Rabbit, squirrel hunting ?????????

[Wabatuckian]

For squirrel, find a natural blind. Get a good dog that will lay next to you when you sit.

Watch and wait. You'll get a shot as long as they're upwind. The other squirrels will stop -- wait for it -- and shoot another. They'll eventually leave, but not before you've picked off a few.

Let the dog go retrieve them.

Now, if they're on the ground, let the dog tree 'em. The dog should go to the other side of the tree, forcing the squirrel around to you. Wait for it then take your shot.

Josh

 

[kingnereli]

Lazy???? Last hunt we took the dogs on it was 200 yards or more between trees and we made probably 15 trees, you walk that far in the woods chasing a dog and then tell me if it is "lazy"!!

But it is the dog doing the hunting.

I'm not opposed to using dogs for hunting but I've never been interested. Letting a dog do all the work doesn't appeal to me. To each his own but I'm sure that's what AZ hunter meant by "lazy."

 

[buckstopshere]

Best advice for Squirrel hunting is to pretend your Deer hunting!

That is when I see the most squirrels.

QFT. Best bow shot I made during deer season was on a frickin' tree rat.

 

[42769vette]

QFT. Best bow shot I made during deer season was on a frickin' tree rat.

only bow shot i made this year was on a squirel

 

[bowhunter_1978]

But it is the dog doing the hunting.

Letting a dog do all the work doesn't appeal to me.

Man, I wish I could find a dog that would not only tree em, but find em in the tree (which is not all that easy sometimes), then shoot em out, skin em, and cook em! That would be great!!

 

[kingnereli]

Man, I wish I could find a dog that would not only tree em, but find em in the tree (which is not all that easy sometimes), then shoot em out, skin em, and cook em! That would be great!!

I might start hunting with a dog if I could find one like that as well.

Although, between a dog and a wife I'd have most of that covered anyway.

 

[Wabatuckian]

Man, I wish I could find a dog that would not only tree em, but find em in the tree (which is not all that easy sometimes), then shoot em out, skin em, and cook em! That would be great!!

It's up to the dog to tree 'em and keep 'em on your side of the tree.

It's up to you to shoot 'em.

The dog should then retrieve the squirrel.

It's up to the wimmin folke to skin 'em out and cook 'em.

Josh

 

[Money17]

While out deer hunting I saw hundreds of squirels and bumped a few rabbits. The squirels are out there you just need to out smart them by seeing waht is ahead of you before they get scared and run further up the backside of the tree.

 

[AZ Hunter]

Let me know if you find one of those dogs.....

 

[patience0830]

count me in

Let me know if you find one of those dogs.....

I'm mighty cheap but even I would pay for a dog like that. You could charge admission to watch him work!

 

[Wabatuckian]

I have one of those dogs.

She's part Labrador, part Husky, part Wolf. Very loyal and intelligent.

YouTube - Nikki Talks About Her Love of Squirrel Hunting

Me giving her a pep talk the night before opening weekend.

Josh

 

[dodgetech]

Yeah I have always wanted a good hunting dog but I dont really have a lot of home time with my job and dont have time to train or take care of one.

 

[42769vette]

took the dogs out today for about 45 minutes. one race one rabbit then back home. a little hunting is better than none

 

[Wabatuckian]

Yeah I have always wanted a good hunting dog but I dont really have a lot of home time with my job and dont have time to train or take care of one.

A lot of the time you don't have to do much training. Nikki retrieves her bowl, and the black Lab's bowl at mealtime. A big appetite helps.

Then I started hiding the bowls around the house. I'd give the command to go find 'em, and I'd point at places for her to look. She was, in effect, hunting.

Took her into the woods -- she stayed by me. You must make sure you're dominant or they'll run. Popped a couple squirrels, took her up to them, said "squirrel" and "take", and she sauntered over and found them.

I made sure she was up on her shots, and after I gutted them, gave her the guts. She now knows squirrel = food and fun, which she gets when she pleases her master. Nothing more a dog could ask for.

Granted, she's one of the easier dogs to train. I have had on/off luck with Abe, the black Lab. He was rescued and indications are that he was abused when the previous owner tried to train him as a bird dog. It's frustrating and slow going. He's an excellent family dog but is scared of nearly all training tactics, techniques and aids I know of.

If you look for a dog with a strong hunting instinct and strong intelligence, the dog should pretty much teach itself by observing you.

Josh

 

[Indy_Hunter68]

Our method for hunting rabbit, is good ole' poor mans Brush Hunting. A few guys with shotguns, walking the woodline near an open field, or an area of woods with trails. Walk along in a wide line and 'call' your shots. Never hunted behind a dog, not sure if I am cut out for it. I guess when you've done something one way your entire life, it can be hard to change.
AND BTW......Last 2 years running, have reached our bag limit on more than one trip.

 

[bowhunter_1978]

A lot of the time you don't have to do much training.

There may not be all that much training to the "retrieval" part of it, but there is a ton involved in the actual "hunting" part. You can't just tell a dog "squirrel" and expect them to go out, find a track, run the track and tree a squirrel. Once you get that part down, getting the dog to stay treed as you walk in to them is another issue. Not to mention getting a dog to "lead" well (on a leash or lead) and not drag you through the woods, getting them to "load" in the dog box (by themselves with no help, lifting from you). Then there is the running of other animals by the dog, deer, rabbit, coon, possum, whatever the case may be. If I give my house dog enough treats and praise, he will retrieve cat turds out of the litter box and think he is doing a good job!!! If it were easy, everybody would have a squirrel dog. Just my

 

[Wabatuckian]

There may not be all that much training to the "retrieval" part of it, but there is a ton involved in the actual "hunting" part. You can't just tell a dog "squirrel" and expect them to go out, find a track, run the track and tree a squirrel. Once you get that part down, getting the dog to stay treed as you walk in to them is another issue. Not to mention getting a dog to "lead" well (on a leash or lead) and not drag you through the woods, getting them to "load" in the dog box (by themselves with no help, lifting from you). Then there is the running of other animals by the dog, deer, rabbit, coon, possum, whatever the case may be. If I give my house dog enough treats and praise, he will retrieve cat turds out of the litter box and think he is doing a good job!!! If it were easy, everybody would have a squirrel dog. Just my

Huh. Maybe training's just natural to me then. I showed her what I wanted her to do, and she did it from the first day on.

Josh

 

[6birds]

Huh. Maybe training's just natural to me then. I showed her what I wanted her to do, and she did it from the first day on.

Josh

It worked the same way when i trained the wife to retrieve, just a few slaps with the rolled newspaper.

Bowhunter, you must be doing it wrong!

 

[dodgetech]

Well I went out for about 3 hrs and tried some different tactics and no luck at all not even one today I seen one but could never get a good shot on it maybe my woods are just not populated with very many of them or somthing. Anyone know what to do maybe bait some more into the woods or something

 

[deer hunter]

Best advice for Squirrel hunting is to pretend your Deer hunting!

That is when I see the most squirrels.

I agree! I see a ton of squirrels while setting in a deer stand. Maybe they think I am a nut up there.