GTA

All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: ER00z on May 21, 2022, 01:05:52 AM

Title: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: ER00z on May 21, 2022, 01:05:52 AM
Earlier today the Cayden claimed it's first, a male HOSP at ~25 yards. I was out tending to a few odds and ends around the property when I noticed the pair of barn swallows were in a fuss, again. There was that HOSP trying to push the Swallows from their house, so I went into the house, loaded a mag of 18gr JSB's and went out to see how things were going to turn out. The hosp made the mistake of landing on top of the old antenna on the shed with a clear shot (including far, far behind) and I gave him a JSB pill at full power.

I believe this is the first time those Swallows weren't very happy with me, Lol. That pellet hit with a hard smack and spooked them, the gun is near silent thanks to Donnyfl but with 30+fpe at the muzzle, pellet strike is not. Hosp eradication is not my (only) intent for this gun, but it happend to be handy. No photos, as the cat was all too happy to collect a fresh meal...  :D

As for those who eliminate rodents (rats, mice, etc.) how long do you leave bait stations in place before you thin them out?

I just put out a baiting station but need a ding-donger and want to add a trail cam to see what kind of activity there is (beats camping out watching, Lol). Running a red flood light and an illuminated scope for now. I'd love to get a thermal scope, but probably not until next year or the year after (saving up my pennies now). I've got a ton of field mice and moles, which the cat helps thin out. He probably gets about ten to fifteen a week, but from neighboring properties also. I know there are rats "in the area", but not sure if I or the neighbours have any on the property/properties. It seems I've got about every other kind of critter though, but only targeting rodents (or Hosp's) at this time...
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: customcutter on May 21, 2022, 10:01:59 AM
I don't see any need to wait a few nights for the rats, mice, or voles to get used to the station.  I would take them as they show up, before another critter takes them for you.  Paul had a hawk take a rat before he was ready to shoot with AJP wat whacker! ;D
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: ER00z on May 24, 2022, 08:24:46 PM
Well, I seen my first rodent taker at the baiting station... And missed ::)

The past couple days all I've had were birds visiting the bait station. Last evening I put a tile down next to the log and put some (cracked) corn and bird seed just to see if anything was going to show. Nothing that I've seen, aside from various birds, Until about 6pm tonight. Either a very large mouse (I think) or possibly a very small rat showed up and I was instantly kicking myself for not putting down "sticky bait". The critter was sneaking behind the log, grabbing a nibble then hiding behind the log (then repeat). I grabbed my .177 Maximus, loaded a Win. H.P. and took a shot that went about 1/4" (...1/2"?)  above it's head into the target "leg" behind.

Mikey (the cat) heard the impact and wondered over to investigate, so between the miss and the cat, I'm not sure I'll be seeing Mr rodent any time soon this evening...

Here's a couple day photos of the station, one from the back room and a close up.
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: customcutter on May 24, 2022, 08:40:14 PM
Yes, definitely a learning process. ;D  I was using table scraps, and they would pick up a piece and wander off with it then come back a little later for another piece.  I finally put some hardware cloth over the bait.  I was baiting raccoons and opossums, not sure what I would try with rats/mice to slow them down.
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: ER00z on May 24, 2022, 09:04:57 PM
Yes, definitely a learning process. ;D  I was using table scraps, and they would pick up a piece and wander off with it then come back a little later for another piece.  I finally put some hardware cloth over the bait.  I was baiting raccoons and opossums, not sure what I would try with rats/mice to slow them down.

Lol, I have no idea what to use. I'll have to make a sticky bait/bait sauce up. But I do know I have a huge handicap vs the nearly 13 year old small game hunting cat.
I took my little one out to play, and Mikey brought a live present to us, another field mouse from the side yard. Well, it was alive...
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: only1harry on May 24, 2022, 10:07:48 PM
You 'll get him Zack.  Just put up a target next to the bait and practice, but I think it's hard to compete with a cat when it comes to taking out mice  :)
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: Blowpipe Sam on May 24, 2022, 10:19:19 PM
Interesting story.  I have a bait station for squirrels that is just a small metal box with a narrow slit cut in it that corn or peanuts can be pulled through by busy squirrel paws.  Might work on rats too.

