Controlling the Pest Population
Controlling the Pest Population
Varmint hunting is a popular and successful way to help reduce the growing population of certain pests such as prairie dogs, raccoons, muskrats, opossums, woodchucks, porcupines, nutrias and skunks. There are many ways to go about killing these pesky but the most common is to either hunt them alone or with a hunting dog.
Hunting varmint with a dog may prove to be more successful. When hunting with a dog, the dog is used to sniff out the scent of the varmint and then scare the varmint out of hiding so the hunter can get off a clear shot. In most cases, the dog will chase the varmint and either corner it or scare it into a tree for the hunter.
Whether you choose to hunt varmint alone or with a dog, knowing what kind of firearm to use is important. Since most varmint are small animals, the use of a large game rifle is not necessary. All you need is a rifle suitable to the varmint you wish to hunt. In most cases, this will mean using a .22 or .17, both of which provide a high velocity and flat trajectory, which is important since in most cases, the varmint you are hunting are either too dangerous or too difficult to approach at close range. Many varmint hunters choose to pair their rifle with a scope in order to increase accuracy at such a long distance. Another bonus of these smaller caliber rifles is that they are able to absorb more heat, which will allow you to fire more shots in a shorter amount of time and will increase your chances of hitting your intended target.
Where you live will greatly determine the type of varmint you see. For example, prairie dogs are found mainly in western states such as North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. Prairie dogs live in long, underground tunnels that can extend for hundreds of acres and often cause damage to farmlands and crops. Like the prairie dog, woodchucks or groundhogs also cause damage to farmlands and crops by digging burrows along the edges of timbered areas that are bordered by open land and fence rows.
If you live in more urban or rural setting, raccoons and skunks may be your biggest issue. Both skunks and raccoons look for food in garbage cans, backyards, fruit trees and garages. Many times, these excursions can cause damage to property and result in tipped over garbage cans and ruined trees. Both skunks and raccoons sometimes live in attics, dens and other open spaces, which can cause costly damages to residents.
Two other notorious members of the varmint family are the nutria and muskrat. If you live near wetlands, then these are two varmints that you may be familiar with. Both muskrats and nutrias live in rivers, lakes, ponds and other such wetlands. They burrow their homes in these areas, which can cause damage to irrigation ditches, levees and dikes.
No matter where you live, you may have an encounter with either an opossum or a porcupine. While both opossums and porcupines primarily live in forests, brush piles and trees, they are also known for taking up residence under houses and porches and in attics and garages. Many people consider opossums to be a pest as they search through garbage and bird feeders for food. Porcupines on the other hand can cause damage to gardens by eating fruits and vegetables and can also damage wooden objects around the house and garage such as boat oars and wooden handles.
Depending on where you live, you are sure to encounter one type of varmint or another, and while these animals can be annoying, hunting them can be fun. I’ve been hunting varmint for years and find that it is excellent target practice and allows me to get ready for the bigger game seasons. I was happy to come across http://www.varminthuntingsource.com before my last varmint hunt. VarmintHuntingSource has everything I needed to prepare for my hunt. From training decoys and collars for my dog to varmint hunting rifles, scopes, cleaning kits and knives, VarmintHuntingSource has a large selection of rifles and accessories to help you get rid of any varmint you may encounter.