Once more unto the beech

Mat Manning heads into the woods with his air rifle in search of grey squirrels as they gorge themselves on the annual beechmast banquet

Ahuge amount of my shooting time is devoted to the control of grey squirrels. With landowners eager to see results in terms of hitting back numbers of this invasive rodent, I often use feeding stations to make the most of my time in the field. But there are other ways to get on terms with these destructive little creatures, especially when they are distracted by a sudden glut of natural food.

During the early months of summer, when natural food is more evenly dispersed, it can be hard to know where squirrels are likely to be. Add a dense canopy of lush green foliage, and locating your quarry can feel like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack. That is when setting up a feeding station can really pay off, because it creates an area where you are more or less

“The squirrels will bolt for cover long before you get anywhere near close enough to take a shot”

guaranteed to spot squirrels out in the open (Humane gains on grain,

15 August).

Things are different now, however, and though there is still some time to go before the trees drop their leaves, localised feeding opportunities make it easier to second-guess where squirrels are likely to congregate. A few weeks ago, they were on the hazelnuts on most of my shooting permissions and soon they will be gorging on acorns. Right now, it is the season of the beech

Opting for a roving approach enabled Mat to have a proper look around the woods