Shooting

 

Squirrel Feeder

Recently there has been an increase in squirrel control groups using air rifles to shoot squirrels on feeders positioned in woodlands and one scheme is being organised by BASC and ESI. This method of control has been very succesful in reducing local populations but needs to be continued to stop re-population.

Drey Poking

Shooting of grey squirrels can be a very effective method of control, especially in early spring when young shoots are showing in trees. On a sunny day grey squirrels will work in the outmost branches of a tree chewing the new shoots and can present an easy target.

Drey poking squirrels and shooting them with shotguns is an option during the winter months, squirrels can also be shot with a rifle or air rifle.

Thermal

“Our FLIR Scout cameras are a fantastic help in tracking grey squirrels,” explained Jerry Moss, one of three rangers with the Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group, whose work is focussed in the Whinfell Forest in Cumbria; he is also a trustee of the charity. “We can see the animals from a distance and can therefore shoot them with an air gun swiftly and cleanly.”

We have used thermal spotters and rifle scopes ourselves to aid in control and gives you a real advantage.