Squirrel hunting,,,,

[Onmilo]

Hard to believe, but in two short weeks squirrel season will open up again here in Illinois.
I am starting to get my stuff ready and am already getting itchy to be out in the woods.
We have both red or fox squirrels and the smaller grey squirrels and depending on where one lives, or hunts, one or the other will be the abundent species.
In my area there seems to be more greys than fox squirrels this year.
I have three favorite weapons for hunting squirrels,
A Model 63 Winchester .22LR semi auto rifle, a Smith and Wesson Model 41 .22LR semi auto handgun and last year I started shooting a Baikal IZH-27 over under 12 guage shotgun choked modified/full.
I use the shotgun and the handgun during the early part of the season when the cover is heavy and I can get up close and generally use the rifle late in the season when the leaves are down and the squirrels are jumpy and longer range shots are the normal practice.
I have had luck with all three of these guns every time I take them out so I think I will keep using them.
CCI Mini Mag solids and Winchester Super-X hollowpoints are my chosen .22 cartridges with the solids being used more often in the rifle and the hollowpoints being loaded into the handgun.
Winchester Super-X 1/14 ounce 3 3/4 dram #5 Field loads for the shotgun.

I like eating the critters cut up and fried or coated with Shake and Bake and done up like a chicken.
Mashed potatoes with pork or chicken gravy and buttered sweet corn make nice additions.

Anybody else here like to hunt tree rats and care to share a favorite hunting firearm or squirrel recipe?

 

[nramember2]

I squirrel hunt quite a bit. I use a 17hmr. It is a blast. If you can see it, You can shoot it. I have actually hit them at over 100 yds. I have also used the 17hmr for groundhog. The furthest i have gotten a groundhog is about 135 yds. But if you eat the squirrel this might not be the gun to use. Some of them are pretty tore up.
Years a go I used mainly a S&W M22A pistol. My wife took a liking to that gun and had me put a red dot on it. I used to have a scope on it.
Another thing to try is a #110 conibear trap. now that is a challenge to bait them in. You would have to buy a book on trapping to see how this is done. It is hard to explain the set up.
I have done alot of trapping. It gives me an excuse to go in the woods every morning. I work for my self so i go check the traps early and then go to work. I usually carry a dispatch weapon [Marlin 22 rifle] and i see many squirrels on my trap line. So if you want an excuse to Squirrel hunt every morning, buy a book on trapping and go from there..

google [Tom miranda trapping]

 

[~z]

I was just thinking about making some squirrel gravy this weekend and decided it would require some fresh squirrel. I generally hunt with a .22 and use CB longs as they don’t send everything running for the hills. I usually clip the hind legs off and soak them in a mixture of tenderquick and brown sugar and cheap beer for a few hours. The rest of then go in the pressure cooker with onions, jalapenos, and some misc dry spices and water. Cook them down and then flake the meat off the bones and then add that back to the juices to mix up white gravy and add cream cheese to thicken it up. Then the legs get pepper crusted and go on a hot grill to sear the outside. Mashed taters and asparagus go well with everything.
~z

 

[220_Swift]

I can't wait for the season to being. Early season I use An old Savage 22/410 ou that was passed on to me by my wifes grandfather. Later in the year when the foliage isn't so thick, I will break out the 17hmr. I have had excellent results with the 20gr gamepoints on squirrel. Not nearly as destructive as the 17gr loadings. Good hunting,

 

['Card]

I don't squirrel hunt all that often anymore. In the areas where I hunt it largely overlaps deer archery season, and that's my first love so I spend most of my time doing that.

But when I do go squirrel hunting? I've got an old Remington 870 Wingmaster 16-gauge I like to use. It's got a nice tight pattern on it that lets me reach out and touch 'em from way downrange.

 

[eastwood44mag]

Most of mine are shot with a 20 gauge. Shake and Bake until you have squirrel jerky . Gotta make stew to really enjoy them, though.

 

[KIMBER45TLE]

Squirrels

I use a Ruger 10/22 with folding stock and flash suppressor with a 4 power Golden Antler scope. Head shots. Most of our stock down here is grays but we call them "cat Squirrels."

Skinned, quartered and into a crock pot along with potates, carrots, a little onion, mixed seasonings, and jalapenos. Cook all day then serve with bisquits that evening. Add duplings from time to time.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

Where I live at these home owners "birdfeed" a kazillion squirrels. You are always welcome to come and kill them all and you don't have to go into the woods to do it!