I owned a Crosman 760 BB gun when I was a kid.

I'm wanting to get something for, ummmm, small, aviation-capable feathered nuisances. I called my local PD to ensure that discharge of an airgun is legal in city limits, and that targeting small, aviation-capable feathered creatures was legal. I was told that it is legal, as long as the small, aviation-capable feathered creatures aren't a protected species. When I started reading some user-reviews of airguns, I was lead towards something beyond that old 760... namely, a Remington Vantage that was on sale. I'm sure of my target and what lies beyond my target.

I have placed the scope, but not zeroed anything nor discharged the gun yet. I'm wondering if I overbought, though. I'm finding myself thinking that the small, aviation-capable feathered creature won't simply drop from it's perch, clutching it's little heart in a Fred-Sanford-inspired death spiral, but rather the small, aviation-capable feathered creature will explode in a flurry of feathers reminiscent of a small, aviation-capable feathered creature-inspired fireworks shell.

Any thoughts?

I'm picturing Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner for some reason.

Don't do it, you'll shoot your eye out.

What comes around goes around.

Mark, last year I went on the same quest as you. Wanted a way of dispensing some critters around the house while all a while being legal.

It looks to me that you made a smart choice. What I went with was the Crosman Nitro in .177. I ended up changing out the scope, which is a really good scope itself, for a Leaper scope.

Cool!

I totally imagined that time Randy Johnson hit the bird with a pitch.

What is it with these Johnsons and birds??

This makes me want to shoot all kinds of stuff....

Isn't killing small animals in an urban environment one of the first steps in the profile of an emerging serial killer??

Emerging?

Emerging, you say?

It's funny this thread came up as I'm in the market for nuisance control devices as well.

This summer we took a small step towards starting our grassfed beef operation by purchasing a small herd of Irish Dexter cattle. A 4-year old mule came with the herd-mules do a great job of keeping the far too numerous coyotes in the area from dining on the baby calves. It's hilarious to watch the family yellow lab get between the mule and the cattle. The mule becomes a whirling dervish of flying hooves and snapping teeth.

Lately the mule has picked up a bad habit. We have a 6-week old baby bull calf that the mule has started to chase. I mean high speed action-he gets the calf right on the end of his nose and runs as hard as the calf can run-all the while attempting to bite the calf in the back. It's got to the point that the calf just runs through the electric fence to escape. We've tried firing a shotgun over the mules head to no avail. Leaning towards a bb or pellet gun. (my wife doesn't approve of loading a shotgun shell with some rock salt)

Now for the interesting question-Did anyone who joined this forum ever expect to see an post on mule control? Life's never dull on the Minnesota prairie.

On THIS forum, it's almost a normal subject!

A mule would probably treat a BB shot like a mosquito. I high powered pellet rifle would certainly be felt more but you might have to get into skin piercing levels if the mule is particularly as stubborn as a .... Oh wait.

I wonder if a heavy duty shock collar and remote for dog training might be more effective, assuming they stay in range. Animals are freaked out a lot more by small, harmless shocks than they are by by regular pain, as they are not accustomed to the feeling. Again, he might just eventually ignore it. Mules are a rugged beast.

Tough question. The mule better hope that the young bull does not have a long memory. He is going to get a lot bigger.

That mule is acting like a jackass.

You're right! We found that the negative attention of yelling, screaming, yelling and running after him just encouraged him. Seems to like the negative attention. He's really good with the kids so I don't want to get too rough with him. The old timers around here (my main mule guy is 99 years old and can remember farming with a team of 4 mules)advices not smacking him around. I guess I've got to outsmart him. So far I'm failing-waiting for the new TV show "are you smarter than your mule".

Is there any chance the mule is classifying the calf as a predator based on size ? That would also explain why yelling, shooting etc... doesn't help - you would probably do the same thing if a coyote was attacking the herd.

If the size of the calf is the problem then it should take care of itself with a bit of time and food as long as mules don't have long memories.

(mules have long memories, don't they ?)

So, you've not only got a mule, but also a "main mule guy".

Do you have, like, an Associate Mule Guy, too?

I love this place.

I'm waiting for "Mule: The Movie".

The beauty of living in rural Minnesota is that I do have a couple of Mule Associates-as they are only in their 80's they are quick to defer to the Main Mule Guy.

Followed by Mule2: Jackass

LOL Jorge!

Who's doing the soundtrack for the Minnesota Mule franchise?

Ummm, Gov't Mule?

That was too easy...

They have long faces!

After thinking longer about this. I wonder if maybe you should corral the two together but with a fence between them for a time. This would give the mule a chance to get used to it and realize it's not a predator.

We did this when introducing our newest cat "Stewie" to the very appropriately named "Gimli" (kind of crusty in a friendly way and afraid of nothing.) We knew Gimli wouldn't take kindly to a new kitten at first so we kept Stewie in another room for a while where he eagerly presented his paws to Gimli under the door to play but Gimli just sat there and growled and hissed for a few days. Eventually, he got used to the scent and the idea of a new animal in the house and we slowly put them together. Now they are the best of friends.

If the mule can't be spared from coyote duty, then perhaps just fence off the calf somewhere still accessible. I know it's not "open range" for him at that point but it beats getting bitten in the ass by an ass.

I'll be drafting a letter to Warren Haynes as soon as I get a chance. Now for your daily report from "the Banks of the Deep End".

The mule and calf have reached an uneasy peace. We moved the herd to a new pasture and I built a spot in the electric fence where the calf can run under without getting a shock. (The mule can't) The calf now runs straight to that spot in the fence and jumps out into the soybean field. He stands their bawling for his mama-but at least he doesn't have to run for his life and he's too young to graze down the beans.

There's just something so right about the phrase "graze down the beans"

And yet, not "right enough" for you to make it your SIG line....?

Funny, I saw SIG and immediately thought SIG Arms as I own a SIG P229 in .40S&W

Scott

Now to really derail the topic, I also have one of these. Deadly accurate with pellets out to 100' or so.

Scott