Hunting Season Almost Over?
Here in my part of the country, hunting seasons are beginning to wind down, if they are not totally over with altogether. Deer season has come and gone, but rabbit and squirrel are near the end of their run as well. So do I put my air guns up for the season? Not hardly!
Just yesterday I was walking through my backyard after a successful squirrel hunt with a new airgun that I was testing out. I looked over to one of the bird boxes that I have set about the place and was thrilled to see a pair of bluebirds mulling over the possibility of making this box their new home for the upcoming season. I could tell that the female was all in a tizzy, as I'm sure most expectant mothers are! I could just hear her saying..."but dear, look how spacious it is? And I just love the entrance to the baby's room!"
One of the most active times as an avid air gun shooter is in the spring. The reason for this is that I take an active part in the promulgation and promotion of nesting sites for the native bird life in my yard. I get to watch the beautiful bluebirds, woodpeckers, and song sparrows work on their nests, raise their young, and go about the business of making my backyard a nice place to hang out. But I also am a jealous landlord, and have no mercy on intruders. This is where my air guns come into play. Just as the indigenous species are going about their business, there are interlopers who are bent on their destruction as they try and take over the nesting sites that I provide for my little friends. English sparrows and European starlings are the vagrants that I am referring to, and my air guns get plenty of practice keeping these vermin at bay.
If you have suitable sites for song sparrows and bluebirds, then you will have trouble with the English sparrow. He is of a size to directly compete with the desirable birds, and he is much more attack-minded, willing to kill and take over the nesting sites of our native song birds. I remove them with prejudice and spend a little time each morning in the spring and early summer making them feel very unwanted in my little corner of the world. And European starlings? I actively hunt them down and destroy them at every opportunity. They are a worthy adversary....smart, very alert, and a challenge to the airgunner seeking to remove them from his domain.
I use several kinds of air guns when dealing with these pests. The medium-to-light airguns such as the HW 30 and the QB-78 are excellent choices for dealing with these feathered targets. And when they learn to keep out of range, I'll break out the big guns and use the Beeman R-9, the Prairie Falcon, and the Webley Longbow. A very handy gun that allows me repeat shots on small groups of birds is the RWS 850, and excellent candidate for the pest removal progress.
One villain of the bird world many don't consider is the crow. Check your local laws since they are considered game birds in some areas, but keep an eye on them. They are active nest raiders, stealing young chicks from nests shortly after hatching. Crows are smart, one of the smartest birds in the world. They plan attacks, are opportunistic, and will take small pets such as new kittens and small puppies if they catch one wandering out in the yard without protection. They call in help, and a group of crows is called a "murder" for a reason!
So as the active season for the more common small game animals winds down, look for these new opportunities to use your air guns. You are doing a service to the environment by removing well-established pests, and your giving an advantage to our own indigenous wildlife. Your hunting skills will be kept sharp through the off season, and it is great fun as well. Happy shooting!
