I've never hunted, anything, at all. I want to give it a try. I want kill and eat something. I figure squirrel might be a good place to start. I don't own a rifle but figure I'd like to go with a .22 for this experiment. I've looked @ Ruger 10/22 and Savage Arms Stevens 300? Am I on the right track? Any inputs on gun, gear, techniques? I'm not looking to go big money, just the basics to get the job done.
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10/22 is a great all around 22. Grab a scope and get it zeroed. I zero mine at 25 yards. However, it's easier to shoot squirrel with something like a 410 while leaves are still on the trees.
As far as technique, get in the woods early, pop a squat and let things settle. Once you squirrels, shoot em.
You can stalk them as well but if you're just starting out, a passive approach might be more successful.
Good luck and welcome to the hunting club.
As far as technique, get in the woods early, pop a squat and let things settle. Once you squirrels, shoot em.
You can stalk them as well but if you're just starting out, a passive approach might be more successful.
Good luck and welcome to the hunting club.
Speedybruin4
Sharpshooter
- Sep 7, 2012
- 334
- 18
Either of those guns would work fine, with or without a scope. I've had the best luck going right after a rain or early in the morning while the ground is still damp. It makes it easier to keep quiet and sneak up on squirrels. You should aim for the head in order to preserve as much meat as possible. And once you get a squirrel, try it with BBQ sauce, it's a pretty good combo! Good luck!
IndianaResident
Expert
- Sep 3, 2010
- 1,439
- 48
It has been my experience that people that were raised around hunting under sell the amount of things to know. I would recommend taking someone up on a opportunity to go hunting with them. My father hunted as a kid A LOT, and while I've been an outdoors-man I mostly hiked, camped and the like. When I showed interest later in life he had a tough time coming up with "all the things to know" until actually going out in the woods and hunting with me. I quickly realized he had a TON of useful knowledge that just pouring out while in the field that he couldn't think of while we were just sitting at a table talking.
A lot of it was terrain, gun, game or season specific.
Crossing a fence or rough terrain safely with a gun.
Knowing the 4 rules and how that applies to hunting, how you position yourself (where you decide to hunker down and wait).
The list is endless to someone who hasn't even dabbled before but the majority of it is so simple that it is second nature to seasoned hunters.
Granted you don't have to know everything before you go, but if you are someone who likes the act of learning as much as the activity you cannot beat the classroom and the chance to meet a possible long term friend that comes with going with someone.
A lot of it was terrain, gun, game or season specific.
Crossing a fence or rough terrain safely with a gun.
Knowing the 4 rules and how that applies to hunting, how you position yourself (where you decide to hunker down and wait).
The list is endless to someone who hasn't even dabbled before but the majority of it is so simple that it is second nature to seasoned hunters.
Granted you don't have to know everything before you go, but if you are someone who likes the act of learning as much as the activity you cannot beat the classroom and the chance to meet a possible long term friend that comes with going with someone.
A coworker that squirrel hunts a lot says I should looking into .17HMR. His reason is that he has been frustrated with the variance in .22LR due to the mass production. He's had plenty of success with .22LR but has been frustrated with shots he's missed and feels she shouldn't. If he were to start fresh he would have gone with .17HMR. He's an engineer and loves to test and take data. He cites variances in .22LR shooting from a bench on rest.
Looking at Ruger's website, there are many models of the 10/22, which is best suited for small game hunting, and if I use a scope as mentioned how easy is it to mount and site in?
P.S. I am interested in the 10/22 as I am a bit of a Ruger fanboy. I love my P90 and P89.
Looking at Ruger's website, there are many models of the 10/22, which is best suited for small game hunting, and if I use a scope as mentioned how easy is it to mount and site in?
P.S. I am interested in the 10/22 as I am a bit of a Ruger fanboy. I love my P90 and P89.
I had an uncle that took me squirrel hunting. He always used a .22 Weatherby semi-auto (but he only needed one shot each), claimed taking them with a shotgun was not fair hunting plus sometimes buckshot would find it's way to the table and in to your mouth. First you need to look for a tree with "cuttings" underneath. Squirrels drop the telltale parts of nuts they don't eat. Find a comfortable place to sit and wait. You will likely hear them before you see them and just wait for a good shot.
He didn't prefer head shots because he liked eating the brains so he would take a lung shot if he didn't get a chance to "bark" it off a limb. If I hadn't witnessed this on more than on occasion I wouldn't have believed it. If the squirrel would come out a ways on a limb he would aim for the woof just under the squirrel and it would sort of knock the squirrel out more or less and he would walk over an give it a chicken style neck wringing.
