squirrel problem

I have about 25 pecan trees scattered on my property and at the rate the squirrels are eating them they wont be any left. I have tried every way I know to trap them but have had no success. Have used live traps, 110's, and #1 long springs set like a martin set, and just with bait on the pan. Also tried a jug set and even a weasel box along with a cubby set. Nothing has worked. For bait I have used corn, peanut butter, peanuts, and Marsyada's Nutcracker bait. They are grey squirrels and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

A good dog or 22 long rifle.

Have shoot a few but don't have time for much of that.

Your problem is that unless you can set the treetop travel routes your traps are in the wrong place plus no bait or lure will out compete an established food source. Trapping squirrels is very location specific and you cannot pull a squirrel off his route.
Shooting is about the only way in orchards. Hazing with propane cannons or other disruptive techniques might gain some relief but will not solve the problem.
What I would do is try to get some local squirrel hunters in to get on top of the problem then try to establish alternate food source / bait stations that once established can become trapping locations. Maybe some elevated platforms (height is safety to a squirrel) with ear corn. Set running poles on these platforms and set either snares (if legal) or 110s on these running poles. Of course cages can be used as well on the platforms. These bait station are going to be most effective when the pecans are out of season and when no other food is available so take full advantage of those times to hit it hard and heavy.
Another option that may be available would be a falconer if you have one nearby.

Warrior I think you are exactly right. I kinda feel like I am fighting a loosing battle here.
Thanks for the reply.

Wow! This whole thing just blows me away! Is this something that's a regional problem or what? I can now see why Jonesie's squirrel

seminars draw so much interest. I used to think that because we catch between 1200 and 1500 squirrels a year, that we were wonderful.

Now that I know that there are companies that catch four times that number ( over 5000 ) I keep my mouth shut. I'm reasonably sure

that I could take my 5 year old grandaughter and have her successfully catch a grey squirrel in our backyard. Which only makes this

whole thing way more interesting. ( At least to me ) Please keep us informed as to how the battle is going.

Paul, pecan orchards are a whole 'nother world. Imagine if you will the spacing of an apple orchard, maybe a little wider, but instead of a reachable 15'-20' tree top height the ceiling is 50'-100' and the wide vase shape means all trees are touching for a solid canopy. Each tree can easily have a hundred plus pounds of nuts that are edible in all stages but especially prized by squirrels (plus crows, jays and coons) just as they are beginning to mature. An active orchard will be full of squirrels that will never set foot on the ground. Trapping only is a futile effort.

Thanks for the quick response David. This is just another example of why I feel we have a fair and just God. He gives us 46 degrees

in September and he gives you armadillos and pecan groves. If Eve wouldn't have bit that apple, we'd all be outta business. My only

regret is that about the time I learn everything worth learning, I'll be too old to remember any of it. I think that's called life.

Paul, come on down and bring that high dollar bb gun of yours. Nothing more relaxing than laying back under some pecan trees and sniping tree rats.

one way that may work for ya and I have not done it in a while is place a 2x4 across 2 branches. 8 to 10 foot the squirrels will use it as a short cut, crossover of sorts I would take to cages and screw them on the 2 x4 facing out. I use my no moe's or get ur done but in fact no bait has worked also. again you have to be in three that they want to be in. what you are talking about is the same as our acorn drop here in Jersey. the squirrels have one thing on their minds yes they eat a few but more than that they are putting them in the ground for the future. knock them out of the tree then run down grab and bury. their brains are single phasin. one thing. the 2 x 4 is a good place for Jims and Kirks double doors. also a good place for 110's and even Peskys snares. out of sight out of mind. Also in time like that I have flagged the traps a black piece of trash bag hung over the trap waving in the breeze will grab some of them by curiosity. It is time like this that the rut trapper has to think out of the box.

Jonesie, what worse is the pecans are still in the "milk" stage and the squirrels are eating them not burying them so no squirrel on the ground.

That is why I waited to reply.

The 2x4 from limb to limb as Jonesie said will work. I think the 110's would be best. He already has some.

David, there was a time in my life when I would have been on the road to Georgia with my .25 caliber Marauder and my .22 caliber Gamo

for you. Unfortunately, by the time you can afford weaponry like that, your too old to fully utilize it. That's how things balance

out I guess.

http://www.realitysurvival.com/he-squirrel-pole/

I've not used snares for squirrel, but came across several sites that talk about guys trapping thousands each year like this. Good luck and I hope this helps.

http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1126006.html

This was the best article I found on snaring squirrel

Crossroads, I think the squirrels they are talking about are Pine squirrels, not gray or fox squirrels. Big difference.

Can you elaborate on the big difference? My initial thought is, they all forage for nuts, seeds and stuff like that. They all use trees and limbs for travel, therefor a properly placed snare should work? May have to adjust the size of the loop a little, but it seems like for a $3.00 role of floral wire, it would be worth a try?

good red tailed hawk felcony.love hunting squirrels.have fun

I think the running pole might work but maybe the height of the poles would need to be a lot higher. I catch squirrel for a Hazelnut farm. We have several types of squirrels. Fox(an invasive species here), California ground squirrel (about the size of a fox squirrel), Western Grey squirrel (another large one), chipmunks on occasion and I have seen Flying squirrels. They all eat Hazel nuts. The trees are not real high and the canopies only overlap in the older trees.
I keep them thinned out using 110s. I do not bait but with the new supports one can buy that can be screwed into the tree the 110s get them. I just surround the trees that they seem to cut nuts in the most with 110s so they have to go through one if they want up the tree. They do not have access to the trees from the trees they nest in so they have to go to ground them up a tree from the bottom. This works well up until the time the nuts fall. Even with the nuts on the ground I still get them.
Running poles going up from the fence line to then to a tree might very well work. It would be a lot cheaper then buying more 110s for sure.

I have hunted sqr. with a RT for years. They are a blest. Any falconer that hunt sqr would gladly stop by.