[speckle-catcher]

with another hunting season right around the corner I thought I'd check in and let you know what I've been up to.

I have a pigeon problem in Crystal Beach. It seems they enjoy roosting on my house. I know, I know, get a plastic owl and put it out - it'll scare away the pigeons. Plastic owls run about $25 and 12ga. shells run about $4 a box. I figure I can have alot for fun with $25 worth of shells.

Last weekend Galveston County's finest disagreed with me. 2 shots and one pigeon later, 3 cops showed up. Seems that they consider this a residential area...almost landed my butt in the pokey. So, 1.5 hours and a stern lecture about gun safety (yeah, right like bird shot is gonna put out a window - unless I shoot at the window) I don't go to jail.

So this weekend I go pick up a new Daisy .22 pellet gun with scope at Academy. I know, a Gamu would have been better, but @1000fps, I think it overkill for plinking pigeons off the house. After sighting it in, I managed to plug 5 pigeons today.

You know how tough those bastages are? I hit one in the breast and knocked it to the ground. I picked it up like you would a dove and wrang his neck so I thought) and threw it in the trash can (that was on it's side). An hour later that dirty bird is sitting on the ground, under a bush by the can cooing, looking for help from his buddies. So I wrang his neck again. Same story - an hour or so later he's out of the can again. So I did it again, this time with more gusto. Guess what - he's sitting under the bush again cooing. So I took a shovel and lopped off his head. That took care of his nasty *****.

I think the pigeons got the message. This morning there were 2 dozen on the house. As of right now, there are none. They are either running scared or out looking for reinforcements.

wish me luck

 

[pelican]

Shawn,
Sounds like that sucker had more lives than a cockroach.

We used to have about 5-6 pidgeons hanging around (picking up left-over chicken feed at a neighbor's place). Then we made the mistake of putting out a bird feeder for the little wrens, etc. BIG mistake. Didn't take long for those 5-6 to bring every dang pidgeon in the county! Another neighbor said he counted 62 on the roof one afternoon waiting on dinner.

Needless to say, we ditched the feeder, but they still come back everyday. Maybe we need to invite the "great white pidgeon hunter" over for some brews and a little target practice!

:cheers:
Bob

 

[DISSipator]

Now you just need a crab trap. I bet those pidgeons would be good crab bait.

Happy Hunting

 

[JIM_D]

why not let those critters swim in your skillet?

they are a type of dove after all, and it takes a lot less of them to make a meal than do their tiny Mourning Dove cousins! and just as tasty!

Squab anyone?

 

[speckle-catcher]

they were certainly huge when compared to mouning doves, but them pigeons STINK! I swear I can't get the smell of them out of my nose.

I don't kow how they'd be as crab bait, cause the neighborhood feral cats, ***** and skunks didn't even touch them.

 

[roger1shot]

Pest

Hey,
I know where your comming from.But I live out in the country,so shooting a gun off around the house is not against the law.But my problem is with the fools who live 400 +yards away.My wife has alsorts of chickens,from Polish chickens to Egyptian chickens.
And they didn't take me at my word when I told they to keep there dogs away from the chickens,or I would shoot their dogs on my place.So for I've hated to do it, but I've shot maybe 4-5 dogs but who keeps count.But the dogs have eaten a few chickens also.Can't watch out for the chickens all the time.
Last dog I shot it had a chicken in it's mouth,when the dog hit the ground the chicken ran off.Thought the chicken would die but it lived and that was last year.

 

[speckle-catcher]

sunday's pigeons were wiser than saturday's for sure. I only got 1 on Sunday and it's not even a confirmed kill. It was able to fly a short distance and then run on the ground and it went and hid. I couldn't find it. I wanted to finish him off cause I don't like leaving anything to suffer (even pigeons).

 

[Neverenough]

Shawn,
Too funny man. I just do not understand why the cops would give you he** about shooting a 12 ga. at your beach house. You could use feed with posin on it and treat them like the flying rats they are. But then you run a risk of harming other birds, and shoot them is fun anyways. I have a friend in clear lake the shoots them off the power line from his dinning room window.

Josh

 

[Blue Water Ho]

Just a little advise, I had the same problem (but no at my house) some help in killing thoese winged rats (and sometimes increasing your shot to kill ratio) is to put a pellet in then follow with 4-5 BBs. That kinda creates a "bird shot" , It helped me out. Well thats my tip of the day................................................later,Dave

 

[speckle-catcher]

NE - yeah - I thought it was no big deal too - you shoulda seen the cajuns cheering me on back in July. There a story about it on the board somewhere. I don't wanna go with poisoned seed cause other birds might get into it and I don't want a poisoned bird to die up under the eave of my house or someone elses.

BWH - show me where to find .22 cal pellets and I'll try it.

 

[Neverenough]

Shawn, 22 cal pellets or BB's?

the pellets you can get at walmart or academy, i have a tin of them in my truck for shooting snakes when i go fishing at the river.

Josh

 

[Blue Water Ho]

Oh now I see the delima with that. I bought the Bejamin .177 cal. just for this purpose, also the speed on the .177 is faster than the .22. But you might be able to get thoese little balls they use in the wrist rocket sling shot thingys that will fit (I know they make some small ones).................................................later,Dave

 

[speckle-catcher]

Josh - I'm using a .22 cal pellet gun @ 625 fps.

I skipped the .177 cause them pigeons are so tough that I thought the extra penetration of the .22 would be better. You know a ike 9mm vs. a .45

I would have bought the GAMU .22 pellet gun but it was more than $200 and I got this one with a scope and a can of pellets for $85.

It would have cheaper to buy the stupid plastic owls.

 

[BertS]

It would have cheaper to buy the stupid plastic owls.

but not nearly as much fun........lol

 

[speckle-catcher]

well of course not.

 

[Bucksnort]

try www.birdbegone.com it won't be near as much fun...but I'm here to tell ya...the ultrasonic bird chaser works darn good.

 

[speckle-catcher]

how does it work outdoors, though?

It also is right off the beach, so it has to withstand the salt and exposure of being outdoors year round.

owl decoys are only $25 each - for $225 I can cover the neighborhood with decoys.

 

[CHunter]

I used to shoot birds with 22 shorts or 22 sub-sonics out of an old High Standard semi auto rifle, most of what you heard was bolt slap, especially in the wind. I could see where a paint ball gun would be a blast...LOL

 

[speckle-catcher]

did I fail to mention I was shooting them off the house while they are perched on it? If I miss, I hit a window. I am also shooting them off the ridgeline, so if I miss, that pellet comes down somewhere - that's why I chose the lower power pellet gun.

bird poop would be easier to clean up than paintballs. it sure sounds like fun though.

 

[CHunter]

Your not supposed to think about that stuff............LOL