I think the first trigger that should be consider is a hunting license and then when is the squirrel hunting season. Some governments may consider shooting squirrels with pellet gun; hunting squirrels, whether you plan on eating it or not.

In a wider perspective, squirrels are something you have to learn to live with. If you shoot one, there will be another to take its place. Probably two or three as they fight over the dead squirrels territory.

So you say you want some of my squirrels? I have 20-30 and can easily spare some. You can have the ones in my attic first. Mind you, they are a unique couple. They have an Avenger-like ability to eat holes in my aluminum gutters.

The state fish and game publication says trapping and relocation is incorrect and cruel. I just thin them when they crowd. Usually about every 2-3 years depending on the winterkill.

I take it you have no opininion on a generically good trigger setting?

No comments on the settings.

As for the squirrels, I have sufficient squirrels in my yard and I have given up on trying to control their population many years ago. With all of the squirrels in the yard, we get quite a few visit from the Hawks. They are very good at controlling the squirrel populations. And anything they kill are legal kills.

Since we are overrun by gray squirrel here, the season is Mid Sept through March. 8 per day.

Back when I thought it was a good idea, I bought a lifetime hunting license. But now that you bring it up, I probably need to dig it out of the office. I know it is in there somewhere.

My grandmother uses to cook squirrels like chicken. Lightly breaded and fried. As I remember they were quite good. It has been years since I had squirrel.

PS: No you do not have to bother trying to send me one. ;-)

Grandma made me squirrel gravy and biscuits. Now I put them in the compost pile. My northeastern bride would have none of it, I am sure.

Tell her she does not know what is good.

Speaking of grandmothers, this one always had pie, cake, or cookies in the house; sometimes all three. One day I went over to her house and she was all excited because she had something she wanted me to try. She opened the refrigerator, and took out this small dish of grease with a dark gray spot in the middle. She wanted me to try the possum that Grandpa had shot. Loved the squirrel, loved the bake goods, but passed on the possum.

It was interesting in that she offered some bake goods to any one who came in the door, and then wonder why the neighbor kids were always coming over to see her.

There was a plaque on the kitchen wall at my Grandmothers', "Kissin' dont last, Cookin do!".

1. Nothing better than fresh Blood pudding and Head cheese to go along with the Pickled pigs feet ! Back in the day we use to butcher the pigs and cattle seasonally on the farm . Red squirrels use to damage attic wiring so we would cull. a few seasonally and fry them up on the Findlay woodstove in a cast iron pan with garlic , onions , hazelnuts and butter ...dam good !

Garlic, check

Onions, check..vidalia

Butter, check

Where in Bama do I get a hazelnut?

Plus, we have red clay not red squirrel. Those tiny things are diet food. Should I cut your recipe in half for the gray?

Fried squirrel, gravy and bisuits.....the memory almost brings tears to my eyes. Most places, if an animal is damaging your property, including gardens, you're allowed to "control" it. If you're in the city and start blasting that could be an issue. :-) My brother had an orchard, we have a lot of deer. He could legally shoot them 24/7 with spotlight, rifle, whatever. What we learned was shoot one, three move in, shoot three 7-8 move in. Disposing of them got to be a major problem, he no longer has the orchard.

IMHO, what we used to put on the table is no longer fashionable, we've removed all the natural predators, we don't harvest them, so we're now overrun with kritters.

Hazelnut North of the Mason Dixon line , Reds Greys , and Blacks in the Great White North Southerner. On Sundays Flying Squirrels , just to keep the art of pass shooting relevant !

Of the 5 recently deceased squirrel that came to my attention, 3 might have passed more easily If I was not pulling right, or possibly above target. It's a small thing as the world turns, but I smashed the right hand and forearm of a squirrel with a less than quarter sized shot. As he climbed I saw him shaking it in pain, and 2 shots later he was done. I removed 4 fingers and sent the pellet up his forearm. If it was me shaking my arm without a hand, well I would be in a war type scene or a murder type scene. So it's still a fair question, what trigger setting is most accurate, as I do want the most humane disposal of these rodents as is currently possible.

