I Think I'm Ready for the Thieving Ba$tards

[wildcat junkie]

Damned starlings and grackles are raiding the mealworms and suet cakes in our backyard birdfeeders.

I finally got my Leupold VX Freedom 3-9×33 EFR scope mounted and zeroed for pesting duty. With the regulator set at 2600psi I'm getting 1040fps with the Crosman Premier HPs and 800fps with FX Hybrid Slugs.

The distance is 19yds for the closet, 21yds for the farthest.

 

I'm all set up on the back porch picnic bench.

 

Here is 19yds with 5 of the Crosman pellets. 14.3gr at 1040fps

 

5 shots at 21Yds with the same pellets.

 

Finally, 5 of the Crosman premiers and 5 of the FX Hybrid slugs, same POA. Basically the same POI for both projectiles. The FX Hybrid slugs are 22gr at 800fps.

 

 

[Grouse]

A nice .22 cal air rifle you have there.  Great accuracy and plenty of energy to hunt with.  Love those FX hollow points.

[Jeremy K]

So the bird feeder is just for bait? I'm confused .

[WNYTRPR]

Starlings get smart once you start trying to shoot them lol.

[ny hunter]

That gun looks very accurate good luck

[grampy]

Pretty cool set up! And dead nuts on too! Once you take a few out the others will get the message, and not come around as much.

I keep an owl decoy out in the yard. If I move it around every few days, it helps keep the pests away. But nowhere near as fun as what you have set up!

[wildcat junkie]

40 minutes ago, Jeremy K said:

So the bird feeder is just for bait? I'm confused .

No the bird feeder has attracted Downy Woodpeckers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Cardinals, Dark Eyed Juncos, Common Redpolls, Purple Finches, Gold Finches, White Throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Robins, Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, etc. All of those are welcome, but about a week ago the Starlings and Grackles discovered the dried mealworms and suet cakes. They empty the feeders in a matter of a few days and bully the other birds away.

[wildcat junkie]

43 minutes ago, WNYTRPR said:

Starlings get smart once you start trying to shoot them lol.

 

38 minutes ago, grampy said:

Pretty cool set up! And dead nuts on too! Once you take a few out the others will get the message, and not come around as much.

I keep an owl decoy out in the yard. If I move it around every few days, it helps keep the pests away. But nowhere near as fun as what you have set up!

As long as they stay away, I'm happy.

[wildcat junkie]

1 hour ago, Grouse said:

A nice .22 cal air rifle you have there.  Great accuracy and plenty of energy to hunt with.  Love those FX hollow points.

 

42 minutes ago, ny hunter said:

That gun looks very accurate good luck

Only thing I am waiting on are the 2 CARM magazine that are enroute from Croatia.

As is so far;

1. Wood stocked Air Venturi Avenger
2. Leupold 3-9×33 EFR scope with standard fine duplex. (I like things simple)
3. Burris Rimfire/air rifle tactical signature rings.
4. Burris Posi-align ring inserts (+.020" rear, – .020" front  36 MOA offset)
5. Tourbon adjustable comb riser with slip-on neoprene cover, 1/2" riser block insert
6. TKO .22 Stage V 1" moderator
7. Browning "Barbed Wire" sling on quick detach sling swivels.

Support accessories;

1. Yong Heng 4500psi compressor
2. 60 min SCBA tank
3.  Air Venturi Air Tank Carrier With Tank Stand & Protective Netting
4. 8mm dual male foster coupling
5.  Fafeims CGA347 Paintball Fill Station PCP SCBA Charging Connector Adapter

All told, I blew at least $1400 but the rifle likes the readily available Crosman Premiere HP so I can shoot all day with little cash outlay.

I will probably remove the front Picatinny mount bas I do not foresee mounting a bipod. That will require making the fore-end into a semi Schnabel like an O/U shotgun. Also do an adjustable comb to eliminate the foam cheek riser. That, of course, will require a complete refinish of the wood stock. Time to make the blonde look more like an auburn redhead.

