Woodland wandering

The autumn months can present airgun shooters with something of a quandary when it comes to controlling grey squirrels. This year’s litters have bolstered the invasive rodents’ numbers, as confirmed by numerous sightings as they scurry around making the most of the seasonal glut of natural food. The problem is that the abundance of easy pickings often draws squirrels away from feeding stations, which can make it hard to make sizeable bags — frustrating when there are so many of them around.

I don’t doubt that shooters who use wheat or maize in their feeding stations are noticing a serious dip in squirrel activity. The fact is that these humble offerings can’t compete with acorns, beech mast, hazelnuts,