I also saw one squirrel give him a pretty viscous bite when he grabbed it. I was about 10 or 11 at the time and I about busted a gut laughing and so did he.
He didn't prefer head shots because he liked eating the brains so he would take a lung shot if he didn't get a chance to "bark" it off a limb. If I hadn't witnessed this on more than on occasion I wouldn't have believed it. If the squirrel would come out a ways on a limb he would aim for the woof just under the squirrel and it would sort of knock the squirrel out more or less and he would walk over an give it a chicken style neck wringing.
I also saw one squirrel give him a pretty viscous bite when he grabbed it. I was about 10 or 11 at the time and I about busted a gut laughing and so did he.
I'm open to this, unfortunately the only one that hunts in my family is my brother-in-law. He lives in Southern Illinois about 2 hours away, and he mostly focuses on deer hunting. He also has a very demanding job that requires shift-work and I know his hunting time is limited and cherished (my sister can attest to that). The good news, he owns land! I'm going to bring it up to him and see what he says, but I'm going to make plans to go at it alone reading as much as I can.
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I'm reading the book Meat Eater: Adventures from the Life of an American Hunter, and he talks about "barking" them. I think he mentions a skull
stomp rather than picking the dazed squirrel up.
And yes reading this book is what has motivated me into giving this a try. It's a good book. http://amzn.com/0385529813
I have hunted squirrels all my life with a 10/22..You might wanna spend the 30 bucks or so and upgrade with a few Volquartsen parts to lighten the trigger pull down and after that it's just sighting it in for 25 yards and putting time in the woods.Best bet if new as mentioned is to go in early,pop a squat and wait.Take your time get a good head shot and enjoy some squirrel dumplins the next day..
Where are you located?
Where are you located?
This or figure out some way to get permission to hunt squirrel on a university campus. I could have killed 5 with 1 rock today in about 2 minutes. I've seen them run up to take Cheetos from under a table where people were sitting. These squirrels are quite brave but then again, it might have been a jalapeno cheddar cheese Cheeto so it was worth the risk, imo.
I was kinda being serious about the whole treestand thing, when I deer hunt I see at least 5 squirrels everytime. I maybe see 2-3 when I'm actually squirrel hunting. You just have to convince them your deer hunting.
As for your gun, I'm gonna say Savage MKII. For what they cost and as accurate as they are, they make the perfect squirrel gun. As long you have a good zero on your gun, you won't need a semi auto for follow up shots, but I've just always preffered bolt actions. Get what you want, not what some guy on the internet wants you to get, but don't leave out the MKII as an option.
I was kinda being serious about the whole treestand thing, when I deer hunt I see at least 5 squirrels everytime. I maybe see 2-3 when I'm actually squirrel hunting. You just have to convince them your deer hunting.
As for your gun, I'm gonna say Savage MKII. For what they cost and as accurate as they are, they make the perfect squirrel gun. As long you have a good zero on your gun, you won't need a semi auto for follow up shots, but I've just always preffered bolt actions. Get what you want, not what some guy on the internet wants you to get, but don't leave out the MKII as an option.
That was one thing I liked about the squirrels when I was in my tree stand. If they were carrying on like normal, you knew you were being quiet enough. For the place I use to get to hunt, 5 squirrels deer hunting would be about the first 20 minutes. So much meat getting a free pass in those woods these days.
I've had a 10/22 since I was a kid. Actually started hunting squirrels with my first gun - a Savage model 24 with a 22 barrel on top and a 410 on the bottom. Pretty slick squirrel gun - if you miss with the 22 you have a shotgun backup.
However, I now have a Savage 17HMR too and it is quite a gun. Just be aware it will be a lot more expensive to feed than a 22LR.
I'm less concerned with variance in the ammo, but I do like the flatter trajectory. I guess it depends on how far you are considering shooting, and if you want to worry about the range as much.
Be patient when trying to get a shot, and work on your marksman skills - always go for a head shot. Don't ruin any meat that way.
However, I now have a Savage 17HMR too and it is quite a gun. Just be aware it will be a lot more expensive to feed than a 22LR.
I'm less concerned with variance in the ammo, but I do like the flatter trajectory. I guess it depends on how far you are considering shooting, and if you want to worry about the range as much.
Be patient when trying to get a shot, and work on your marksman skills - always go for a head shot. Don't ruin any meat that way.
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