The absence of grey squirrels around pheasant feeders has been a common theme this winter. Lots of shooters are reporting seeing fewer than usual, and it would appear that the reason is down to a bumper autumn crop of seeds, nuts and berries which has sustained them for much longer than usual.
I don’t think the lack of activity around feed stations is necessarily down to a lack of squirrels in general. I am still seeing reasonable numbers around my shoots, but they aren’t queuing up for peanuts as I would usually expect.
Although the feeders didn’t have their usual allure, I was eager to get out on a woodland hunt. Grey squirrels were still causing tree damage and still needed to be controlled, and I was also desperate to put a new gun to the test.
I have been using the Daystate Blackwolf in its sub-12 guise for about a year now. It’s a great piece of kit but this is an airgun with serious power potential, so I was looking forward to trying the FAC-rated model which I had recently got my hands on.
Being a bit of a traditionalist, I have gone for the walnut stock but with the bottle option to give me plenty of shots. The Blackwolf’s high power potential should make it an awesome rifle for long-range work, but it was actually a bit too powerful for my needs to begin with.
I like shorter guns, so have gone for the 17in barrel version in .22 calibre. Straight out of the box, it was churning out around 45ft/lb. At that hefty output, it was pinpoint accurate with 33.95 grain Daystate Emperor pellets but it was running a bit fast for my favoured 25.38 grain Rangemaster King ammo.
Luckily for me, adjusting the Blackwolf’s regulator is not a complicated job and I soon had is spot on with Rangemaster King pellets. Running at a slightly lower regulator pressure, it is also quieter and delivers even more shots per fill.
Back to my hunting plans, and I had decided on a roving session in the woods. Being mobile would enable me to have a proper look around and hopefully identify areas where the squirrels were most active. The likelihood was that shots would be further than if I’d been targeting a feeder from a hide, so it would be a good test for the high-power Blackwolf.
Below top: The Daystate Blackwolf's easy tuning made it easy for Mat to adjust its power to suit his preferred ammo
Below bottom: Roving tactics were order of the day for this squirrel hunt
I was travelling very light, carrying little more than gun, ammo and a penknife. I also had a Hikmicro Lynx thermal monocular in my jacket pocket. I didn’t used to use thermal spotters for much more than clocking rats around the farmyard during nocturnal outings, but I have come to realise their value during daytime sessions too. They certainly help when it comes to spotting crafty grey squirrels up in their treetop haunts.
My first few scans around the woods proved fruitless but I eventually spotted a squirrel clambering around amongst a haze of twigs. It was a cold evening and the little critter’s head signature really popped against the chilly air, making it impossible to miss.
With so many twigs and branches in the way, there was no chance of a clear shot but I readied myself for an opportunity. Nestling against a tree for added support, I watched through the scope as the squirrel crept ever closer to the edge of the cover.
The unsuspecting squirrel eventually moved out from behind the natural shield. Gripping on to the bark of the main trunk, it was clearly presented in front of a very safe backstop about 30 metres away from me. I flicked off the Blackwolf’s safety catch, steadied my aim – applying a touch of hold-under as the shot was somewhat closer than my 40 metre zero – and squeezed through the trigger.
A ringing crack echoed through the bare trees as the pellet connected with its mark. The squirrel dopped like a stone before smashing down into the leaf litter. It’s always good to get off the mark during a hunting session, and it felt even better doing it with a new gun. The FAC-rated Daystate Blackwolf had passed its first test with flying colours.
Below top: Mat takes aim with the Blackwolf after spotting the first squirrel of the trip
Below bottom: There is no missing this squirrel's heat signature through the Hikmicro Lynx
Moving in through the woods, I continued to stop every so often to check for squirrels. Whether using a thermal spotter of just your eyes, it pays to really take your time when searching for bushy-tails. Don’t forget to check the ground, because squirrels spend a lot of time on the deck. And remember to check behind you too, as spooked squirrels have a habit of venturing back out as soon as they think danger has passed.
My thorough surveillance failed to reveal any more squirrels until I reached an area close to a grain-filled pheasant feeder. It was ironic, and very frustrating, to encounter greedy rodents raiding the gamekeeper’s offerings when they were still ignoring my peanut-loaded feeders, and I really can’t think of the reason for it. Nonetheless, at least I had happened across some squirrelly activity.
Two squirrels bolted from beneath the feeder as I tried to close in. One of them made the mistake of lingering once it had made it halfway up a nearby tree. Unfortunately for the squirrel, its new vantage point offered me a much clearer shot than when it was on the ground, and it paid the price for its hesitation.
With the sun just starting to sink beneath the treetops, I had well over an hour of light left. The pheasant feeder was evidently creating an area of attraction, so I decided to devote the rest of the evening to this spot. I didn’t have anything to sit on, which is not desirable when the ground is cold and wet, but the problem was remedied after a quick five-minute jaunt back to the car to collect my beanbag seat.
Back at the hotspot, I settled myself in against a hazel bush about 30 metres from feed hopper. There wasn’t a lot of cover but the leafless branches provided just about enough of a backdrop to conceal my outline.
Below top: Although they were ignoring Mat's peanuts, squirrels had homed in on the wheat in the pheasant feeder
Below bottom: Mat decided to settle in a comfortable shooting distance from the feed hopper
A long wait followed and I was just starting to wonder whether I’d made the right decision when a flicker of movement caught my eye. It was a squirrel making its way down the trunk of a large ash tree about 50 metres behind the feeder.
Rather than taken the seemingly safe route through the treetops, the hungry rodent hopped down to the ground and continued to pad its way towards the pheasant feed. I frequently lost of sight of it as it disappeared behind tussocks and fallen branches but it kept reappearing as it homed in on the wheat.
As the squirrel vanished behind another clump of vegetation close to the feeder, I took advantage of the opportunity to settle myself into a comfortable shooting position. With heels planted into the soft ground and forearms resting on my knees, I watched through the scope as the squirrel slipped back into view.
On reaching the feeder, the squirrel clambered up one of the wooden legs and reached across to coil before giving it a shake to release a small shower of grain. The little rodent then dropped back down to the deck and proceeded to feast of the nutritious kernels of wheat.
Below: Mat lines up on a grey squirrel as it feeds on the gamekeeper's grain
I had to hold my nerve because the squirrel made for a fidgety target as it bobbed up and down to pick grains from the soil. Impatience eventually got the better of me, and I decided to risk blowing my cover by clicking my tongue against the roof of my mouth.
The subtle noise was enough to make the squirrel sit bolt upright. There really was very little chance of it rumbling my presence as I barely had to move a muscle to finalise my aim and release the shot. Again, it was a solid headshot and the squirrel rolled over and gave one final kick of its leg before expiring beneath the feeder.
That turned out to be the last shot of the evening. I was expecting to witness a flurry of activity in the fading light but it didn’t happen – squirrels just aren’t behaving predictably of late. Nonetheless, I’d had a very enjoyable late winter outing and the FAC-rated Daystate Blackwolf had given a very impressive account of itself. Before too long, the evenings will start to stretch out and it will hopefully get its long-range credentials tested with some bipod work targeting grass-gobbling rabbits.
RIFLE: Daystate Blackwolf (walnut, bottle, FAC-rated)
SCOPE: MTC King Cobra
MOUNTS: Sportsmatch two-piece
AMMO: Rangemaster King .22
THERMAL SPOTTER: Hikmicro Lynx 3.0 LH25
JACKET: Jack Pyke Weardale Field Jacket
Article first published January 19th 2026
