Dumb Squirrel Hunting Questions

[Swifty Morgan]

Where I live, EVERY tree is a live oak. I hate them. Good for absolutely nothing, and they kill off useful trees by crowding them out.

I am looking into baiting. Apparently it's legal here, and what I'm doing is basically pest control, so if it's not totally sporting, I will get over it.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

Check out this photo. Finally had some success.

I went out at about 7 a.m. instead of 4:30 p.m. There was more activity, and the squirrels seemed less spooky. I chased a whole bunch. Fired 4 shots. Killed one. I think the scope is zeroed too high for 50-foot shots, and it's tough, aiming at something that jumps around like a crackhead.

The .17 HMR is fun, but I miss out on shots because they're too horizontal. I don't want to shoot a rifle unless it's nearly straight up, to avoid problems with the neighbors, and I keep trying for head shots to avoid ripping the squirrels up. I think an air rifle is in my future. I went out with the 16 gauge later, but I saw absolutely nothing.

I was surprised at how stupid the squirrels were. I shot one, and then I walked a hundred feet and saw 2 more screwing around in a tree. I saw a bunch of them, right after shooting the first one. They don't seem to care.

I used Peltor earmuffs. Really neat. I turned them up so I could hear better than normal.

I plan to go get some bigger shot for the 16 gauge. Right now all I have is 8. Thanks for the help.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Check out this photo. Finally had some success.

I went out at about 7 a.m. instead of 4:30 p.m. There was more activity, and the squirrels seemed less spooky. I chased a whole bunch. Fired 4 shots. Killed one. I think the scope is zeroed too high for 50-foot shots, and it's tough, aiming at something that jumps around like a crackhead.

The .17 HMR is fun, but I miss out on shots because they're too horizontal. I don't want to shoot a rifle unless it's nearly straight up, to avoid problems with the neighbors, and I keep trying for head shots to avoid ripping the squirrels up. I think an air rifle is in my future. I went out with the 16 gauge later, but I saw absolutely nothing.

I was surprised at how stupid the squirrels were. I shot one, and then I walked a hundred feet and saw 2 more screwing around in a tree. I saw a bunch of them, right after shooting the first one. They don't seem to care.

I used Peltor earmuffs. Really neat. I turned them up so I could hear better than normal.

I plan to go get some bigger shot for the 16 gauge. Right now all I have is 8. Thanks for the help.

Try shooting the same target starting at 10 yds moving back 5 to 10 yds at a time and adjust your zero for the best trajectory for your usage.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

The .17 HMR is fun, but I miss out on shots because they're too horizontal. I don't want to shoot a rifle unless it's nearly straight up, to avoid problems with the neighbors, and I keep trying for head shots to avoid ripping the squirrels up. I think an air rifle is in my future. I went out with the 16 gauge later

I have the same problem with a .22 so I use a shotgun. 20 gauge works well, either modern or black powder. I got a sweet deal on a couple of cases of 20 gauge #5 from a store going out of business, so I shoot them in my 16 gauge with chamber adaptors. They work great, and 20 gauge is very close to 16 gauge, if you're hoarding the 16 gauge for bird hunting and don't reload.

LD

 

[Swifty Morgan]

That's a neat tip about the adaptors.

I whacked another rodent today. I finally have enough for lunch. The shotgun was much easier on the meat.

I shot this one in my side yard. I feel a little funny killing them near the house. I'm so used to the suburban notion that squirrels are cute little buddies we should feed. But the ones near the house are the ones I really need to kill, since they are the ones that will eat my fruit and vegetables and commit acts of vandalism.

Is it possible that squirrels react to the sight of a dead squirrel? I was walking around with this one hanging from my hand, and the squirrels out front went nuts.

Also, do the females usually smell worse? This one was more fragrant than the male.

 

[CLP]

The sooner you gut any animal you've shot the better the meat will taste and the longer it will last before spoilage sets in.
Removing the intestines cools the carcass quicker. You don't need to skin it, but at least gut it. A squirrel should only take a couple of minutes to gut. Shears are a good carry item. Inspect for wolves, then cut from stem to stern, scoop guts with index finger and remove with flinging motion. Continue hunting. After 5 or 6 more, you'll have enough for a single serving.

 

[CLP]

In my neck of the woods the Shag Bark Hickory nuts are the squirrels favorite food.
Many times I've sat near a tree and shot my limit of six without moving.

It amazes me this critters have bag limits- even here in Alabama it's 8/day/possession

 

[RedlegRick]

The sooner you gut any animal you've shot the better the meat will taste and the longer it will last before spoilage sets in.
Removing the intestines cools the carcass quicker. You don't need to skin it, but at least gut it. A squirrel should only take a couple of minutes to gut. Shears are a good carry item. Inspect for wolves, then cut from stem to stern, scoop guts with index finger and remove with flinging motion. Continue hunting. After 5 or 6 more, you'll have enough for a single serving.

Inspect for wolves?

 

[CLP]

Those nasty fat worms that burrow out of their body after you kill them.

It's why I was always taught to not hunt rabbit or squirrels until after the 2nd frost of the year.

My Grandma called them "wooves"- she had a thick Georgia accent. I assume she was saying "wolves".

I really didn't know what she was talking about until I shot a rabbit that was raiding her garden and found one crawling out of the rabbit's chest cavity in just the time it took to walk the 50 yards from where I shot it. I never ate or hunted rabbit or squirrel since (except rabbit at a restaurant).

.

 

[RedlegRick]

I have never seen one up here when I've shot one. Of course, I never hunt too early in the season, post frost hunter all the time. Upstate NY here.

 

[CLP]

I have never seen one up here when I've shot one. Of course, I never hunt too early in the season, post frost hunter all the time. Upstate NY here.

Ok. So not a worm. Apparently a "larvae". That the same thing as a maggot? Sounds like it's something that's mostly in the South.
This article has done nothing to inspire me to resume squirrel or rabbit hunting.

 

[RedlegRick]

I'm not worried about it. Worst case scenario, you're ingesting some extra protein. Just make sure the meats properly cooked, no problem. I ate grasshoppers during a survival course, once it's past your mind, your body doesn't care what it is.
Might go call my friends and let em know I might take a ride out to their property this weekend. Squirrel stew sounds nice about now.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

It amazes me this critters have bag limits- even here in Alabama it's 8/day/possession

Squirrels plant a lot of trees.

 

[RedlegRick]

Up here they got a great union (6 per day unless they're reds). Tough ones too, sometimes. More than once I had an unlucky one try to run me off when I dared set foot in his little patch of paradise.