Varmints are pests that can carry diseases and cause damage to property, farmlands, fields and more. Some of the most common types of varmint are prairie dogs, raccoons, muskrats, opossums, woodchucks, porcupines, nutrias and skunks. Over the years, many measures have been taken to try and control the varmint population such as trapping and poisoning. While both of these methods have been successful in reducing the number of certain varmint, many people prefer to hunt these creatures. Varmint hunting can be a fun and enjoyable sport and it also provides you with a good opportunity to sight in your rifle and perfect your shot before other hunting seasons open. No matter what type of varmint you plan to hunt, VarmintHuntingSource has all of the rifles and accessories you need to help nab these pesky little creatures.
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| Prairie dogs are one of the most common types of varmint and can be found throughout much of the western U.S in states such as Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado and North and South Dakota. Prairie dogs live in underground tunnel systems that can span over hundreds of acres. Prairie dogs are considered pests because they cause damage to farmlands and crops. They also are very susceptible to the bubonic plague, which they acquire from infected fleas. Prairie dog hunting is a popular sport that can be done either alone or with the help of a prairie dog hunting outfitter. |
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| Raccoons and skunks are another popular form of varmint that live in both urban and rural areas across the U.S. Over the years, the number of raccoons and skunks living in urban areas has greatly increased. Both skunks and raccoons spend much of their time hunting for food. In these urban areas it is not uncommon for raccoons and skunks to search through garbage cans, gardens, backyards, fruit trees and other such places in search for food. Many raccoons and skunks take up residence in open attic spaces, dens and open spaces in garage, which can result in costly damage to the homeowner. |
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| Muskrats and nutria, also known as coypu, are another member of the varmint family. Both muskrats and nutrias live in wetlands such as rivers, lakes, ponds and marshy areas. Nutria and muskrats live in burrows near these bodies of water and are considered pests because they damage irrigation ditches, dikes and levees. Many people choose to hunt muskrat and nutria in order to help fix these problems. Not only does muskrat hunting provide a fun experience, but many hunters like to eat muskrat meat, which is very similar to that of rabbit and duck. Another reason to hunt Nutria is that they are known for carrying a parasite, which is called the “nutria itch” and can infect human skin. |
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| Opossums and porcupines are another example of varmint. While most opossums live in brush piles, burrows and tree cavities, many take up residence under houses and porches and in attics and garages. Many hunters choose to hunt opossum on their property as opossums are a nuisance near homes as they search through garbage and bird feeders for food. Like the opossum, porcupines live in forests and some trees. While most porcupines eat wood such as bark, porcupines are also capable of eating fruits and vegetables, which can cause damage to gardens. Porcupines are also known for damaging to wooden handles, boat oars and other objects that can be found in houses and garages. |
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| The woodchuck or groundhog is another type of varmint that can be found across the U.S. Most woodchuck live in burrows along the edges of timbered areas that are bordered by open land or fence rows. Woodchucks are considered a varmint because they cause damage to farmlands and crops in many rural and urban areas. |
Most types of varmint can be hunted alone, but many varmint hunters prefer to employ the use of a hunting dog. A hunting dog is used to help sniff out the scent of the intended varmint and then flush them out of hiding. A good hunting dog will help to corner or tree the varmint so that the hunter can get off an easy shot. Using a good spotting light is also helpful when varmint hunting. Once the varmint is caught in the light, it will normally freeze for a few seconds before trying to run, which will provide you with a nice shot.
Varmints are not considered big game, so a big game hunting rifle is not necessary when hunting varmint. Most varmint hunters prefer to use a small caliber, long range hunting rifle, since most of the varmints you will be targeting are too difficult or too dangerous to approach at close range. These small caliber rifles are ideal because of their high velocity, flat trajectory and extreme accuracy. They are also quieter than larger rifles and have less of a chance of scaring off your intended target. Many varmint hunting rifles are bolt-action and either come equipped with a scope or are designed to have a scope easily mounted. The addition of a scope makes varmint hunting much easier by increasing your accuracy when shooting at a distance. VarmintHuntingSource features a wide range or varmint hunting rifles from some of the top manufacturers such as Savage Arms, Marlin, Thompson and Remington.
Varmint hunting is a fun sport for both beginning and veteran shooters. Not only does hunting varmint help control the pest population, but it can provide you with meat from your kill and help you prepare for other hunting seasons by working on your shot. Whether this is your first time varmint hunting or if you’ve been doing it for years with the help of your hunting dog, VarmintHuntingSource has all of the rifles and accessories you need. From ammunition, scopes, dog training decoys and knives to game cleaning kits, stocks and pads, dog collars and multi tools, VarmintHuntingSource has everything you need to help you get rid of these pesky animals. |