squirrels
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The majority of the time I use a Marlin mdl 60 with a 4X Simmons scope. Early in the season, I use my Savage mdl 24, 22lr over a 20 gauge. Both will put a hurt on a tree rat! I much prefer my 22 though. Not nearly as loud and doesn't seem to run all the squirrel off. :ar15:
I use a Kimber of Oregon Model 82 with a Leupold 2.5-8X36 scope mounted on it. I have others that I use occasionally, but when I get I serious I get the Kimber. It is my squirrel gun, the others are rifles I can squirrel hunt with.
I hunt squirrels like other people hunt deer or turkeys. My camo stops just short of a gillie suit. I plan my hunts based on wind direction and speed, time of day, time of year, how much rain we've been having and whether I will have anyone with me or be hunting by myself.
I only take head shots, which means I have to pass on some squirrels. I don't shoot squirrels that will fall in the backwater or otherwise be lost. If at all possible I take young squirrels, those born this year. Until a recent mishap I used a rangefinder. It was a Bushnell Sport (169.00 on sale) and it was somehow misplaced on a weekend camping/hunting trip. I have shot squirrels at 80+ yards.
There are only two types of ammo that I use, Winchester Super X Longrifle hollow Points or CCI Velocitors. From my squirrel gun they both shoot great although they do shoot different points of aim. I have been using the Winchesters for many years. When testing the Velocitors I shot five five round groups with each brand from the bench at fifty yards. The Winchesters shot four groups that could be covered with a dime and one that was covered with a nickel. The Velocitors shot three that were covered with a dime and two that a penny covered. I can use the same point of aim from twenty-five to eighty-five yards with the Velocitors. They will greatly damage the meat if you get a body shot, but for head shots they are great.
This is probably more than anyone wanted to know about me so I'll shut it down. If there are any other diehard squirrel hunters and you would like to trade some trips let me know. Our season last until Feb 28th and I love hunting with new people. I always learn a new trick or two when I do.
edited to correct spelling, again
I hunt squirrels like other people hunt deer or turkeys. My camo stops just short of a gillie suit. I plan my hunts based on wind direction and speed, time of day, time of year, how much rain we've been having and whether I will have anyone with me or be hunting by myself.
I only take head shots, which means I have to pass on some squirrels. I don't shoot squirrels that will fall in the backwater or otherwise be lost. If at all possible I take young squirrels, those born this year. Until a recent mishap I used a rangefinder. It was a Bushnell Sport (169.00 on sale) and it was somehow misplaced on a weekend camping/hunting trip. I have shot squirrels at 80+ yards.
There are only two types of ammo that I use, Winchester Super X Longrifle hollow Points or CCI Velocitors. From my squirrel gun they both shoot great although they do shoot different points of aim. I have been using the Winchesters for many years. When testing the Velocitors I shot five five round groups with each brand from the bench at fifty yards. The Winchesters shot four groups that could be covered with a dime and one that was covered with a nickel. The Velocitors shot three that were covered with a dime and two that a penny covered. I can use the same point of aim from twenty-five to eighty-five yards with the Velocitors. They will greatly damage the meat if you get a body shot, but for head shots they are great.
This is probably more than anyone wanted to know about me so I'll shut it down. If there are any other diehard squirrel hunters and you would like to trade some trips let me know. Our season last until Feb 28th and I love hunting with new people. I always learn a new trick or two when I do.
edited to correct spelling, again
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Tree "rats" as you so aptly call them, are still one of the best hunting experiences (imho) around. No matter how many whitetail and turkeys I take, and I do love hunting them, sq's are still enjoyable.
I think it's the sitting under a big Pecan tree and relaxing while waiting them out.
I've also got a small creek where I can wade in about calf deep water, seems to always put them off guard. They're more likely to stop and look rather than hide when they see you.
Limit here is ten a day.
I think it's the sitting under a big Pecan tree and relaxing while waiting them out.
I've also got a small creek where I can wade in about calf deep water, seems to always put them off guard. They're more likely to stop and look rather than hide when they see you.
Limit here is ten a day.
outdoortexas...wading a creek is a GREAT way to bag a few bushy tails! Done that quite a few times myself. One of my favorite ways, but don't get to do it much, is to float a stream in my canoe. Super quiet, and they never expect danger from the water. To do it right, you need two people though. The guy in the front takes the shots, the back guy controls the canoe. We ususally swap out after an hour or so so that both of us have shots. FUN FUN FUN!
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127 Posts
Now you're really talking my game 420!
Years back a couple of buddies and I made a regular creek trip on Lake Bridgeport in a flat bottom. Hunted on the way up, stopped for fried squirrel, scrambled eggs and gravy, then hunted our way back to the lake proper for meat to take home. Creek bank was full of critters.
I have a canoe service now and we teach primitive skills as well as fish. A buddy and I did a 32-day trek last spring on the Clear Fork of the Brazos. Only took freeze-dried veggies and lived mostly on sq's and catfish. Shoot a squirrel, use the liver and heart to bait droplines.
Getting carried away here, could go on for hours. But that's what I thought was neat about chris_ce thread, sq's are overlooked by so many people yet bring back a lot of memories for a lot of us!
