Got an airgun about 3 months ago & the first pest I shot was a chipmunk. Head shot, I was very proud of my self and thought "its going to be easy to get rid of all these". I've since had the pleasure of displacing 2 groundhogs and dozens of squirrels. I have only taken 1 other chipmunk. They are so fast. They don't stand still. If you can take chipmunks with ease, I really just tip my hat to you. Have fun out there!
I have a new respect for you guys taking out chipmunks
- Thread starter Backyardbandit
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Most of the time I have to stalk them to get a shot where they are still. Sometimes, like today, it only takes 5 or 6 minutes, but often I will stalk for 1 or 2 hours or more to get a shot at a chipper when it settles and is still enough for a precise shot. Baiting can help, but doesn't always.
Good luck!
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I stalk them near their homes in wood piles or stone walls. They’re usually more comfortable there because it’s so easy to disappear into their hole. They seem to stay still for longer so I can get a good shot that way!
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Great advice! I think I get so many at my wood pile because they have so many little cubbyholes they can escape into and that makes them confident they can hide fast.
That seems to make them more readily sit still for a longer time. This is also true if they are near their hole(s). Find those and stalk them.
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Haha, I read this thread earlier this morning and finally sat down a few minutes ago to draft a response and logged on to paste it in and see madeintheuk beat me to it but here goes anyway...
Chipmunks _love_ to take up a perch 2 or 3 feet off the ground and survey the area. They'll stay still sometimes for as much as 10 minutes. On the ground? It's as if someone is holding a lit match to their tails.
If you have such a location within view of a window in your home that you frequently pass by, you'll have their numbers in check in short order. For example, there is an old cherry stump outside my kitchen window. Many times I'll see one just chilling up there. Usually I have enough time to go grab my rifle, load a pellet, get the tripod, sneak into the back yard, deploy the tripod, settle my breathing, take aim, and grease the chipper off the top of the stump.
Two other pesting locations I frequent have a similarly popular "tree stump of death".
Scatter some bird seed, cracked corn, and black oil sunflower seeds in the general vicinity to bring them in.
And while a tree stump seems to be the gold standard, a stack of bricks or cinder blocks or lumber also makes an enticing watch tower.
Chipmunks _love_ to take up a perch 2 or 3 feet off the ground and survey the area. They'll stay still sometimes for as much as 10 minutes. On the ground? It's as if someone is holding a lit match to their tails.
If you have such a location within view of a window in your home that you frequently pass by, you'll have their numbers in check in short order. For example, there is an old cherry stump outside my kitchen window. Many times I'll see one just chilling up there. Usually I have enough time to go grab my rifle, load a pellet, get the tripod, sneak into the back yard, deploy the tripod, settle my breathing, take aim, and grease the chipper off the top of the stump.
Two other pesting locations I frequent have a similarly popular "tree stump of death".
Scatter some bird seed, cracked corn, and black oil sunflower seeds in the general vicinity to bring them in.
And while a tree stump seems to be the gold standard, a stack of bricks or cinder blocks or lumber also makes an enticing watch tower.
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This.
Most of mine I get on stumps near their abode. They'll sit there... Survey, Eat. I have a blind in my yard I'll sit in for a few hours. You'll hear their chirps, and get rough idea of their location. You'll even start to distinguish their chirps...they have one slow one for "I'm coming in the door", one rapid burst one for, "watch out above", and I'll even hear one slower burst for "watch out for the dog" . At least I think that's their lingo in my hood...
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Chipmunks are my thing here. Some days I win, some days they win. It’s a lot of fun. Chirpy, fast, little bastards. 30yds off hand is about the best I’ve been able to do so far, still learning my hold over doping and yardage estimates.
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In my previous home, we had a wood stove, thus a couple cord of wood stacked up against a 6' tall privacy fence. Backside of fence was a partially wooded field, yep perfect chipper hangout!! I had a regular shooting station on my back porch just shy of 30 yds to the woodpile. On many ocasions I had an excellent head shot, only to find the fast reflexes of the chipper would allow him to move his head out of the way of my pellet and make a nice hole in my fence board right behind his head. They are so quick they can out maneuver a pellet comming at them at 850 fps!!! For such a small critter they are a very formidable foe!!!!
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When I was a little boy, eight years old, we rented a cabin once in a while. The road to get into the cabin was probably a quarter of a mile. Trees on both sides. Me and my buddy had BB guns. We were asked to try to keep the chipmunk population down. My BB gun was very under powered. I needed to get within about 15 feet, and do a headshot. We had so much fun.
By necessity this summer I had to thin out the herd. It was quite a challenge, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did my dog. Longest shot was 190 yards, with a 177 shooting slugs.
