Ol' Badger
Member
Nope. Its all good. Unless they look ugly. This applies to squirrels too! 
Squirrel hunting
- Thread starter sorny
- Start date
- Status
sorny
Member
I live kind of out in the woods, so killing one in the yard is the same as going 50 yards back in the woods, so it'd be the same to me. But I was at my mom's place in Knoxville one weekend in a suburb a few miles from the airport and saw one and was thinking that there's no way I'd eat one that I killed in a city. I'm probably just paranoid but doesn't seem like it'd be ok. Seems similar to fishing out of a pond that's surrounded by smokey factories and eating your catch. I don't kill any squirrels in my yard anyways (nothing for them to damage) so I don't have to worry about it anyways.
Jeremae
Member
Started out hunting em with an Ithaca 16 gauge pump using no 4. Now use 22 only (marlin model 60). I really like using my climbing stand so I'm shooting down on them.
In college, the campus was over run with tree rats that would let you get with 20 feet of them. Was into frisbee big time so added tape style wheel weights to one and was able to take them on a regular basis. Most times they were killed outright but if I hit one it was at least suffuciently dazed that I could finish them by hand (well foot actually).
I like em stewed and fried but a friends wife fricaseed (sp?) some I shot one time and it melted in my mouth.
In college, the campus was over run with tree rats that would let you get with 20 feet of them. Was into frisbee big time so added tape style wheel weights to one and was able to take them on a regular basis. Most times they were killed outright but if I hit one it was at least suffuciently dazed that I could finish them by hand (well foot actually).
I like em stewed and fried but a friends wife fricaseed (sp?) some I shot one time and it melted in my mouth.
sturmruger
Member
My favorite .22 ammo for Squirrels is PMC or Wolf target. It is very accurate and is easy on the ears. Some of the super high velocity stuff is just overkill for Squirrels.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Recently, I've been using Wal Mart Winchester hollowpoints on squirrels. I may go back to solids -- while the hollowpoints are authoritative, they do a lot of damage. My rifle is a Kimber M82, with a 4X Burris compact scope. I've had this rifle for about 18 years now, and have killed a railroad car load of squirrels.
I like to practice at 50 feet on a 50-foot NRA 11-bull target. The game is to fill the magazine, and put five shots into one bull, shooting from the standing, unsupported position, and never taking the butt of the rifle from the shoulder. I don't rush, but I shoot fast, working the bolt from the shoulder. I like to shoot two magazines into each bull, and try to keep everything in the 8-ring. This is a pretty good standard for squirrel hunting, I find.
With the rifle zeroed for 50 feet, it is about an inch or so high at 25 yards, about an inch and a quarter high at 50 yards, and dead on again at 75 yards.
I hunt on my own place -- I can walk out the door and be hunting. For squirrels, I carry an over-the-shoulder bag (mine is a Claymore bandolier.) I keep a tobacco pouch of .22 shells, a pair of side cutters for taking the feet off, a Mr. Squirrel call (it really works), some clean paper (kraft sandwich bags are fine) for wrapping the carcasses, and handiwipes and disposable latex gloves in the bag.
If I wait until I get home, I use the latex gloves. Otherwise, I dress the carcasses in the field, and clean up with handiwipes.
I also use -- when I have them in stock -- my Rackensack Squirrel Hunter, a knife I designed for squirrel hunting. Unfortunately, family and friends snap them up as fast as I can make them.
I like to practice at 50 feet on a 50-foot NRA 11-bull target. The game is to fill the magazine, and put five shots into one bull, shooting from the standing, unsupported position, and never taking the butt of the rifle from the shoulder. I don't rush, but I shoot fast, working the bolt from the shoulder. I like to shoot two magazines into each bull, and try to keep everything in the 8-ring. This is a pretty good standard for squirrel hunting, I find.
With the rifle zeroed for 50 feet, it is about an inch or so high at 25 yards, about an inch and a quarter high at 50 yards, and dead on again at 75 yards.
I hunt on my own place -- I can walk out the door and be hunting. For squirrels, I carry an over-the-shoulder bag (mine is a Claymore bandolier.) I keep a tobacco pouch of .22 shells, a pair of side cutters for taking the feet off, a Mr. Squirrel call (it really works), some clean paper (kraft sandwich bags are fine) for wrapping the carcasses, and handiwipes and disposable latex gloves in the bag.
If I wait until I get home, I use the latex gloves. Otherwise, I dress the carcasses in the field, and clean up with handiwipes.
I also use -- when I have them in stock -- my Rackensack Squirrel Hunter, a knife I designed for squirrel hunting. Unfortunately, family and friends snap them up as fast as I can make them.
45crittergitter
Member
Another vote for #5s. I've been in love with them for 25 years. Penetrate like 4s but there's 100 more of them. You may not find them in a .410, though both 4s and 6s are available. 6s work well at the shorter ranges appropriate for a .410, but at those same ranges, say 30 yards or less, the 4s should pattern well enough and give complete penetration. Move out too far, and you will probably get holes in your #4 pattern with a .410.
