Pest Control

Written by: Randy Mitchell

When controlling pests in your yard, or at other locations where a firearm can't be used, there are few more useful tools than the airgun. With the vast array of available airguns, you are sure to find one that suits your liking, and you can begin the precise and accurate removal of pests from your domain without having to resort to poisons or traps.

I began my sojourn in airguns due to the need of removing squirrels from my attic. All I had on hand was a Crosman 1377 pump-up pistol, and I yearned for something a little more powerful that would reach out further, as well as remain quiet so as not to disturb the neighbors. Now my airgun arsenal consists of quite a few different guns that not only cover my pest control needs, but my hunting needs as well.

When you use an airgun for pest control, you are making a conscious choice to make do with lesser power than even the lowly .22 rimfire cartridge. To make the best of this particular tool you have chosen, you need to maximize your accuracy. To this end, most airguns have some mechanism in place that allows you to mount a scope. With a scope, you can estimate range, get a better view of your potential target to determine that it is indeed a pest, and place the lesser-powered pellet where it will do the most good.

For most pest control, a low-to-medium powered airgun is sufficient. There are several makers out there who offer airguns in this category, among them RWS, Gamo, Tech Force, Crosman, Daisy, and Beeman, just to name a few. They come in a variety of powerplants, from CO2 to pump-ups, as well as the tried and true spring-piston powerplant. Airguns in this power level will easily dispatch most avian pests such as starlings and sparrows, as well as the occasional squirrel at the bird feeder and rabbits in the garden.

If your pests come in a larger package, such as raccoons and opossums, once again you will find a manufacturer with an airgun to suit your needs. The Beeman R-9 is capable of taking racoons at close range, and you can move up to some very impressive power levels with many of the pre-charged pneumatic offerings out there today. Just this week I called on my Beeman R-9 to dispatch an unwanted raccoon who had learned how to empty my bird feeder each night. One shot at 10 yards and my raccoon problem was solved.....and I didn't even disturb the dogs in the back yard doing it.


Poisons can be dangerous to the environment and aren't pest-specific. They are also expensive in most venues. Traps can be costly and must be monitored. So if you have a pest problem, consider the advantages that an airgun offers.....precision, quiet operation, and a source of continued enjoyment once the pest problem is under control.