If I had to guess I would say we probably nailed between 50 and 60. My one year-old PUP would retrieve them for me once in a while. Or else just go find them and chew on them.
have fun!
mike
By necessity this summer I had to thin out the herd. It was quite a challenge, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did my dog. Longest shot was 190 yards, with a 177 shooting slugs.
If I had to guess I would say we probably nailed between 50 and 60. My one year-old PUP would retrieve them for me once in a while. Or else just go find them and chew on them.
have fun!
mike
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I am new here, only my second post.
I was raised in the mountains of SE Kentucky and Eastern Tennessee. A lot of people in this area were coal miners and all of my family was also. They lived hard lives and were poor by most standards. Anyway, my grandfather told me that when he was young he would hunt them with a 22 and they ate them. I haven't ever eaten one but they may be just as good as a gray squirrel, just not much there. So, you all may be missing out on a delicacy!
Maybe someone could fry up some and let us know. Then I will have to try it.
Enjoy your shooting!
I was raised in the mountains of SE Kentucky and Eastern Tennessee. A lot of people in this area were coal miners and all of my family was also. They lived hard lives and were poor by most standards. Anyway, my grandfather told me that when he was young he would hunt them with a 22 and they ate them. I haven't ever eaten one but they may be just as good as a gray squirrel, just not much there. So, you all may be missing out on a delicacy!
Maybe someone could fry up some and let us know. Then I will have to try it.
Enjoy your shooting!
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My cats love to eat gray squirrels. All they leave behind is the tail and the pads of the feet.
They won't eat a chipmunk. Might as well offer them a carrot.
Does that mean a chipmunk tastes bad? Well my first thought was, why assume I have similar culinary preferences as a critter that cleans its puckered starfish with its tongue. But on second thought, it suggests a chipmunk tastes worse than that.
They won't eat a chipmunk. Might as well offer them a carrot.
Does that mean a chipmunk tastes bad? Well my first thought was, why assume I have similar culinary preferences as a critter that cleans its puckered starfish with its tongue. But on second thought, it suggests a chipmunk tastes worse than that.
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That's funny, as when I went squirrel hunting last week. I had a chipmunk run 5 foot up to me! I was in camo, so that had to have been the reason he came so close. Hung out for like 5 minutes before he saw me. I had two raccoons do the same thing, but they were about 30 foot away.
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One time I was at a remote camping spot and the place was teaming with chipmunks. I set up my shooting table and spent all day trying to shoot them and only got a few, they are unbelievably fast and energetic.
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With my first PCP a Gamo Urban the chipmunks took a beat down from 40 to 50 yards to a longest kill out to 80 yards. They do stand still, for me it's been proportional to how far from me they feel safe. I set up an over watch position in a known area, lots of glassing, sub 50 yards they're in big trouble. I don't intentionally go after them, but take them out if I get an opportunity. I've been spoiled killing rats.
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Whoa thanks guys, like a noob I forgot to check the "send replies to inbox" button so didnt see any of these till now.
Great advice on here per usual, thanks @backstop, @ nervoustrig, @airshot & @ Glenn..
Happy hunting
Great advice on here per usual, thanks @backstop, @ nervoustrig, @airshot & @ Glenn..
Happy hunting
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Your experience may differ from all of the advice given here. Once you really start going after them, you should start to notice when and where you are likely to get a shot at a chipper that is sitting still. It takes a little time, but if you are infested with them like I am, it won't take too long. (smile)
Happy Pesting!
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Ninjas are not as fast as chipmunks. They strive to be like them. Self control shooting these kind of rodents is key
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For the record.
I have never seen a chipper "dodge" a pellet. I HAVE seen them move just as I commit to the shot and squeeze the trigger.
IMHO, chippers can't see the pellet coming even at ~750fps or lower in order to "dodge" it. At least that has been my experience so far.
Perhaps, with loud airguns, they actually hear the shot before the pellet reaches them? One more reason for really quiet airguns! (smile)
I have never seen a chipper "dodge" a pellet. I HAVE seen them move just as I commit to the shot and squeeze the trigger.
IMHO, chippers can't see the pellet coming even at ~750fps or lower in order to "dodge" it. At least that has been my experience so far.
Perhaps, with loud airguns, they actually hear the shot before the pellet reaches them? One more reason for really quiet airguns! (smile)
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I have a springer so it is a bit loud. Most of the time they just move before I can can get them lined up or can setup a good shot. I'm used to the big slow dummys (ground hog & squirrel) who seem to just sit there forever. By the time I am ready to shoot a chipmunk, that sumbitch moves.
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