GTA

General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Hunting Gate => : JimH June 06, 2010, 02:50:49 PM

: This bandit must die.
: JimH June 06, 2010, 02:50:49 PM

One of the reasons I bought my first proper air gun was to put an end to the nightly raiding of our backyard bird feeder which is mounted on the rear deck. I've had run ins with these bandits before - bouncing pellets off their heads with my old Daisy pump. But ever since I bought my Gamo Varmint Hunter in December I've yet to see any signs that the bandits were back. I thought maybe the coyotes got them all or that maybe the winter weather had them hold up in the woods.

Well that all ended Friday night. I know when the bandits are coming because I can hear them overhead climbing down the rain gutter. Usually around 1AM while I'm watching a movie they come. I hear the varmint and run downstairs for my Gamo and quickly swing the door open just in time to see him scurry back up onto the roof. Not enough time for a shot. Twenty minutes later I hear him up there again. This time I run out the front door and around to the back. My neighbors sensor light was still on from when I came before so I could see a perfect shot as he slowly crawled down the gutter pipe. He stopped and looked right at me. All I could see through the scope were his glowing eyes reflecting back to the Gamo's mounted flashlight. I squeezed the golden trigger. The twang of the springer broke the night's silence as the .177 pellet introduced itself to the bandit's skull. In a flash the critter was gone - in which direction I could not tell. An inspection of the area the next day revealed no sign of blood or the bandit. Well at least I put a good scare into him, if not a little lead.

Saturday night, around the same time - he's back (or one just like him). This time I flipped on my flood light which scared him off. I knew he would be back so I went for the Mrod .22 cal. and set it up in the bathroom upstairs. Had I remembered what I've read on this forum, I would have opened the window ahead of time and covered it with a towel. Because when he did come back the sound of the window opening overhead scared him off again and up into a tree in the yard. I waited 10 minutes for him to come down. I had a brief opportunity for a shot at him in the tree but the line of fire would have put my neighbor's house at risk. So I waited as the little bandit smartly crawled down the back side of the tree and scampered off into the woods.

This bandit must die.

(http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb54/RDJim/feeder.jpg)

Feeder in back yard through kitchen window.

(http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb54/RDJim/gutter.jpg)
Back of house with arrow showing where the bandits come down. They leave piles of crap the size of dogs on the roof.

(http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb54/RDJim/deathview.jpg)
A look up at the window from which death will rain down on the next bandit that raids my feeder.

(http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb54/RDJim/bathroom.jpg)
The bathroom lair all set for another night's vigil.

: RE: This bandit must die.
: shadow June 06, 2010, 02:59:51 PM

Good luck Jim and they can be some sneaky and tough critter's. We'll be looking for a night raider kill post from you. :) Ed

: Re: This bandit must die.
: adrian June 06, 2010, 03:06:07 PM

they are pretty smart but you will get him and i cant wait to see some pics.GOOD LUCK

: Re: This bandit must die.
: dk1677 June 06, 2010, 04:01:15 PM

Good hunting on the bandit!

: Re: This bandit must die.
: 1377x June 06, 2010, 06:45:01 PM

good luck
post pics when ready

: Re: This bandit must die.
: only1harry June 06, 2010, 08:43:34 PM

Wow, I am surprised they come from the roof.  It looks like you have a forest in your backyard.  I wonder if the raccoon lives in your attic.  That is not normal for a raccoon to appear on your roof every night and come down the gutter.  They can easily climb a fence or just walk around the house.  Have you heard any noises in the attic?  Many people have coons in the attic.  If you find a lot of their phecies on the roof, there is a good chance its home is your attic.  They don't sh*t where they live (inside your attic).  

I 'd be putting cat food out in the backyard.  They can't resist seafood flafored cat food and table scraps, but that could bring in unwanted skunks.  Food on the ground, especially cat food, is advantageous in that it makes the bandits (or possum, etc.) stop and spend some time in the same position giving you the opportunity to take your time and place the pellet in their brain.  I always recommend practicing with your gun at the distance and angle (like shooting downwards from an upstairs window) where you expect yourself to shoot from and where the critter might be, so there are no surprises when you squeeze that trigger.  The POI is usually different when shooting up or down and 5-10yds can also make a difference.  Shoot them between the eyes if you can, or between eye and ear.  Do not risk a shot from the back or if they are facing away from you.  

You are definitely on the right track.  Lure him in and then raise that towel and let him have it.  They are very aware when those flood lights come on, so either leave them on at night so they get used to them, or use exclusively a soft gun light.  They may look up at you when you shine the gun light (or when you hit that switch - they have amazing hearing) at them, so stay perfectly still until they look away and go back to eating.  I bet you have more than 1 raccoon that comes to help themselves to your bird feeder.  Have you considered buying a "ding donger"?  It makes it very easy to know when they are out there.  Good luck and don't forget to post the pics!

: Re: This bandit must die.
: Wade.S June 06, 2010, 08:54:08 PM

Looks like a good set-up. Good luck and post again when "it happens".

: Re: This bandit must die.
: JimH June 07, 2010, 11:28:22 AM

only1harry - 6/7/2010  4:43 AM  Wow, I am surprised they come from the roof.  It looks like you have a forest in your backyard.  I wonder if the raccoon lives in your attic.....  Have you considered buying a "ding donger"?  It makes it very easy to know when they are out there.  Good luck and don't forget to post the pics!

Thanks for the tips. That portion of the house has vaulted ceilings - no attic. There's a pine tree in the front corner where I think they climb up and over the roof, why I have no idea as there are no fences. The woods in the back are not that big and are surrounded by a circle of houses with a trail bisecting. Doubt they live their. The state wildlife management area is in the direction of the front of the house as is another larger wooded area which is where I believe they may live. But it still doesn't explain why they like the roof enough to crap all over it. I know there are more than one. My dog cornered two of them at once last winter. I bludgeoned one to death after the Daisy failed to do any good. The dang thing sat on top of the feeder snarling at me but wouldn't run. A blow with a heavy plastic snow shovel knocked him senseless and a wood-splitter finished the job (messy work). Since then I've had a live trap set up but only caught squirrels the next mornings - same squirrels over and over but no coons.

I'll definitely update this post with photos when they come.

BTW, what's a ding donger?

: Re: This bandit must die.
: 1377x June 07, 2010, 07:12:15 PM

i believe this is a ding donger
http://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-driveway-alert-system-93068.html?utm_source=prospects&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2210B

: Re: This bandit must die.
: JimH June 07, 2010, 07:46:09 PM

1377x - 6/8/2010  3:12 AM  i believe this is a ding donger http://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-driveway-alert-system-93068.html?utm_source=prospects&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2210B

Thanks for the link. Will these detect a coon, if so from how far away? I'm thinking of where to place it. Maybe on the house across from the feeder?

: Re: This bandit must die.
: 1377x June 08, 2010, 07:47:37 AM

i dont use them cant help with how it works
but from reading the posts in this section and looking at the pics i believe they put them near the kill zone

: RE: This bandit must die.
: airiscool June 08, 2010, 11:23:16 AM

Jim,

They work with infrared. You place it where the Bandit has to pass, or at the feeder.

There's quite a bit been writen about them if you search using "Ding Donger".
Here's one about a guy who got one off eBay.

 http://www.gatewaytoairguns.com/airguns/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=28551&posts=5&highlight=Ding Donger&highlightmode=1#M224690

Paul.