First Shot Taken

[Mstan]

I took my first shot this morning at a hosp. Unfortunately I’m starting 0-1 for the season. My traps are set and the battle has begun. I’m thankful to a very kind landlord who gave me some traps. Won’t expect any Martins for a couple weeks but am trying to prepare the way for them. I hope everyone has a blessed season with record number of fledglings.

[brent]

Thanks Mstan. Chasing those house sparrows everyday here. I think they know to avoid the repeating bait trap I have. Can’t shoot in this neighborhood. If they get into the martin house I can use the universal trap I have. Martins help chase them too. Good luck to you!

[Dan G]

I’ve had a recent influx of HS here in central PA after missing a couple, I had to slightly adjust the scope. 3 males eliminated since. Still 6-8 weeks away from martins arriving here, but never too early to make them safer!

[C.C.Martins]

I took my first shot this morning at a hosp. Unfortunately I’m starting 0-1 for the season. My traps are set and the battle has begun. I’m thankful to a very kind landlord who gave me some traps. Won’t expect any Martins for a couple weeks but am trying to prepare the way for them. I hope everyone has a blessed season with record number of fledglings.

Battle has begun!!! I wish you much success in the endeavor and much more success in your colony!
As much as I enjoy a good shot, the traps seem to work much much better. Those nest box traps are a vacuum, some I don't even know are around just get caught.
I reserve shooting for those stubborn HOSP who avoid the traps, or when I loose patients I shoot them off the ground trap.
A scope (if you don't have one) paysdividends.
Best this season sir,
God bless,
Tom

[Thomabear]

I took my first shot this morning at a hosp. Unfortunately I’m starting 0-1 for the season. My traps are set and the battle has begun. I’m thankful to a very kind landlord who gave me some traps. Won’t expect any Martins for a couple weeks but am trying to prepare the way for them. I hope everyone has a blessed season with record number of fledglings.

Battle has begun!!! I wish you much success in the endeavor and much more success in your colony!
As much as I enjoy a good shot, the traps seem to work much much better. Those nest box traps are a vacuum, some I don't even know are around just get caught.
I reserve shooting for those stubborn HOSP who avoid the traps, or when I loose patients I shoot them off the ground trap.
A scope (if you don't have one) paysdividends.
Best this season sir,
God bless,
Tom

I too missed my first shot and also found my scope was off by about 2 inches from my shooting window to my target. Re-zeroed and it now sits ready with roughly a dime sized group shooting from bags. I’m another fan of nest box traps. Makes for easy catches of bait for the repeating trap. Agree with Tom that it’s a magnet.

[ronniewayne58]

this morning i took my first shot and got a starling. they cant even get in my houses as all cresent entrances but they sit on the highline and harass my martins. now when im around they will sit a lot farther away! happy hunting i know i cant elimate all house sparrows and starilings but i will sure try to get my share...

[flyin-lowe]

Mstan, curious what gun you are using. I ended up buying an Umarex Notos year before last and it has been great. I sighted it in at 33 yards as this is how far the PM housing is from my house. I can sit in an upstairs window and pick them off. I have been hitting them hard the last couple years and haven't seen many HOSP this year. I opened one side of my T14 and put some traps in it and have only got two so far. I haven't even messed with the air rifle yet. It has been so cold the last couple months I still have my windows covered. I'm planning to check the zero this weekend and start back again.

[Mstan]

Lowe, it’s a Stoeger 54000-E break barrel with a 4x32 scope. My sparrow issue isn’t bad,I have a pesky male I need to take out. Bluebirds are claiming boxes. On 3/6 I have a ASY female land and check out some gourds but haven’t seen her since.

[seth❤️birds]

I got a starling every morning for the last three mornings , got my gun sited in pretty accurate . It’s a blast

[flyin-lowe]

If I have the gun and I see a starling ill take it out, but we have so many of them and they usually can't breach the SREH I don't really focus on them like I do the HOSP. There are times I will have flocks of thousands of them at a time in my 5 acre yard. Some time so many starling are on the power lines across the street they will sag several feet. They will be wing to wing on the line from one pole to the next. Could never make a dent in the starling population.

[dsonyay]

I am very lucky to have no HS yet. My neighbor seems to have stopped feeding birds, and they may have moved on to another spot.