Varmint hunting or varminting is the practice of hunting vermin — generally small/medium-sized wild mammals or birds — as a means of pest control, rather than as games for food or trophy hunting. The targeted animals are culling because they are considered economically harmful pests to agricultural crops, livestock or properties; pathogen-carrying hosts/vectors that transmit cross-species/zoonotic diseases; or for population control as a mean of protecting other vulnerable species and ecosystems.
The term "varminter" may refer to a varmint hunter, or describe the hunting equipments (such as a varmint rifle) either specifically designed or coincidentally suitable for the practice of varmint hunting. Varmint hunters may hunt to exterminate a nuisance animal from their own property, to collect a bounty offered by another landowner or the government, or simply as a hobby.
Targets of varmint hunting
The term
varmint is a
United States colloquial term for
vermin, though it refers more specifically to
mammalian or
bird pests, including:
-
Predators which can kill/maim domestic animals: badger, coyote,
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Rodents and lagomorphs that can damage croplands or pastures: beaver, gophers, groundhogs, muskrat, Coypu, prairie dogs, porcupine, and rabbits.
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Urban wildlife that can cause damage to buildings and properties, create mess/fecal pollutions, or carry disease: feral pigeons, rats, and squirrels.
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Birds perceived as crop destruction: crows and ravens, sparrows, as well as and Carolina parakeets,one of which was driven to extinction in part by pressure from overhunting.
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Invasive species, such as starlings and wild boar/feral pig, that are Predation or displacing desirable native species.
Equipment
Blowgun
Shorter
blowgun and smaller bore
blow dart were used for varmint hunting by
pre-adolescent boys in traditional
Cherokee villages. They used the blowguns to cut down on smaller raiding rodents such as rats, mice, chipmunks and other mammals that cut or gnaw into food caches, seed and vegetable stores, or that are attracted to the planted vegetables. While this custom gave the boys something to do around the village and kept them out of mischief, it also worked as an early form of pest control. Some food and skins were also obtained by the boys, who hunted squirrels with blowguns well into the 20th century.
[Smith, Jim "Crow". 2017. "The Modern Blowgun." The Backwoodsman "The magazine for the twentieth century frontiersman specializing in trapping, woodslore, survival, gardening, muzzleloading & homesteading". Volume 38. September/October 2017. Pages 58-60.]
Airgun
Air rifles are commonly used in built-up environments, where the targets might not be particularly far away but are high up on
trees/structures or in obscure corners, and the risk of
overpenetration,
ricochets and
stray bullet need to be minimized. Airguns are more powerful and accurate than blowguns, but much quieter and with less terminal damage than
firearms, and thus more suitable in
urban area and
suburban environments where
noise complaint and
gun safety can be an issue.
Firearms
Since varmint hunting is a form of
pest control, and minimally regulated by law, the definition of what constitutes a varmint firearm tends to vary by regional pests. The definitive varmints are ground burrowing animals such as
groundhogs and
prairie dogs. These animals are small, alert and difficult to approach closely, and hunting them requires a long-range, highly accurate rifle. Because of this, models labelled "Varminter" will generally fit the following characteristics:
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high-velocity caliber, for a flat trajectory (see external ballistics)
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lightweight projectile, designed for minimum overpenetration (see terminal ballistics)
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extreme accuracy, for the ability to hit small targets at long range (see accurizing)
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heavier gun barrel, for more consistent internal ballistics so the gun can be fired more frequently without its precision being detrimented by heat build-up
To reduce noise, flash, and hearing damage, silencers are sometimes employed on varmint rifles.
Examples
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Bushmaster AR-15 based Varminter model; includes extended heavy barrel, adjustable trigger, and no iron sights (being designed for dedicated use with telescopic sights).
[ Bushmaster AR-15 ]
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Remington 700 SPS: Has a 26" heavy contour barrel with standard features that include a hinged floorplate magazine, sling swivel studs, and a drilled and tapped receiver.
[ Remington 700 SPS Varmint ]
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Ruger No. 1 Varminter single-shot rifle; equipped with scope base and rings for telescopic sight, available in high velocity calibers with extended heavy barrels. While the trigger is factory set and locked, the trigger does include sear engagement and overtravel adjustment screws, which can be adjusted by a gunsmith.
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Savage Model 12 Varminter; includes adjustable trigger, and free floated extended heavy barrel, no iron sights, and a benchrest style stock.
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Sierra Varminter line of bullets; light weight, hollow point and soft point bullets designed for high velocities, minimal penetration, and maximum expansion needed for varmints.
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Henry Repeating Arms Varmint Express .17 HMR: Features a high-comb Monte Carlo style buttstock optimized for use with a scope, fiber optic sights, and an 11-round capacity.
Impacts on varmint populations
Hunting of varmint has typically been to reduce
crop loss and to stop predation of
livestock.
[Tellman, Barbara. "Varmint control in Cochise County over the years." (2005).] This hunting has imposed an artificial selection pressure on the organisms being hunted.
[Allendorf, Fred W., and Jeffrey J. Hard. "Human-induced evolution caused by unnatural selection through harvest of wild animals." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106.Supplement 1 (2009): 9987-9994.] The selection pressure on varmints is probably for younger reproduction ages and earlier maturity. Varmint hunting is also potentially selecting for behavioral changes that are desired, animals avoiding human populated areas, crops, and livestock.
See also
