Walk -n- Shoot in SEPA?

[jonnyc]

Other than private land (I only have 3 acres), is there anyplace in SEPA where you can just walk in the woods with a .22 pistol and pop off at squirrels? Just about any place I can think of would have rounds landing outside the walking area if you aimed at a treed rat.

 

[Kleanbore]

I wouldn't consider that prudent in any location in which one could not be certain that there as no one else within about a mile.

 

[1942bull]

I live in SE PA, and I know of no such place. If I did I would not go near there. Even the humble 22 can travel far and harm someone. The shooting described in the OP is without backstop. That means if the bullet does not hit and stopped by the target it travels somewhere. I do not want to be in that somewhere.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Not sure if you are anywhere near a National Forest, but recreational shooting is legal in most of them, so long as you follow local regulations for distances off roads, trails, from homes, yada yada. A small game or varmint license may be needed as well for squirrel killin.

 

[Pudge]

First of all, in PA squirrels are a game animal. What you are talking about is called hunting, whether on private or public land you need to be licensed and follow the game laws. The season ended Feb. 29.

Second, Pennsylvania has significant tracts of public land open for hunting. The State Game Lands are a fantastic resource. Check out Game Lands 43, 157, 139, and 234.

 

[jonnyc]

Thanks 460 and Pudge, you actually read my post and provided usable (or in my case unusable) info.
The reason I asked was that I often read posts by guys saying they do just what I described. Sounds a little "olde tyme" and fun, was wondering if there was a suitable location.
Guess not.

 

[ATLDave]

In addition to the safety and hunt regulation issues noted above, many people are surprised by how scarce/skittish squirrels are in the deep woods. Most of us are accustomed to "civilized" squirrels that hand around bird feeders, public park litter, and other human-maintained food sources. The abundance of this human-sourced food allows high population densities, and the individual animals are desensitized to humans. As I type this, there is one on a bird feeder that would be within my 6' social isolation perimeter - though there is a pane of glass between us.

If you get out in the wildnerness, you won't see the same thing. Squirrels there face higher levels of predation and compete with various other animals for the naturally-occurring food sources. They're not desensitized to humans. So there are fewer of them, and they are more skittish. Except during seasons where there is an abundance of food out (acorn season), you're not likely to go tramping through the deep woods and see lots of squirrels within pistol pot-shot range. There may be places where this is not true, but if you're expecting suburban rates of squirrels being within 50', you're overwhelmingly likely to be disappointed.

 

[Kleanbore]

The reason I asked was that I often read posts by guys saying they do just what I described.

They say they "pop off at squirrels" while walking in the woods without a backstop?

i understand prudent and safe hunting, but that implies knowing where the bullets will stop.

A rifle is a much better choice than a pistol.

 

[buck460XVR]

Thanks 460 and Pudge, you actually read my post and provided usable (or in my case unusable) info.
The reason I asked was that I often read posts by guys saying they do just what I described. Sounds a little "olde tyme" and fun, was wondering if there was a suitable location.
Guess not.

The advice given here is sound. You have to realize that because game laws differ so much from state to state, that just because you read it here doesn't make it legal where you are at. Gets even worse when one starts to talk ethics. For instance, where I live, a landowner does not need a license to hunt rabbit or squirrel(and some other animals on their property) and they can hunt them on their own land, year round. Once off their property, like non-landowners, they need a license and must hunt within the open season. Yet they need a license to hunt deer, must hunt them only within the open seasons, and must follow all the other regs the rest of us do. IOWs, know the law, before you step outta the truck and start hunting. Some public hunting areas have special regs too, so be aware. Most state web sites have a "contact us" link, where you can e-mail or live chat with a representative. These are great places to ask questions.

 

[Jack B.]

Years ago (30+) I moved from Maryland to Florida. I lived on a 1000 acre farm and had neighbors with similar land and I was used to just walking out of the house and go shooting. When I first moved to Florida I lived in a small house with about 1/2 acre of land. One day I went hiking in a nearby woods looking for a place to shoot. I got lucky and found a big mound of dirt with nothing behind it. No houses or anything. I went back to my house and got out a .357 magnum revolver, went back to the mound , checked all around. I found no people ,no home's or anything. The place was deserted. I placed a cardboard box with a target on it at the base of the mound and started to target practice. I was being as safe as anyone could be when an Orange county deputy pulled up behind me and motioned me over to his car. He asked me if I owned the land I was shooting on. I said no. Then he asked me if I had written permission from the owner. I said no and didn't know who owned the land. He then told me I was armed trespassing and committing a Felony. He told me if I pack it up and leave and not come back he would let me go my way. Boy did I learn a lesson on shooting on property that's not mine. My advice is, unless you have a lot of land , go to an established range to go shooting and don't just wander off into someone else's woods to go shooting. Get permission and check your local laws before you shoot.IMO

 

[Pudge]

Thanks 460 and Pudge, you actually read my post and provided usable (or in my case unusable) info.
The reason I asked was that I often read posts by guys saying they do just what I described. Sounds a little "olde tyme" and fun, was wondering if there was a suitable location.
Guess not.

It totally is "olde tyme" and fun! Take a hunters safety course and get a license. Start now, head out to some Game Lands that aren't too far off and take a hike a couple of times a month, they're open to the public. Take note of where the mast producing trees are. Come fall, should you harvest a few, you'll get to learn how to dress and cook them.