Squirrel hunting 2010/2011 season

[Jack Ryan]

Yeah, I didn't really mean anything, I just hate botfly's and their larvae... anything that lives under your skin feeding off of your tissue just fkin creeps me out.

....adding a few pic's to show people who may not have seen these things....

Yep, their nasty. It's too frigging hot and buggy to be hunting right now any way. I'd rather fish, weather's just right for that now.

 

[E5RANGER375]

Maybe a .22mag pistol with your shot gun. I usually only take my rifle, cause using the shot gun just isn't fair.....

i've missed a couple with a shotgun before and im not a beginner by any means. im sure they took some pellets, but they got to cover quickly. its amazing how flat a squirell can get on a branch when hes being shot at

i think the shotgun is plenty fair. if anything the rifle isnt fair. its just like pickin corn

 

[POC]

When I was a kid I had a 20ga Stevens SS I'd use for squirrels. I hit many with it that didn't fall out of the tree, and yes they can get flat, and it's amazing how fast they can move through the trees.
I'm surprised I didn't shoot myself or at least break a leg, running through the woods shooting and reloading that gun without taking my eyes off the squirrel running through the trees.
My dad wouldn't let me hunt by myself with a rifle when I was a kid. He said he didn't want me hurt with a bullet in me, at least a shot gun would probably kill me.... I think he just didn't know if I'd keep my head about me with relation to where the neighbors houses were.

 

[Squirrel Dog]

Use several .22"s during the season. Like to change back and forth. I used to really enjoy still hunting but now unless one of my squirrel dogs trees it I don't shoot it. Now more about enjoying the dog work than how many squirrels I get. So far in my area this year numbers look pretty good and mast crop good as well.

 

[Punisher270]

Went to Wilbur wright, only saw 1 fox squirrel, and missed no squirrel stew yet for me

 

[Dewidmt]

Went out last Tuesday. Still too hot, too many mosquitos still around. I only hunt squirrel with a rifle. It's too easy with a shotty! Hunt my own property, plenty of Greys running around. Dad got one and I just watched one run around about 50 yards off. Way the weather is going, might be Mid-Sept. for it cools off enough for good hunting.

 

[cooldadg]

Going saturday morning with son, bbq squirrel saturday night

 

[Cain71]

Killed 4 on Sat morning, frying them for supper as I post, good eating.
And yes I did use a shotgun, a H&R topper Jr. 28 gauge.

 

[fureater46902]

I need advice

So I have always enjoyed the rare treat of squrrel from time to time when someone has it. I would like to go get my own tree rats. Has anyone gone hunting in missinawa for them? Also I have never gone hunting myself... so im looking for hunting etiquette and tips. I have firearms expierance and training but it has all been target and tatical shooting. I was planning to use a .22lr. Is that a good gun to use since the animal is so small? and where is the best place to shoot the animal (head, Lungs, or somewhere else). Thanks im a novice to hunting.

 

[Joe Williams]

The .22 is a great choice for squirrel. Accurate, and doesn't blow the poor little thing up, leaving you meat to eat. I usually shoot for the heart/lung area. It's a more sure shot, a less than perfect shot is more likely to still vitals hit and deliver a quick kill, or at least anchor it long enough to deliver a fatal follow up. The head is a smaller target, and they are often looking around. I tend to pass on them unless they are sitting really still, and winds are calm.

Downside to the heart/lung shot is you'll lose some meat. The bugger can also sometimes run a little way before dying, even with a solid hit. Squirrels are tough critters. Downside to a headshot is that if you miss, you run the risk of inflicting a wound that is not immediately fatal (such as blowing off the nose or lower jaw,) leading to a lost animal that is doomed to a slow and painful death.

Avoid gut shots at all costs. You'll ruin the meat (IF you recover the animal) and they are not quickly incapacitating.

 

[fureater46902]

whats the best way to clean them... never done that before...

 

[RelicHound]

I went opening day and got a limit.
Its just to dang hot rite now. I used a mossberg .22lr with CCI velocitors..which is a wicked little rounds for the .22lr. I usually put the cross hairs rite on their neck where the base of the neck meets the shoulder..if I shoot to far forward I'll get a head shot,miss to the rear Ill hit the main vitals. I had one opening day that I shot way to far towards the rear but slowed it down enough that I was able to put another in the head.

 

[RelicHound]

whats the best way to clean them... never done that before...

I put a slit in the fur rite in the center of the back..just big enough to get 2 or 3 fingers in on both side of the slit and then pull the fur in opposite directions and peel the fur away from the meat..chop the feet off and head then cut the belly open and yank out the innards..also split the pelvis open and make sure ya clean that out real well as there is almost alway poo stuck in there.

 

[maarlborogto]

got 9 so far woulda had more if my .22 revolver was sighted in one of thoes days

 

[Joe Williams]

We are hoping to head out again in the morning, if the rain will hold off. Temps should be wonderful, and the critters can be active just before storms.

 

[IndySSD]

We are hoping to head out again in the morning, if the rain will hold off. Temps should be wonderful, and the critters can be active just before storms.

Great call on this strategy, the calm before the storm is definitely active! Also the breezes keep the skeeters down.

If I wasn't meeting a real estate agent for some showings tomorrow, I'd be out chasing them myself. Actually considering sneakig out around 4am to slide down to atterbury for a couple hours before our meeting... hmmm....

 

[TGUNTER]

Got one missed one with a 22lr me and my son seen three total at Atterbury today.

 

[Spanky46151]

Taken my boy out 3 times, only seen 1 total. Can't seem to find what they're cuttin' on. I don't even seen them running across the roads as I normally do. Wonder if the population is way down? Maybe heat & dry have caused them all to move toward water? Oddest year I've ever chased bushytails and I've got 4 score of experience.

 

[TGUNTER]

The one I missed was getting a drink of water out of a pool of water in a dry creek bed.

 

[indyjoe]

I missed one yesterday. He was started moving, then did a 180 on me. I guess he decided that the vehicle doing 60 mph would probably smash him.