Roland of Gilead
member
I really like hunting tree rats too. I have a purpose built 10/22 that I have more in than my deer rifle, I hunt squirrels/crows more than anything else. I have the Butler Creek Co-Polymer .920 barrel/stock and Volquartsen titanium action. You can be really still with the gun held at ready, and not get the shakes. I built it to be so light after I had a Nylon 66. I really liked that gun's weight, but it wasn't accurate enough for really long shots. With this set-up, my 10/22 is good out to 100 yards on a calm day with Federal Lightnings, no ????. I have hit little, good to eat squirrels at 75 yards and set them spinning. I still got the 66 for trap lines and a loaner. Anyway, this is my calm day set-up, being still and calling with a bellow call and my mouth.
On breezy days I usually leave my 10/22 at home and take either a single barrel 20 gauge 30" full choke gun I have or my 870 .410 Youth gun. #6 shot in either. If the wind is blowing I usually stalk more than I sit, just moving around looking up. See them run around, either call them in or move closer. I usually also carry my Mk3 .22 target pistol with the shotgun.
I like to shoot at crows a lot while I am squirrel hunting, they come in to chase the hawks that live on my place, and I call them, sometimes use decoys (crows and a Wal Mart garden owl that pisses them off) if its calm and I am still hunting.
I mostly hunt in an old pasture on my place, about 20 acres, sage with interspersed hickory and white oaks. Squirrel, quail, doves everywhere, and a good place to catch deer bedding.
On breezy days I usually leave my 10/22 at home and take either a single barrel 20 gauge 30" full choke gun I have or my 870 .410 Youth gun. #6 shot in either. If the wind is blowing I usually stalk more than I sit, just moving around looking up. See them run around, either call them in or move closer. I usually also carry my Mk3 .22 target pistol with the shotgun.
I like to shoot at crows a lot while I am squirrel hunting, they come in to chase the hawks that live on my place, and I call them, sometimes use decoys (crows and a Wal Mart garden owl that pisses them off) if its calm and I am still hunting.
I mostly hunt in an old pasture on my place, about 20 acres, sage with interspersed hickory and white oaks. Squirrel, quail, doves everywhere, and a good place to catch deer bedding.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Quote:
--------------------------
I mostly hunt in an old pasture on my place, about 20 acres, sage with interspersed hickory and white oaks. Squirrel, quail, doves everywhere, and a good place to catch deer bedding.
---------------------------
One great thing about squirrel hunting is you can get a lot of hunting in a small area.
I have plenty of land to hunt, but there's on small ridge near the house the produces all the squirrels a man can ask for. I've filled my bag in less than five acres of woods.
--------------------------
I mostly hunt in an old pasture on my place, about 20 acres, sage with interspersed hickory and white oaks. Squirrel, quail, doves everywhere, and a good place to catch deer bedding.
---------------------------
One great thing about squirrel hunting is you can get a lot of hunting in a small area.
I have plenty of land to hunt, but there's on small ridge near the house the produces all the squirrels a man can ask for. I've filled my bag in less than five acres of woods.
PCP Airguns
These rifles are my favorite squirrel hunting weapons. Extreeeemely accurate, plenty of squirrel killing power, a flat trajectory out to 60 yards, and with a little care I can with good conscience shoot up at elevated targets, unlike a .22lr. Another plus is with care you can shoot them in your backyard.
BTW, did I mention they were accurate.
These rifles are my favorite squirrel hunting weapons. Extreeeemely accurate, plenty of squirrel killing power, a flat trajectory out to 60 yards, and with a little care I can with good conscience shoot up at elevated targets, unlike a .22lr. Another plus is with care you can shoot them in your backyard.
BTW, did I mention they were accurate.
jojo
Member
I love squirrel hunting, its some of the best memories that I have of when my son was young. My mom was anti gun so my dad and I never made it out hunting, I try to make up for that!
I have used a .410, but once I got onto the .22 I neve looked back, much less work and from my experience a cleaner kill.
As to how do I handle them from the yard or woods. I eat them all, doesnt' matter where they come from. Squirrel or rabbit.
jojo
I have used a .410, but once I got onto the .22 I neve looked back, much less work and from my experience a cleaner kill.
As to how do I handle them from the yard or woods. I eat them all, doesnt' matter where they come from. Squirrel or rabbit.
jojo
mjb
Member.
Squirrel hunting is my favorite type of hunting. I hunt in south eastern Kentucky and many of my shots are at a distance. I prefer to use a 12 guage with an extra full choke. My best gun to use is an Iver Johnson single barrel Champion model. I aim for the head, but plucking shot out is not very difficult. I also like to use a Lefevre single barrel 12 guage. In the winter time I sometimes use a Marlin model 25 .22lr with a scope.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Shotguns are more productive squirrel hunting that a rifle -- no question about it. In early season, when all you see is the leaves shaking, a charge of Number 6s will usually produce a squirrel. When they're feeding on the ground, or have made you and are scampering away, a shotgun is what it takes.
My shotgun is an Ithaca Model 37 -- but I rarely use it squirrel hunting. I just like the spot-and-stalk game with the rifle.
My shotgun is an Ithaca Model 37 -- but I rarely use it squirrel hunting. I just like the spot-and-stalk game with the rifle.
- Status