As in any dedicated target weapon trigger setting , softest pull is preferred . Actually controlled breathing is the key along with lowering you heart rate to ensure optimium repeatable accuracy .

So 8 squirrels in, and it appears this idea of an artillery hold is pretty much how things get done. I guess the air rifles jump forward as well as backward. I have not softened the trigger yet. Have some misses to show for it too.

Come on Man ! Eye of the Tiger !! lmao .

You killed eight squirrels. Have you reduced the number of squirrels in your yard?

In my attic. There are squirrels in the yard, though some are eyeballing the newly available real estate.

I finally gave in to the squirrels outside but reinforced our Home and Boat against them entering and damages. We feel a mouse got in a wall recently due to a 2-3 day odor by a recessed patio wall. This was an experience to smell the odor ever here 2-3 days (since 1973).

My poison is used outside only, in restrictive containers to mice vs squirrels and rats. I felt they were to control the smell and this was a first to not see or find the rodent. “What will help control an inside wall’s Smell if this occurs again?

After years of trapping Squirrels “They got too Smart” to trap with Pecans wired inside the trap. Plus, the transporting was excessive and illegal vs killing, that was
not me… My big effort was to add Hardware Cloth to vents (with screen
wire) to resist the rodents. Due to testing, I added two layers to resist insects and Squirrels. With an insect gauge of cloth (“much heavier than Screen Wire”) the squirrel had no problem cutting out of the trap when tested. I used two gauges of Hardware Cloth in 3 attic vents due to the test…

Thats a lot of work.

It has been worth it IMO!
If I had it to do over! I would add the Hardware Cloth on the exterior and add trim on it. I felt it would be noticeable outside of the louvers. I notice that added outside was not that noticeable. While showing one neighbor their neighbor beside them had added and trimmed.

My wakeup came when I noticed tunnels in my attic’s insulation and the largest bird’s nest I had ever seen. I never saw a bird or rodent but it was clear they were in there…

Attached is how my vents appeared when finished from the inside. It was work adding the cloth inside due to the low roof’s pitch. With my vertical siding and trim, I removed a 24” section below each vent. With a friend helping we probably had 2-3 hrs in adding the 2 layers of “Pre Cut Cloth” in the project. I prepped the entries and closed after we added the cloth…

A weakness we suffer is our love of trees. The trees reward our passion by giving us gifts of tree limbs. Usually sodden and spongy, but sometimes surprisingly hard. I literally opened a closet door once and was face to face with an entire branch. That was when a tree fell on the house. I like that house, it is well built. However, those tree strikes are what give the ratanimals egress points. This I have learned the hardestway. That seamless gutter gets hit and that critter must get an email about it. Soft wood from some cracked shingle and a little rain must be on ratbook.

I know the feeling! I just had our two front trees trimmed Friday on this small lot due to cleaning the street behind the Squirrels and potential danger from winter weather. I know some neighbors are not happy with the trimming. The trees were planted in 1973 and I had them cut back to the curb and off the drive due to the mess from the
Squirrels eating nuts from the Ball Cypress and acorns from the Live Oak.

We have not had damage to the house due to me trimming or having major trimming away from the house. My neighbor said she did not like the trim vs trees meeting in the street. The recycle trucks and delivery trucks really have a problem with these trees weekly. I guess there is an ordinance and the City has to come trim trees up to allow the trucks to pass (not to mention the mess and danger).

The lots are to small IMO when the treed cover the streets. I avoid some streets because the trees are not healthy (and can go at any time)… We had planned to live and work here until retirement and then head back to the woods. We feel stuck here now (at our ages) with all we have done and what’s needed in the woods I wonder if the Squirrels have opinions on this invasion or matters…LOL!

Ok this is the end of this thread as I asked about the sensitivity of a trigger and have had a delightful journey into other areas.