New tool for the war on Starlings

[Rusty Shacklford]

Just thought I’d post a quick picture of the latest addition to the arsenal for the war on Starlings. I know there must be more people like me out there, fighting for the same cause, so again let’s see some pics. The gun in this picture is my newest acquisition, its beautiful piece of German Engineering, the RWS 350 Feuekraft Pro Compact. Shooting 14.3 grain, .22 cal hollow point pellets right around 800fps. The bird in this picture was taken at 42 yards and you can really here the pellet smack, even from that distance. This gun should do well on Eurasian Collared Doves also, they are a big bird and can take a lot of lead.

[richardjb]

Rusty, you be the critter getter! Wish I could do that in my back yard.

[redleg]

good one, keep it up. we need to thin those, or eliminate them.

[HighNDry]

Starling skins have great small, soft hackles. You should skin them out and offer the skins to fly tiers.

[Leaky]

I've resisted on posting any comments on Starling hunting because I thought it might be an unpopular response and you guys might take after me and hurt my feelings. My main reaction was economics. Why spend 25-50 cents per shot gun shell to kill one Starling? Wow, that would soon be bigger than the national debt. But,-------------- this method seems a bit more economical. Good on ya. Or is it.? how does it compare? I'll be the first to know nothing about Starling hunting and the benefits, so go easy on me. Just thought I'd jump in and see if I could get a better understanding and ask, maybe, a dumb question. Yeah, I'm one of those eat what you kill people, but I can't argue against getting rid of pests or things that ultimately do more damage than good. Question - is this really the case? If so, "get er on"!!!!!

[Rusty Shacklford]

Leaky, I have a great time hunting Starlings. I hunt them almost year round. I agree it would be very costly to shoot them with shotguns. Pellets are cheap, about seven bucks per 500. The guns I use can get a little costly, but I’ve done a lot of starling control this year with a little $40 Daisy Power Line 880 from Wally world. It works great for close in work, like when there’re raiding the suet cakes in my yard. The bigger guns like the one in this post will work out past 50 yards if you can put lead on feathers. I have several air rifles and if you want to give it a try PM me and we’ll go out one weekend. I also shoot a few Eurasian Collared Doves, those ones I eat; they are pretty tasty served on a bed of wild rice. I should receive some mounted starlings from Blueshooter week. When I do I will post some pictures, he does some good work.

[redleg]

I don't compare the value of my target to the cost of my ammo, or I could never shoot clay pigeons. or paper targets. Starlings are slowly pushing the native birds out of parts of Utah. Kill them all.

[James]

Just a note on the starling population in Hyrum Utah. Last year in February there were 6000 starlings at the feedyard. This year about 300. I don't think the difference was made by any air rifle.

[Rusty Shacklford]

James it was me and my boy, but we just don't like to brag. Let me know if you want the last 300 taken care of.

[Trooper]

What is it about starlings that makes me feel like I am in a us-or-them war? Killing starlings is one of the most satisfying things I know of. I can remember outstanding starling kills from 30 years ago. They're smart too- around my parents house if a door or window moves an inch they flush for 200 hundred yards- even birds of the year. How do they teach eachother stuff like that?

It's a sickness, glad to know I'm not alone in this one.