Hunting Bushy Tails!

[CoastalPirate]

Oct. 12th looks to be the day Squirrel season starts! Now I'm some what new to this smoking gun deal because you will usually find me with a fishing rod in hand however, I believe this may be the easiest way to get into hunting like panfishing is for beginners. I've been given a deer rifle, a muzzle loader and 2 shotguns but I'm looking at possibly getting a .22 LR for small game. So back to the reason of this post. What advice can you give me about hunting bushy tails in general as far as guns preferred (.22 vs a shotgun) and how to hunt these little guys? Thank you so much for the advice if you have any!


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[big bend gyrene]

Used both .22 and shotguns and far prefer the .22, both for the sport of picking a clean kill shot as well as not spraying the body with pellets / making the squirrels messier to clean.

[Hoxnan]

Shotguns do just fine for squirrels if you use small game loads, you will have to pick BBs out of the meat though. If you're new to hunting/shooting a shotgun may be a better choice because the pattern gives you a better chance of putting him on the dinner plate. A .22 or .22 LR would do you just fine as well and damage less meat, although its a much smaller projectile meaning you'll have to be more accurate. As for hunting them (and other game) its fairly simple but can vary depending on how much hunting pressure they are/have been subjected to. In some cases they wont shut up and they're very easy to find, but the more wise squirrels will hush up at the sight of movement so you may just have to pick a tree in an open hammock and kick back for a while to draw them out. Hope his helps

[SHOWBOAT]

shotguns are for hunting squirrels in early season before any leaves fall or for those who can't show the self restraint not to through a projectile with a 3 mile range into the air. Squirrel hunting with a rifle is awesome. I would recommend buying one that shoots shorts. You might be amazed how many squirrels are more curious than scared of a .22 short and will come out to see what just happened to their buddy.

[SS-342]

Several ways I have hunted squirrels.

The method I like best is slipping through the woods early morning with a lot of fog. The fog wets the leaves and makes walking silently easier. We'll have plenty of those type mornings coming up soon. If you are lucky enough to have woods with cow trails that works great. Stay on the trail, walk slow, keep eyes and ears opened for squirrels. Watch where you place your every step. Slip through the woods like an Indian, slow and not making a sound. I use my shot gun in this type hunt.

On a dry, windy day, find a tree (Oak, Hickory, Pecan) they are feeding and sit, concealing your self and be very, very quiet. Late evening is a good time for this type hunt. Listen and watch for movement in the tree. I use a rifle and shoot for his eye. They have big eyes and you will be surprised at how you can train your mind to see mostly nothing but eye. It will look as big as a dinner plate when you get good.

When all the leaves are gone in the winter is the hardest time for me to hunt squirrels. They are real skittish that time of year because of like of cover. So, coming up will be the best time to hunt them.

A third choice would be to sit in a deer stand. They will cover you up and tell everyone in the woods where your are! If you use a shot gun, carry a few buck shot. You just might walk up a deer.

Happy hunting and you are about to have some of the best times of your life!

Let us know with a post and pictures. Squirrels are some good eating!

[big bend gyrene]

One method SS-342 didn't mention that I LOVE and that's hunting with a good squirrel dog. Best one I ever had was an absolute mutt with no formal training, but Lord she could tree a squirrel and would only bark while she had positive ID on it... if it moved she wouldn't bark until she found it / made eye contact again with it.

Over years of hunting with her, I only failed to spot a squirrel she was barking at on a single occasion. If I had to put money on it, I would say she had it in view and I was the one who failed the mission that day! She didn't need to use words to talk to me... her quick pleading glances at me 100% spoke the sentiment, "Can't YOU see it?!!!!"

[SS-342]

Gyrene is one hundred percent correct! Using a dog is best when all the leaves are gone in winter but not so good early in the year. Yes, I had my squirrel dogs too. They, like wise were just "yard dogs" but sure enjoyed hunting. I suppose a boy has a lot of time to get close to a dog but just as Gyrene said, we could communicate with each other without a spoken word.

Goodness, how did I forget? I loved those dogs and did we have wonderful times together in the woods.

Thanks for helping me remember!

[reelbad]

I hear Capt. Dave, aka Silverking has a neighbor that is very good at shooting squirrels. You might want to ask him.

[redbelly7]

Hunting squirrels w/ dogs is the new quail hunting. Since there are no or too few wild quail to hunt now, this is a great sport for anyone. And it's pretty hard for the martians to give you a ticket. I used to really enjoy wild quail hunting, but I could care less about release birds.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

JUST COME OVER AND BRING YOUR 22, SIT DOWN ON A DRUM BEHIND MY TRACTOR SHED AND YOU CAN SHOOT AS MANY BUSHY TAILS AS YOU WANT. I AM KINDA FED UP WITH THE LITTLE BUGGERS, THEY HAVE ALREADY PICKED MY NEW CROP OF PECANS, NONE LEFT. THEY COME DOWN THE TREES AND START DIGGING IN THE GROUND HIDING MY PECANS, THAT IS ABOUT 7-8 IN THE MORNINGS AND ABOUT 6-8 IN THE EVENINGS.
PA
SEMPER FI

[cotton]

Growing up rabbits were a staple at our house in MO. We owned several beagles and it was quite easy to shoot 8-10 in a day. Sweet and Sour rabbit is awesome!! I'm not familiar with shooting rabbits locally and I don't see many around. We only used 22s because we found it challenging. If I had used a shotgun, I would have never heard the end of it from my brother. It was easy with the beagles to just sit and wait for them to come to you.

[SS-342]

Growing up rabbits were a staple at our house in MO. We owned several beagles and it was quite easy to shoot 8-10 in a day. Sweet and Sour rabbit is awesome!! I'm not familiar with shooting rabbits locally and I don't see many around. We only used 22s because we found it challenging. If I had used a shotgun, I would have never heard the end of it from my brother. It was easy with the beagles to just sit and wait for them to come to you.

Cotton, that is another sport catching on locally but today they use bow/arrows. Back when I was a boy, we hunted at night with a spot light from the back of a pick up truck. We didn't have deer then but now it would be very illegal. Spot lighting rabbits were one of our weekend favorite sports. Yes, rabbit was some good eating!

Could you post the Sweet and Sour recipe?

Thanks

[cotton]

Could you post the Sweet and Sour recipe?

Thanks

I'll see if I can get it from my Mom. I haven't had it in 30 or more years.

[SS-342]

Could you post the Sweet and Sour recipe?

Thanks

I'll see if I can get it from my Mom. I haven't had it in 30 or more years.

[CoastalPirate]

Man I can't thank you guys enough! Futch I may be taking you up on your offer. Look for a pm soon. My friend is going to lend me his Marlin .22 until I have the money to hit up Kevin's for my own. Appreciate the advice, this site never fails to disappoint.


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