Squirrel Season 2017-2018

[FrankenCub]

Now that deer season is done I will be taking my new O/U out squirrel hunting. Haven't used a scatter gun in quite a while. I like chasing running game. Good practice for bird hunting.

 

[Kent Goldings]

Now that deer season is done I will be taking my new O/U out squirrel hunting. Haven't used a scatter gun in quite a while. I like chasing running game. Good practice for bird hunting.

There are some places here that are shotgun only. The land where I rifle hunt will get snowed in during January and February, so I’ll be reduced to shotgun only. My 20 gauge is set up for Turkey ATM. But, there is still my 410 and 12 gauge single action guns. Both are full choked. Maybe I’ll get a field barrel for the Maverick 88. The 18 inch cylinder bore barrel is more suited to perforating zombies at close range.

But, until the snow sticks, I’m giving my new CZ 455 17 HMR barrel a workout.

 

[togmaster]

What shotgun loads do yo use for squirrel? Light target loads I would guess.

 

[Kent Goldings]

What shotgun loads do yo use for squirrel? Light target loads I would guess.

I’ve sworn by #6 low brass game loads. But, they can really tear up the meat and you can get lead pellets left. Lately, I’ve been trying #4 high brass, the larger pellets pass through doing less meat damage. But, as I found out today, I’m going to need a choke to deliver them in a lethal pattern.

 

[gun_slinger_boy]

There's a season for squirrel? Who knew?

Yeah I thought you just shot them when you catch them ripping your garbage bags open. An ordinary pellet gun works well for that btw.

 

[FrankenCub]

I've always liked 410 for squirrel hunting, 20g was next used most. I can hunt rifle or shotgun here so I usually use my Savage 7a. But now with a new O/U I figure I'll use it full time just for added wing shooting practice when the squirrels jet off running. It's a 12g with full and mod fixed chokes, not sure what I'm going to try for loads yet. I don't want to go overkill otherwise I'd be making squirrel burger lol. Hmmm...interesting idea, ground squirrel mixed with a bit of sausage?

 

[HighlandLofts]

Way back when, I use to use Remington Express high base number 5 shot for squirrels and the same except number 6 shot for rabbit hunting.

For years I've been using my Marlin 882 in 22 magnum for squirrels.

 

[knuts]

Had my first go on squirrel hunting on sunday. Was able to get one, ate him for dinner that night, first time ive had squirrel. They are insanely tough hahah i need to find a way to soften up the meat first

 

[zzrguy]

Just couldn't bring myself to shoot the red squirrel that lives under my treestand this year

 

[Robin]

Had my first go on squirrel hunting on sunday. Was able to get one, ate him for dinner that night, first time ive had squirrel. They are insanely tough hahah i need to find a way to soften up the meat first

Parboil in salted water til the meat is tender, let it cool, put it in the fridge over night and cook it however you like the next day, breaded and fried is easy and always good. If you can't wait till the next day, let the meat cool down before you proceed.
Most small game is pretty tender when cooked twice, usually parboil is the first, sometimes grilling makes a good second.
Robin

 

[Cleck]

When the foliage would get thick in my neighborhood, I would shoot squirrels out of the trees with my pellet gun. Got one one time that was teasing me bad, sitting in a branch and making a shitload of noise....Until I shot him right behind the ear

NF wants to take me squirrel hunting this year, I could be down for that. I can't stand the bastards.

 

[stokes]

Skwerls are rats.You dont eat rats,they are tough and dont taste good.Only third world dirt eaters eat rats.

 

[nortatoga]

 

[HDMotorCop]

Stewart State forest has a lot of Red Squirrels. They are generally easier to hunt than greys because they feed on the ground. They also make a loud grinding noise. They stand out starkly againt the snow. They're fun to blast with a shotgun. But, they are strictly varmits and I don't hunt them when grey squirrels are around.

I've only seen black squirrels in the Bronx. Seriously, not a joke. You can find them all over a Bronx Zoo and the other parks. The Lehman college campus is infested. I wouldn't want to eat a squirrel raised in the city.

I love to see some fox squirrels in Ulster County. They're supposed to be pretty stupid.

I only hunt fur about 2 hours in the morning of evening. Sometimes I see no squirrels. It seems really dependent on weather. I feel lucky when I see three.

Kent, what area of Stewart are you seeing the Reds? I spent some time off of 747 and didn't see doodle squat.

 

[Criticalt]

12 gauge #6 steel shot
Usually cant even find any damage.
Alot of the time I seriously cannot find what killed them, very little damage.

 

[Kent Goldings]

Kent, what area of Stewart are you seeing the Reds? I spent some time off of 747 and didn't see doodle squat.

I see them pretty often on Lang Farm Trail. They are pretty easy to spot this time of the year against the snow. They cut pretty loudly on the ground. Great target practice.

Be careful, there are also short tailed weasel that can look a lot like reds. They may not be in season.

 

[Kent Goldings]

Squirrels on ice.

 

[Kent Goldings]

I’ve never seen a black squirrel in Ulster County before today.

 

[FrankenCub]

There's a bunch around here too. First seen one 8 years ago, or so. This year I seen one that was really dark black during deer season. I haven't put any time into squirrels this year, the damn fishers have wiped out most of them.

 

[Kent Goldings]

I found this honey hole while I was deer hunting. I’ve killed more squirrels in the last three weeks than the September and October combined.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

During the frontier era, a woodsman would only carry one muzzleloader. The firearm would be expected to take all kinds of game both big and small. They would take squirrels by "barking" them. That's shooting a spot on the tree close to the squirrel's head. Wood shrapnel and the fall from the tree would hopeful be fatal. This had the advantages of both minimizing meat damage from a large caliber and making the shot easy to recover. I've often thought of trying it this way. But, the DEC might take umbrage to a hunter stalking the woods with a muzzleloader out of deer season blowing 50 caliber holes in the trees.

Right, illegal to damage live vegetation on public land, or private land w/o permission.

 

[Kent Goldings]

Just one lonely squirrel, today. I’ve noticed that I see fewer squirrels on overcast days.

 

[2WheelGnnr]

wife tells of having squirrel sandwiches as a yougin...from her dad and older brother. hahahaha

she never says what they taste like but does not want anymore....as I tell her I will go get her some....

 

[nortatoga]

 

[Kent Goldings]

Another single squirrel day. This after being skunked on Thursday morning. I’m seeing fewer squirrels and the ones I see are harder to shoot.

I’ll probably give this property a rest for the rest of the season.