Finally got my first night time rat! Stalked this guy for 3 days, but finally got it 1am this morning. Here is the long version of the story:
3 weeks ago I trimmed the lower portion of my hedge so I can see the ground for cleanliness and to fix drip system if needed. I noticed some of the hedges’s fruit on the ground with rodent teeth marks. Right away I put out some traps but nothing for weeks. 4 days ago I notice a hole under my wooden fence and rats immediately came to mind, I absolutely hate those things! I mounted an Amazon security camera right above the hole, the very afternoon in broad daylight I got an alert! I ran over to grab my 1701 pistol and sneaked around my rose bush and to my shock I saw 2 rats!!! With great excitement I put my red dot right on the vital and squeezed trigger. Think I hit a little low but I heard a loud thud/pop followed by rat squill so definitely a good hit. But they were right next tot he hole under the fence and both ran off. Bummed I couldn’t retrieve it for a picture but I’m certain it will no longer invade my yard.
Of course there is 1 still alive but it became very skittish. For the next 3 days it did not show up during the day and when it did show up at night any noise it would dive into the hole. I decided to leave a tripod with my dreamtac compact mounted pointed at the hole at around 15 yards so it’s ready to go but it still doesn’t stick around long enough to get a Cross hair in it. Stayed up again last night, got an alarm at 11pm and quietly sneak over to my pre-staged battle station. Finally saw it in my scope for the first time in 3 days! But as I slowly cock the gun the click of the mag alerted it and off it went again! Annoyed I went back to watching YouTube and wait, just as I settle in my bed to go sleep around 1 am the alarm went off. I jumped out of the bed and quietly sneak to my battle station again, this time I took the mag out and left a pellet in the chamber so when I cock the gun the mag won’t click again. Just as I was lining up the shot it went back under the fence again, must of heard me again!
However I left few pieces of peanuts and dried fruit and I did see it eating the dry fruit before it heard me, decided to wait 5 minutes for it with my crosshairs on the hole and hand on the grip. Sure enough 2-3 minutes later it carefully poked its head out the of the hole. This time I could not be more ready with the gun already cocked and crosshair on its head! As soon as it settled a little I squeezed the trigger and a 7.9 grain CPHP zipped right through its neck at 520 FPS, few kicks later it was done!
Here is the video clip of its last moment I managed to captured on my security camera:
finally got my first night time rat and it was far more difficult than I ever thought! Crafty and worthy adversaries they are! Hope I don’t have too many of them!
Sadly because of the close distance the focus was terrible so no scope footage. Next time when I have to do this again I’ll mount the ATN on the dreamtac compact.
3 weeks ago I trimmed the lower portion of my hedge so I can see the ground for cleanliness and to fix drip system if needed. I noticed some of the hedges’s fruit on the ground with rodent teeth marks. Right away I put out some traps but nothing for weeks. 4 days ago I notice a hole under my wooden fence and rats immediately came to mind, I absolutely hate those things! I mounted an Amazon security camera right above the hole, the very afternoon in broad daylight I got an alert! I ran over to grab my 1701 pistol and sneaked around my rose bush and to my shock I saw 2 rats!!! With great excitement I put my red dot right on the vital and squeezed trigger. Think I hit a little low but I heard a loud thud/pop followed by rat squill so definitely a good hit. But they were right next tot he hole under the fence and both ran off. Bummed I couldn’t retrieve it for a picture but I’m certain it will no longer invade my yard.
Of course there is 1 still alive but it became very skittish. For the next 3 days it did not show up during the day and when it did show up at night any noise it would dive into the hole. I decided to leave a tripod with my dreamtac compact mounted pointed at the hole at around 15 yards so it’s ready to go but it still doesn’t stick around long enough to get a Cross hair in it. Stayed up again last night, got an alarm at 11pm and quietly sneak over to my pre-staged battle station. Finally saw it in my scope for the first time in 3 days! But as I slowly cock the gun the click of the mag alerted it and off it went again! Annoyed I went back to watching YouTube and wait, just as I settle in my bed to go sleep around 1 am the alarm went off. I jumped out of the bed and quietly sneak to my battle station again, this time I took the mag out and left a pellet in the chamber so when I cock the gun the mag won’t click again. Just as I was lining up the shot it went back under the fence again, must of heard me again!
However I left few pieces of peanuts and dried fruit and I did see it eating the dry fruit before it heard me, decided to wait 5 minutes for it with my crosshairs on the hole and hand on the grip. Sure enough 2-3 minutes later it carefully poked its head out the of the hole. This time I could not be more ready with the gun already cocked and crosshair on its head! As soon as it settled a little I squeezed the trigger and a 7.9 grain CPHP zipped right through its neck at 520 FPS, few kicks later it was done!
Here is the video clip of its last moment I managed to captured on my security camera:
finally got my first night time rat and it was far more difficult than I ever thought! Crafty and worthy adversaries they are! Hope I don’t have too many of them!
Sadly because of the close distance the focus was terrible so no scope footage. Next time when I have to do this again I’ll mount the ATN on the dreamtac compact. 
Those of us who love airguns and have skittish women. Nice work! Did you block the hole? 
