Squirrel opener coming up!

[Barbaroja]

Now this thread has me thinking about squirrel hunting with my air rifle..... Managed to get one a few years ago with it as a challenge to get closer to my game before I shoot it. Got one at about 20 yards... 14.6 gr. Crosman Premier .22 cal. hunting pellet that chronographed at about 835 FPS IIRC. Right now I'm currently trying to get a nuisance red squirrel with it. There's no season on them in NY State and they can be taken at any time with no limit. But they never seem to stand still long enough for me.

Go get em! As far as them not standing still, another reason for shotgun use in the early season. Although it sounds like your situation is best served with your air rifle. Aim for the head we all know these critters are damn tough for their size.

 

[Smaug]

Now this thread has me thinking about squirrel hunting with my air rifle..... Managed to get one a few years ago with it as a challenge to get closer to my game before I shoot it. Got one at about 20 yards... 14.6 gr. Crosman Premier .22 cal. hunting pellet that chronographed at about 835 FPS IIRC. Right now I'm currently trying to get a nuisance red squirrel with it. There's no season on them in NY State and they can be taken at any time with no limit. But they never seem to stand still long enough for me.

I’m glad we don’t have the reds here; they sound like a real nuisance. We have chipmunks though, which are bad too.

 

[troy fairweather]

Ny has some new laws last I read, from what I got was in order to hunt it needs to be 600 fps and it looks like they classify it like a firearm. So does that now mean you can't shot in your back yard in town or a village unless it's under 600 fps which means you can't hunt.

 

[Smaug]

Ny has some new laws last I read, from what I got was in order to hunt it needs to be 600 fps and it looks like they classify it like a firearm. So does that now mean you can't shot in your back yard in town or a village unless it's under 600 fps which means you can't hunt.

Is it Just by fps? If so, 599 fps with a 30 gr. .25 cal. packs a wallop.

 

[troy fairweather]

Is it Just by fps? If so, 599 fps with a 30 gr. .25 cal. packs a wallop.

Ya but think you can't hunt unless it's 600 from what I've read, I've got to re-read it but we're getting more gun laws next week and don't feel like reading more carp. Not sure if we're allowed anything ovober 22 cal, think it says 17-22 but not over 22, N.Y. Is good about being just Vague enough so you really don't know the laws.

 

[Smaug]

Ya but think you can't hunt unless it's 600 from what I've read, I've got to re-read it but we're getting more gun laws next week and don't feel like reading more carp. Not sure if we're allowed anything ovober 22 cal, think it says 17-22 but not over 22, N.Y. Is good about being just Vague enough so you really don't know the laws.

OK, well MINIMUM 600 fps isn’t hard to get to, especially with .177. They should really focus on muzzle energy instead.

A .22 caliber air rifle sending the pellet at 650 fps or faster it’s going to be a gray squirrel gun.

PCPs will commonly send them at >800 fps for over 20 ft-lbs, and the domed pellets will blow right through them at those speeds.

 

[troy fairweather]

OK, well MINIMUM 600 fps isn’t hard to get to, especially with .177. They should really focus on muzzle energy instead.

A .22 caliber air rifle sending the pellet at 650 fps or faster it’s going to be a gray squirrel gun.

PCPs will commonly send them at >800 fps for over 20 ft-lbs, and the domed pellets will blow right through them at those speeds.

Ya should have been energy, thing that sucks most of the ones using air guns are so it's legal to shoot pests and game on there property in town or where there closer then 500 feet from a Neighbor. N.Y. Now classifies bb and pellet guns as a firearm. I see it says no one under 16 can own on now.

 

[Jeff62]

We’re finally getting a respite from the “feels like 105f” heat in Arkansas. I’ll be out soon with my 10/22 hunting the base ingredient for squirrel dumplings. Yes, I make scratch dumplings.
The saying I heard as a young guy; “It takes a lot of squirrels to eat a lot of squirrels” is ever in my mind.
I much prefer the gray squirrels. The fox squirrels are tough and taste bitter.

 

[12Bravo20]

I’m glad we don’t have the reds here; they sound like a real nuisance. We have chipmunks though, which are bad too.

We have both fox (red) and grey squirrels and I can tell you the fox squirrels are definitely more evil than the grays are. They throw acorns and walnuts at me all the time along with raiding the bird feeders and trying to break into the house. I once had one standing on the center line of a back road acting like he was going to jack my motorcycle. I've also had squirrels chase away deer and turkey while I was bow hunting. The last squirrel to do that got launched into orbit with an arrow using a bludgeon tip.

People think I am crazy and laugh when I tell them that squirrels are evil and out to take over the world. Don't let their cute acts fool you. They must be stopped by all means (and eaten)

 

[Smaug]

We have both fox (red) and grey squirrels and I can tell you the fox squirrels are definitely more evil than the grays are. <snip>

Fox and Red squirrels are very different.

Fox are the biggest. Grays are 30% smaller, and Reds are half again as small.

 

[12Bravo20]

I guess it depends on where you live since fox squirrels are usually called red squirrels here in Missouri.

 

[22250Rem]

I've been on the south side of Lake Ontario most of my life and hardly saw any red squirrels until a few years ago. Did some research and in some areas they are called pine squirrels. Fox squirrels are a different critter from what I read. Regular squirrel (gray squirrel) season opened today but I was busy with other things. Also have an update to my previous post ( #25) about the nuisance red squirrels, and that's to confess that I finally got a shot at one and I missed. Was hiding in the woods next to the house with the air rifle and it came across the back of the house and then stopped in front of the concrete step of the back door of the garage. Got it lined up in the scope and squeezed the trigger just as he started moving again. It took off at high speed like it was untouched and it probably was. Saw a mark on the concrete where the pellet hit but I'm pretty sure he was untouched. Lasered it at 18 yards so it was right in my zero range of 20 yards. It may have scared him severely because that was several days ago, and he hasn't been seen since. I may have to lay off the red squirrel hunting now that our regular gray squirrel season has opened.

 

[Barbaroja]

Tomorrow is the big day! I’ll be out at first light to try and get my limit. Just got done treating my gear with a tick repellent, just need to dig out a box at shells and I’m ready to party.