For raccoon/possum bait I use a can of cheap cat food with four or five holes punched in it. Wire the can to a stake so they can’t run off with it.  If you got a cat it ain’t gonna work though.
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: customcutter on May 24, 2022, 11:07:07 PM
Yeah, the only thing I've thought of was using a whole ear of dried corn, or maybe hot gluing a Granola bar down onto a 2X4. ;D  Also I would elevate slightly so they can't hide in the grass.
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: ER00z on May 25, 2022, 10:45:35 AM
You 'll get him Zack.  Just put up a target next to the bait and practice, but I think it's hard to compete with a cat when it comes to taking out mice  :)

I put a smaller (1/4"?) shoot-n-c cover dot on the backer board and realised the gun was zero'd a little high for the distance. It was good enough for about everything bigger than a mouse though  ;D

Interesting story.  I have a bait station for squirrels that is just a small metal box with a narrow slit cut in it that corn or peanuts can be pulled through by busy squirrel paws.  Might work on rats too.

For raccoon/possum bait I use a can of cheap cat food with four or five holes punched in it. Wire the can to a stake so they can’t run off with it.  If you got a cat it ain’t gonna work though.

I make a similar bait station up, thanks for the idea. The cat usually keeps most of the bigger critters out of the yard. He never took kindly to possums, raccoons, g-hogs or similar sized critters, so rarely if ever see them. The funny thing is, he has a strong dislike for cats. Its closer to zero tolerance, so luckily strays and/or ferrals aren't of any issue.

Yeah, the only thing I've thought of was using a whole ear of dried corn, or maybe hot gluing a Granola bar down onto a 2X4. ;D  Also I would elevate slightly so they can't hide in the grass.

I've seen some feeders that use an ear of dried corn that could be easily made up, but I like your granola idea. I was thinking of putting down a large board or plywood for better visibility. I was going to pour a small pad initially, but the concrete I had was a few years old and set up. Before going and investing too much I figured it would be worth checking how much rodent traffic there is first. I've put traps out plus the cat gets a bunch, but every year it seems there's an endless supply of mice, so a bit of airgun 'mousing' seems like an option also. 
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: Blowpipe Sam on May 25, 2022, 09:06:46 PM
How about something like those suet cage feeders I always see at Tractor Supply?  They sell a whole kit for making them with suet and the cage.  You mix peanut butter, nuts, and dried fruit in and heat up the suet.  When it cools it’s like hard taffy.  Bet that would attract some rodents.
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: EdinGa on May 26, 2022, 12:39:05 AM
Did you miss high, or do you have a ninja rat?  :D  When I finally got my ninja chipper, it had a furrow across its neck with no hair. I guess i was really close in one of my previous shots.
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: ER00z on May 26, 2022, 01:11:18 AM
Did you miss high, or do you have a ninja rat?  :D  When I finally got my ninja chipper, it had a furrow across its neck with no hair. I guess i was really close in one of my previous shots.

I definitely missed high, Lol. But it might as well have been a ninja the way it got out of there.  ;D

How about something like those suet cage feeders I always see at Tractor Supply?  They sell a whole kit for making them with suet and the cage.  You mix peanut butter, nuts, and dried fruit in and heat up the suet.  When it cools it’s like hard taffy.  Bet that would attract some rodents.

That's not a bad idea. It's been quite a few years since I've made a suet feeder block... Or soap, Lol. Used to have lots of suet on hand years ago for various crafts.

