First Rat Ever...

On my property...I do a lot of plinking and target shooting in my backyard out to 70 yards. Today me and the Bantam were on fire. First round hits from 50-64 yards on half husk of black walnuts eaten by the squirrels. When to my immense surprise out pops this rat from the corner of the barn at 54 yards. One JSB 18 and it was done, I was happy to get it, but that means there’s more of them around. The images show my shooting position and where the rat was. I will be extra vigilant going forward and will put down some bait... there’s a little red squirrel playing in that area, lucky that I like its feistyness... getting a pass for now.

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Is it weird to say that I’m a little bit jealous?

I saw one scurry across the road in front of my neighbors house a few months back. I keep pigeons that are rather messy eaters but so far just mice, not that I don’t oblige their demise. 
The owls and stray cats sure seem to appreciate our diligence.

I used to be a little jealous of the guys who shoot them on their properties. Given a choice I rather not have them around my barn. All of my previous rat kills have been at dairies...
 
Hate rats, in my farm if you see it @ day, there is an infestation. Get a night vision and you will get tons of fun!

Definitely will be keeping a sharper eye out... As much as I love shooting rats, I’m hoping that an infestation is not the case...

Too late. Infestation is there. I spent the better part of weeks to rid my property. I live adjacent to a refill basin and preserve area. I started by seeing one rat during the day. Got him, then a few others. Eventually found where they were living (mostly my accident) and spent a few nights camped out there with my green light on the scope. I was camped probably 7 yards from the hole. Got MANY of them until I stopped seeing any evidence of any more. Filled up their access and for now, I'm clear.



But, once you see ONE during the day, I'd say infestation is there. And they are tough to eliminate.
 
I have a pp700sa with a red/green light that has taken hundreds of rats at the short ranges you described. Never thought I would have to deploy it in my barn... will be setting up my kill zones now that I have time on my hands...



P.S. The barn is not used as such so there is no feed source in it. But my property has many, many producing black walnut trees.
 
I have a pp700sa with a red/green light that has taken hundreds of rats at the short ranges you described. Never thought I would have to deploy it in my barn... will be setting up my kill zones now that I have time on my hands...



P.S. The barn is not used as such so there is no feed source in it. But my property has many, many producing black walnut trees.

Btw. Nice shooting!!