Years back a couple of buddies and I made a regular creek trip on Lake Bridgeport in a flat bottom. Hunted on the way up, stopped for fried squirrel, scrambled eggs and gravy, then hunted our way back to the lake proper for meat to take home. Creek bank was full of critters.
I have a canoe service now and we teach primitive skills as well as fish. A buddy and I did a 32-day trek last spring on the Clear Fork of the Brazos. Only took freeze-dried veggies and lived mostly on sq's and catfish. Shoot a squirrel, use the liver and heart to bait droplines.
Getting carried away here, could go on for hours. But that's what I thought was neat about chris_ce thread, sq's are overlooked by so many people yet bring back a lot of memories for a lot of us!
Squirrels are the perfect hunting teacher for a beginner and can keep an old hand on their toes. For the beginner they are plentiful enough and inquisitive enough to make most trips worthwhile. For the more experienced hunter they can be the perfect way to get back in the swing. If you put limitations on yourself and equipment you can make hunting squirrels harder than hunting big game.
When getting them with a rifle gets easy, go for head shots only. When that gets routine don't shoot any closer than fifty yards. Try using a good handgun or even an air rifle. Sometimes I use an RWS Model 52 and that makes things interesting to say the least. All shots are taken at 25 yards or less. That puts demands on your stalking camoflauge skills that makes whitetails look easy.
Squirrel hunting is the perfect buddy hunt. Two people walking together can still be quite effective. Walking through the woods about 25 or 30 yards apart is another good method.
As has already been mentioned, they taste especially good when cooked at the campfire. Yes sir, squirrels are mighty good any way you look at it.
When getting them with a rifle gets easy, go for head shots only. When that gets routine don't shoot any closer than fifty yards. Try using a good handgun or even an air rifle. Sometimes I use an RWS Model 52 and that makes things interesting to say the least. All shots are taken at 25 yards or less. That puts demands on your stalking camoflauge skills that makes whitetails look easy.
Squirrel hunting is the perfect buddy hunt. Two people walking together can still be quite effective. Walking through the woods about 25 or 30 yards apart is another good method.
As has already been mentioned, they taste especially good when cooked at the campfire. Yes sir, squirrels are mighty good any way you look at it.
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127 Posts
Forgive us chris_ce, looks like this thread has gone from gun to hunt.
Something about those little critters though. I've had a few here on my place that were like pets, but I sure don't mind eating their cousins. Tickles me when I hear folks say they look too much like a rat and they can't eat'em. They should see the head (with eyes) floatin' in a pot over in Louisiana! or, some of those that still eat the brains! At least this ol' Texin does cut the head off.
In fairness to your original post chris, I've shot them with scatterguns depending on where I was hunting. Still prefer the 22, and dear old dad at 88 would still kick my butt if I didn't do the head shot thing.
Too, earlier I said ten per day, that's here in north Texas where they are so thick they are hunted 12-months of the year. Certain counties do have different limits, some even have seasons.
Best'
Jerry
Something about those little critters though. I've had a few here on my place that were like pets, but I sure don't mind eating their cousins. Tickles me when I hear folks say they look too much like a rat and they can't eat'em. They should see the head (with eyes) floatin' in a pot over in Louisiana! or, some of those that still eat the brains! At least this ol' Texin does cut the head off.
In fairness to your original post chris, I've shot them with scatterguns depending on where I was hunting. Still prefer the 22, and dear old dad at 88 would still kick my butt if I didn't do the head shot thing.
Too, earlier I said ten per day, that's here in north Texas where they are so thick they are hunted 12-months of the year. Certain counties do have different limits, some even have seasons.
Best'
Jerry
started hunting with a freind when i was about 17.we'd bring them home and clean them and she would cook them up for us.
some of the best times in my life.in fact this freind had to loan me a gun to shoot a marlin 22 mag. bolt action 13 years later i still have it.
most of the places i can hunt anymore are state forest and just not alot of them there. (that i can find)
some of the best times in my life.in fact this freind had to loan me a gun to shoot a marlin 22 mag. bolt action 13 years later i still have it.
most of the places i can hunt anymore are state forest and just not alot of them there. (that i can find)
I love squirrel hunting althought I ain't that experienced at it. I find them a bit difficult to skin! And they is a lot smarter when they see a feller with a rifle in hand, what is with that???/ heh heh heh.
I recently traded/bought, a nice ruger 22mag bolt gun. I want the challenge of head shots at 100 yards. Haven't gone yet this year cuz of work and work after work and then of course, work.
I lucked out and had some extra cash last year when Natchez had Weaver V16's on sale for 219 dollars.
I recently traded/bought, a nice ruger 22mag bolt gun. I want the challenge of head shots at 100 yards. Haven't gone yet this year cuz of work and work after work and then of course, work.
I lucked out and had some extra cash last year when Natchez had Weaver V16's on sale for 219 dollars.
i always gut em, cut off the feet & tail, unzip em all the way up the front to the neck. then i cut em a ring around the collar, hold their head and pull the skin off the back with a big pair of pliers. you can halve them up the spine and skin two sides seperate but you only got one head handle. :blink:
:usa: :beer:
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