-A bit off topic-
Mom had gotten into soap making after a school project I had decades ago, she had an old suet and lye soap recipe that was one of the best hand cleaner/degreasers I've ever encountered, but best kept away from one's tender bits, Lol... :o  ;D
But she spent 10-15 years coming up with all different soaps, including plain/unscented for sensitive folks, shaving soaps and many other kinds. It's been two decades or so since she got out of all of that. Just the mention of suet brought back a bunch of memories... But we did make those suet based feeder blocks also.
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: ranchibi on May 26, 2022, 01:24:07 AM
Zack, great shot and congratulations on your Caydens first blood! Leave the bait station in place as long as needed. I use a wireless doorbell cam..got mine off of ebay around 30 bucks, mines an XSHCam...sends push notifications and live feed to your phone. You can record as you shoot. Any wireless doorbell cam will suffice and most have infrared tech built in. I use rubber bands to secure it to any pole (I use my outdoor umbrella stansion).
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: ER00z on May 26, 2022, 02:36:24 AM
Zack, great shot and congratulations on your Caydens first blood! Leave the bait station in place as long as needed. I use a wireless doorbell cam..got mine off of ebay around 30 bucks, mines an XSHCam...sends push notifications and live feed to your phone. You can record as you shoot. Any wireless doorbell cam will suffice and most have infrared tech built in. I use rubber bands to secure it to any pole (I use my outdoor umbrella stansion).

Thanks!

I looked at many different cams, but was a bit overwhelmed with all the offerings. I just received a ding-donger and video (baby) monitor, which has night vision. It's kind of mid/low tech, but no blue tooth, wifi/internet or apps needed. Unfortunately it's not weather proof, nor does it have recording but I figure on nice days/evenings I can rig it up in conjunction with the DD and have a visual to go with the alarm. If it doesn't pan out, I can always use it in the house.

If it works well, but don't feel like tending to the pest in question, I could always play it a soothing lulliby or talk to it with a push of a button, LOL!!! Yup, the Misses is going to think I've really gone bonkers now. She's already questioning the red flood light I've set up next to the barn door lighting up that baiting area, for when I'm sitting on the deck on nice evenings.  ::)

If I find I'm getting a bunch of rodent traffic one of those doorbell cams would be nice to have, especially because of the record feature. I'm sure it's not overly complicated, just got overloaded with all the options. I remember someone mentioning an XYZ or XYZE unit at one point, but will definitely look into the XSHCam. Thank you for mentioning a specific brand. Another thought I had was for a thermal scope, but decent NV optics seem available at a lower cost. I'll be saving my pennies, and will see what I come up with in time. All this tech stuff is interesting, but a bit outside my boundaries if you know what I mean.
Title: Re: First blood for the Cayden and some rodent pesting questions
Post by: ranchibi on May 26, 2022, 11:56:19 AM
Zack, great shot and congratulations on your Caydens first blood! Leave the bait station in place as long as needed. I use a wireless doorbell cam..got mine off of ebay around 30 bucks, mines an XSHCam...sends push notifications and live feed to your phone. You can record as you shoot. Any wireless doorbell cam will suffice and most have infrared tech built in. I use rubber bands to secure it to any pole (I use my outdoor umbrella stansion).

Thanks!

I looked at many different cams, but was a bit overwhelmed with all the offerings. I just received a ding-donger and video (baby) monitor, which has night vision. It's kind of mid/low tech, but no blue tooth, wifi/internet or apps needed. Unfortunately it's not weather proof, nor does it have recording but I figure on nice days/evenings I can rig it up in conjunction with the DD and have a visual to go with the alarm. If it doesn't pan out, I can always use it in the house.

If it works well, but don't feel like tending to the pest in question, I could always play it a soothing lulliby or talk to it with a push of a button, LOL!!! Yup, the Misses is going to think I've really gone bonkers now. She's already questioning the red flood light I've set up next to the barn door lighting up that baiting area, for when I'm sitting on the deck on nice evenings.  ::)

If I find I'm getting a bunch of rodent traffic one of those doorbell cams would be nice to have, especially because of the record feature. I'm sure it's not overly complicated, just got overloaded with all the options. I remember someone mentioning an XYZ or XYZE unit at one point, but will definitely look into the XSHCam. Thank you for mentioning a specific brand. Another thought I had was for a thermal scope, but decent NV optics seem available at a lower cost. I'll be saving my pennies, and will see what I come up with in time. All this tech stuff is interesting, but a bit outside my boundaries if you know what I mean.

Zack, you're welcome! The set up for the doorbell cam is a no brainer! It also has an intercom feature...I've literally yelled at possums to no avail! LOL! As far as brands, they might all come from the same factory!