Wasp Nest

[Magungo1066]

Hello all! I love wasp nest as wadding for my fowler, but for obvious reasons its trouble to keep it consistently "in stock" Does anyone have any tips for sourcing it? Just walking around the woods in the late fall and winter? Thanks!

 

[Sam squanch]

I have a bumper crop of wasps. Come on down and get what you need……

 

[Sam squanch]

Also a big hornet nest. Come get it now while they are active, the best will be fresh that way, sealing the bore of your musket better….

 

[Magungo1066]

Also a big hornet nest. Come get it now while they are active, the best will be fresh that way, sealing the bore of your musket better….

Getting it while their active is a delicate science haha

 

[FishDFly]

Check with local farmers/ranchers who have barns and lean too's, they will have plenty of wasp nests.

 

[Sam squanch]

Seriously, go check out an old farm with outbuildings late fall or winter. Check behind doors and such.

 

[FishDFly]

Getting it while their active is a delicate science haha

Nah, just gotta run line you stole them.

 

[Sam squanch]

Or you can get a hornet nest tag to get one in season. Creep up on one , within 10-15 yards, and shoot! Wear your running shoes…..seriously, if you find a huge hornet nest, they are worth$$ to the right people.

 

[Magungo1066]

Check with local farmers/ranchers who have barns and lean too's, they will have plenty of wasp nests.

I have farmer I used to work for who I am going to visit tomorrow! If I find any ill remember where they were and come back once the temperatures cool

 

[Sam squanch]

I see a business opportunity. Trained hornets, making nesting material in a controlled environment……..

 

[Sam squanch]

Don’t go see any farmer you used to work for. If you do, you may be put to WORK. Wear your good clothes, and say you were just passing by…..

 

[thompson50]

I always keep my eyes open during early season scouting. The bald face hornet makes a big paper nest. They most always make their nest in pine trees. I have found most of mine in white pines.
Just like hunting big game, study the animal you’re looking for. Best of luck

 

[Sam squanch]

I’m going to go work on my hornet costume. Wearing it may persuade the local hornet population to work for me. Or it may just get me stung.

 

[Colonial Boy]

This is ever a place to learn!
I’d never heard of using wasp nest before; we have a small black wasp that makes a paper nest but whose sting is extremely intense, but fortunately the pain only lasts for a fraction of a second.
If I find an abandoned nest I might give it a try……I might.

 

[hawkeye2]

I see a business opportunity. Trained hornets, making nesting material in a controlled environment……..

Nests from free range hornets are far superior to those from domesticated hornets.

 

[FishDFly]

I’m going to go work on my hornet costume. Wearing it may persuade the local hornet population to work for me. Or it may just get me stung.

Might try "flashing" them to see what happens. Could scare them to death.

 

[user 49399]

I use wasp nest too and it’s sometimes hard to find. The waspers here on the farm only make so many nests and I use those up as soon as I can. I like to use paper cartridges for shooting round balls in my smooth bore and wasp nest for shot. If I don’t have any wasp nest I’ll just use some other type of wad like brown paper or felt.

 

[Magungo1066]

This is ever a place to learn!
I’d never heard of using wasp nest before; we have a small black wasp that makes a paper nest but whose sting is extremely intense, but fortunately the pain only lasts for a fraction of a second.
If I find an abandoned nest I might give it a try……I might.

Every gun has it own specific likes, but I have found wasp nest to be an exceptional wadding material in two different fowlers. The more I think of it the risk of some bee stings may be worth it to be able to have some of this stuff on hand lolol

 

[Grumpa]

Years ago, paper wasps built a BIG nest in the ivy running up the stones by my front door, just above my head height. I left them alone, and they never bothered the Family ( or postman or newsboy). Me and my oldest daughter often stood 5 or 6 feet away and watched them. One or two would scout us out, but they seemed to understand that we meant them no harm.
One morning, I came home from work and found the nest destroyed. The temperature had fallen below freezing, and a woodpecker had perched at the bottom of the nest, and ate his way right up through it! The only clue was his distinctive footprints in the remaining bottom of the nest.
Lesson learned: Mr. Woody knew the subfreezing temperature would kill all the wasps but the queen. (She will start a new nest come Spring.)
So, time your nest harvesting accordingly, to avoid painful, possibly fatal, stings. Good hunting.

Richard/Grumpa

 

[necchi]

Just walking around the woods in the late fall and winter?

I've actually found most "Paper Wasp" nests in residential areas. Don't know why, but they seem to be creatures of the edge. Where buildings are near the outskirts of cities. Under the eves of sheds, pole barns even new built apts in newer developed areas. Usually on the north side or shaded areas because they don't like the temp swings. Walk the edges of wildlife management areas to look for hives in the fall, 10-20ft in,, or around the same distance of fields or swap/lake where "open" changes to woods,,
I think they like what's called a "fly zone"