The Invasion!

[mrclark303]

Hi all,

Hope we're all doing OK and everyone is keeping safe...

I was washing the dishes under orders from Camp Commandant the other evening, when I noticed the box hedge in front of the window start to shake ... Curious I looked at little harder and two bloody great rats, (the healthiest, glossy coated, fattest rats you ever did see) climb to the top and start eating the new growth.

This was one foot in front of me and to add insult to injury, I knocked on the window and it just looked at me ... And carried on eating!

I could have opened the window, grabbed the little **** and used him as plate scrubber!

Well, the line in the sand has been drawn and it's time to take up arms and fight the good fight....

Slight issue, I've plenty of firearms, but it dawned on me I don't have a single piece able to send these unauthorised Box hedge re-modelers to Ratty heaven....

Well, I do, but they 'might' be a tad of an overkill and raise the the pulses of the local residents!

So I have an urgent operational requirement for an air rifle, difficult to buy on lockdown, as the gunships are all closed here.

Luckily, my Father in Law has a pre charged .22, moderated AirArms Rifle I can (rather begrudgingly) 'borrow', he assures me it's no louder than a cat fart when fired .... So, there it is, I'll post a picture of the results my big game trophy hunt.

At least it's shooting of some sort guys......

Information

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[usabaker]

Good Hunting! We will knight you Sir Rat-in-a-tor

[Surpmil]

Know any snake fanciers? Invite one over for tea?

[WarPig1976]

A few years ago I counted 30 tree rats "Grey squirrels" in my 30' by 100' backyard. I went Medieval on their fluffy tails with a Daisy 880. I'm not opposed to entering into hand to hand with a shovel. The opportunity just hasn't presented itself yet.

[22SqnRAE]

Mr Clark, that's bloody tremendous! Some happiness pills downrange is fantastic. Eliminating vermin is a bonus!

I've got a .177 break action air rifle. Bought it for dispensing the most hideous creatures that were given lungs - Cane Toads (Rhinella marina.) Toading is an obligation on all Queenslanders, as it was our stupid forebears that thought this vermin would eliminate cane beetle and save sugar cane crops. It was an ecological disaster beyond comprehension. So murdering toads is simply a given obligation to those with any sort of respect, decency and ecological concern. Plus its good therapy...

Am certainly looking forward to your 'Trophy Shots' of said rattus uninvitus.

Good hunting.

[rcathey]

Toading is an obligation on all Queenslanders....

I visited Australia during school as part of a "student ambassador" program. We were all around 13 or so and at one point we went to a grade school in Queensland and met with some younger kids. Maybe around 8 years of age.

One little girl described a "typical" weekend involving "toading." My fellow ambassadors and I listened on with not a little horror as she described the process which she accomplished with the help of a golf club.

Fun country...I need to get back down there some day!

[mrclark303]

Cheers guys, the nest has been flooded out, as a precursor and I am hoping to start thinning the heard tomorrow.

Finally do some shooting of sorts!

[shadycon]

Living on a sailboat in Ft. Lauderdale back in the 70's, I used to shoot the sewer rats that came out at dusk to raid the dumpsters with an old brake open pellet rifle. As they would poke their heads out of the drain pipes I would pop them in the head, in the water they would go, Fish food!

[usabaker]

Ft. Lauderdale back in the 70's, I used to shoot the sewer rats that came out at dusk to raid the dumpsters with an old brake open pellet rifle

HA! I use to use an old Benjamin pump to dispatch Warff Rats on pier 39 in San Francisco in the 70's and 80's when I was night fishing. Help pass the time between checking the bait on my line. Note I did not say catching fish.

[Ovidio]

Bravo Mr. Clark!
I have my beloved Diana air rifle always at the ready.
No rats until now and, sincerely, I hope they'll never show up. But in case...
Good hunting sir! And have fun.