you get on over the feeders in inclemant weather? I have never been able to get feeders to be that effective, but my feeder woods are a good drive away. I wish I could work a trail cam - I have 2 and can't get either of them to work. Technology and me are not a mix.

 

[Prof1974]

How do you get on over the feeders in inclemant weather? I have never been able to get feeders to be that effective, but my feeder woods are a good drive away. I wish I could work a trail cam - I have 2 and can't get either of them to work. Technology and me are not a mix.

I have access to a little woodland where I have pigeon decoys and feeders out. I also have targets out to about 40m from my hide. I just get stuck in there and hope for the best if the weather isn't playing nice. It's more for wind than rain to he honest. But I have decent success.

 

[Dr B]

I think I know who you mean, his surname might begin with an A.....

Not quite - but it does not surprise me there is more than one!!! I do know of one with an 'A' surname - not quite the worst, but certainly up there with them!!!!! They all need to go for the broader project to work in the long term

 

[Accuspell]

I have access to a little woodland where I have pigeon decoys and feeders out. I also have targets out to about 40m from my hide. I just get stuck in there and hope for the best if the weather isn't playing nice. It's more for wind than rain to he honest. But I have decent success.

Thank you. It might be worth the drive in a few days when this storm has been through. Hopefully the feeder tree will still be standing!

 

[Accuspell]

Not quite - but it does not surprise me there is more than one!!! I do know of one with an 'A' surname - not quite the worst, but certainly up there with them!!!!! They all need to go for the broader project to work in the long term

The problem is they are not very diplomatic and love to say how they have stirred up the hugger groups.... just being macho.

 

[collierboy]

They all need to go for the broader project to work in the long term

Nothing seems to be done anymore with the long term future in mind, especially government departments and anything involving shareholders. Water companies are a prime example , using a loophole created for them in parliament that allowed them to dump billions of tons of raw sewage directly into our rivers. I know there are fines but if it cost £100 to treat a ton or £1 to just open the sluice..... Do it in the dark and you just might save the fine too. Quids in, every shareholder's a winner.

 

[Whispering Walter]

Today was my seventh and last visit to a perm I've been stalking since 1st November. To expand a little on the use of a thermal imager I took a few photos.
As I walked round the wooded boundaries of the Hall I check out as far as I can see in front of me approximately every 10 to 15 seconds.
The following images are a selection of the squirrels I see at distance using white =hot setting and starting at dawn.

Some of these squirrels have seen me walking slowly and some have yet to see me. I don't worry if they 'disappear' as I'm confident I will catch up with them.

The following images show the final and seventh shot of the morning and on my final scan with the imager.
A grey was tucked away in a rot hole about 15m up in a veteran Horse Chestnut. At 34m I could only see his left eye and ear through my Sidewinder set on x8 as he watched me. The .177 Match pellet hit him just above his left eye passing through the cranium and exiting near his right ear. Thump - number seven onto the ground. The last and 44th squirrel for 2024 at this location. This is my version of stalking using a thermal imager. Only one of the seven was spotted digging holes in a lawn and shot by sight; the other six were found with the thermal and I wouldn't have seen those squirrels without it.

 

[Bighit]

I remember shooting them in the 1990s . 2 mates and myself and we used the method to trick them . One stays and the others move and the squirrel tries to put the tree between it and the shooters . If we went alone when would put something out to distract them , Often it was a jacket . It would then be in your line of fire. Did not work all the time .

Hardly seen any greys up here since I moved here in 2004 . Asked my landowner if he had seen any and he can't remember the last time and he has been there most of his life and he is in his 80s.

I see scrapes in the ground when in the woods and some have nuts ( mostly beech nuts ) in them for a while ago but never see any squirrels , It may be something else digging them up for all I know.

Won't be truly accurate as many will not know the greys are non native but this is what its like in Scotland for grey's that have been reported

Reds and Greys.

 

[Whispering Walter]

The problem for them is the ridiculous BS of certain squirrel groups that have highly undesirable members with corrosive attitudes. The forestry peeps want nothing to do with them. So some groups, ironically, are making it worse.

In contrast, I'm a lone gun. The Forestry groups seem to like that and that I dont get involved in the BS. I know one or two others that also dodge the BS, and they get acknowledged as well. Let's see how it pans out - but broader success might happen with a culling of corrosive members from some squirrel groups. Sadly, politics gets involved. It's time to clean house. But the squirrel groups, on the whole, don't like the existence of lone guns, or being told anything by them. They can be so deluded that they think they own squirrel shooting. They do not, and never have.

Precisely.

 

[Deleted Member 170325]

I have makeshift shooting hides at feeders on my permission. Though if the opportunity arises en-route then I'll take it if conditions allow. I find the hides more efficient as the target zone and distances are all established and there is a secure back-stop. These are steel though so they scare any others away for 15-20 mins.

Try putting a piece of board against the steel backstop to quieten the impact

 

[Accuspell]

Try putting a piece of board against the steel backstop to quieten the impact

Old carpet works too.