It's about even between day and night. But yes, traps are more effective. For bulk, durability, versatility and actual need, I'd rather carry snare wire. I've never had a mouse trap that I was really happy with, but rat traps will work.

That being said, a good, small bore, low velocity pistol is good for prey of opportunity.

Traps are dandy if you are staying in one place. They don't work so well for targets of opportunity or if you are moving along a trail. Adding a .22 or .177 will allow you to collect the rabbit or squirrel you happen across while gathering wood, etc.

I thought that was the point I was making... Oh well, I'd been awake almost 20 hours when I posted, I might have been a little braintied.

Looking back, it was. I'm at the point of dead week for Spring semester. It's living up to it's name for this one.

I have owned, and shot extensively, most of the popular air gun mentioned above. I agree with Susan, don't waste your time; get a .22 and be done with it.

A .22 will, of course, make plenty of perhaps undesireable noise compared to something like a spring-air gun if a degree of stealth is of interest. On the other hand, something like CB Longs or CB cap .22 ammo (CB Longs are preferable IMHO) will be almost as quiet as a pump-up or high powered CO2 air rifle. That is, of course, a terrific advantage of a .22 arm, a very high degree of flexibility and efficiency.

Air guns are fascinating, though, and in many instances can be used and practiced with at home in your garage or basement safely and without attracting attention (observe all applicable local laws and ordinances of course, and use a proper backstop, target trap, and eye protection). Practice makes perfect (and is fun), as they say. For further information on air arms of all kinds, I can highly recommend the Air Gun Digest, which use to be published every few years. Don't know if they publish it anymore, but the old editions are absolutely fascinating if you have the slightest bit of interest in the sport/hobby.

LOL- I won't jinx you by wishing you beneficent fate as influenced by random events.

Or in the living room, if the land lord doesn't know and you don't miss.

At least a few of us, in this particular topic, when refering to .22 mean a .22 PELLET gun, as opposed to a .177/BB pellet gun. A .22 pelet gun makes no more noise than a .177, just hits harder. A .22 cal rimfire is a horse of another color...

i'm not going to read ALL those posts in response to your
pellet gun question,but i would say--worthless..i have and
fool around with one and at useable range you could kill
a small animal or bird with a good sling shot and make no
noise.in real life i would use shot shells in a 357 pistol
or a chamber reducer in a rifle..