Got another Vole

[Vetmx]

A couple years ago I picked off a strange little critter. Posted a pic and was informed it was a Vole. Haven’t seen one since until this evening. Was watching some doves and noticed this little brown thing. At first I thought it was a tiny brown bird but it was moving differently. So I grabbed a gun and tried to figure out what it was. I thought maybe it was just a brave mouse. I had just unclipped the Pard from the gun so I was on 3X and didn’t bother going for an “airgun guy” 30X zoom on a 30 yard target. I just didn’t think I had the time so I shot and got a serious pop. Another Vole down at around 30 yards. I have more fun with micro pests like mice, moles and voles than I have with any other airgun pest or game animal. I think it’s because a gun has to be absolutely spot on all the time.

 

[scottg0814]

I'm with ya @Vetmx . I go out a few nights a week with my DNT thermal scope and shoot mice from the porch. I used to use an NV scope but rarely saw any. Now, with the thermal, I've prolly taken about 20 over the last few months. Most shots are in the 30yd range. I'll have to record some shooting and get some pics.

 

[Ranchibi]

Ha! Excellent shot on that hyper lil vole! Small pests like these, mice, and rats are just plain tough and fun to snipe, they are usually what seems to be on meth, always moving....! Nice pic.

 

[jetpopt]

I thought voles only came out after dark. We often see their dirt mounds but never them. They killed two beautiful yuccas by burrowing over and chewing the roots. I wouldn't mind "chewing" the perpetrators in return.

 

[Pfddi]

They are mostly night time varmints. As @Vetmx said, you have to be spot on as they are very small. I shoot them at night and have not seen one during the day as they are a favorite meal of hawks where I am and I watch the hawks "strafing" the fields looking for them.. At night, they stay on the edge of the field, but ocassionally they will climb up in trees and run around which makes it a new challenge. I use thermal as they are so small and the when in the brush, you can amost never get their eyes to light up with IR. They are hell on making holes and mounds everywhere.

 

[Vetmx]

I thought voles only came out after dark. We often see their dirt mounds but never them. They killed two beautiful yuccas by burrowing over and chewing the roots. I wouldn't mind "chewing" the perpetrators in return.

This is the second one I shot in the daylight. That’s why I posted a WTH is this picture a couple years ago. I guess like us, some of them are just careless or have an eating disorder so they brave the daylight.

 

[Vetmx]

Must be the moon phase. Got a mouse before dark this evening. Just bouncing around on a wood pile. Then exploded.

 

[MDRICH2]

I live in Utah on a hillside and see quite a few voles. I use a thermal also to take them out. They love bushes, sunflowers and digging a ditch into yards. I have ballistics on my thermal which helps, because I shoot them anywhere from 7 yards to 95 yards. I am pretty accurate up to 40, but more difficult with the winds at anything over 40. Good practice in my opinion. I am also shooting off my deck or out a window, so I don’t have great feel of the true wind at times. Love my thermal!!!