Edited May 8, 2021 by wildcat junkie

[wildcat junkie]

56 minutes ago, WNYTRPR said:

Starlings get smart once you start trying to shoot them lol.

 

51 minutes ago, grampy said:

Pretty cool set up! And dead nuts on too! Once you take a few out the others will get the message, and not come around as much.

 

I've already moved my "sniper's hide". My woman has left for the Morning. LOL

[WNYTRPR]

Keep us updated 

[wildcat junkie]

Just now, WNYTRPR said:

Keep us updated 

So far 4 Starlings and 1 Grackle. 1 Starling is still on the ground (no picture) as I don't want to disturb things just yet.

[wildcat junkie]

There are a few Gray Squirrels too but we have been able to baffle them so far. The only things that bother are sunflower seed and peanut butter suet.

We put a squirrel baffle on the sunflower seed feeder post and we quit buy peanut butter suet. They only clean up the sunflower seeds that the birds drop.

I found a grove of shagbark hickory trees in the woods behind the house and there are lots of oaks. I know there are some black walnuts around too. Come September I'll slip back there and decimate the gray squirrel population in a "sporting manner". Haven't had fried squirrel since I moved away from Southern Indiana.

Edited May 8, 2021 by wildcat junkie

[Lucky118]

Not legal unless destroying crops. Might want to delete post lol. Yes i looked it up.

[wildcat junkie]

2 minutes ago, Lucky118 said:

Not legal unless destroying crops. Might want to delete post lol. Yes i looked it up.

Protected Wildlife

In New York State, nearly all species of wildlife are protected. ... The few unprotected species include porcupine, red squirrel, woodchuck, English sparrow, starling, rock pigeon, and monk parakeet. Unprotected species may be taken at any time without limit.

[Lucky118]

51 minutes ago, wildcat junkie said:

Protected Wildlife

In New York State, nearly all species of wildlife are protected. ... The few unprotected species include porcupine, red squirrel, woodchuck, English sparrow, starling, rock pigeon, and monk parakeet. Unprotected species may be taken at any time without limit.

Starling yes. Its invasive.  Grackle are not. And cannot  be taken unless destroying crops. Just sayin.

[Lucky118]

And only from june to oct

[wolc123]

This starling took one too many craps on my pickup truck.  I dont get so fancy with my weaponry.   A copper bb and a $ 30 China-made Daisy Red Ryder brought it down and I still got both eyes.

Edited May 8, 2021 by wolc123

[Gobbler Chaser]

Air rifles have come a long way. I'm fascinated by them. Very cool

[wildcat junkie]

1 hour ago, Gobbler Chaser said:

Air rifles have come a long way. I'm fascinated by them. Very cool

The PCP (Pre Charged Pneumatic) guns have evolved to where many features that were only to be found on 5 $ figure guns are now available for $300-$450.

 

Once the significant cash outlay for the support equipment is made, it cost less than 2 cents a shot, less than the cost of a CF primer.

[wildcat junkie]

6 hours ago, WNYTRPR said:

Keep us updated 

Total score since yesterday evening, 5 starlings and 2 of those unidentifiable birds we won't mention.

[The_Real_TCIII]

Total score since yesterday evening, 5 starlings and 2 of those unidentifiable birds we won't mention.

Piping plovers?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[luberhill]

I had a rogue woodpecker once that was pecking a hole right thru the plywood side on my box blind.

I tried everything , hung suet , etc

Everytime I fixed the hole he’d do it again.

Finally screwed a mouse trap to the side of the blind and superglued sunflower seeds on the trigger .

Next day score !!

[wildcat junkie]

1 hour ago, The_Real_TCIII said:

Piping plovers?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

ahemgrackles

[wolc123]

9 hours ago, Lucky118 said:

Not legal unless destroying crops. Might want to delete post lol. Yes i looked it up.

What about the piles of dead birds (including bald eagles) under wind turbines ?   How is that legal ?