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MHF US Northeast => Hunting New York => Topic started by: devil-man on Aug 26, 2004, 12:06:19 AM

Title: Squirrels
Post by: devil-man on Aug 26, 2004, 12:06:19 AM
Do you guys still hunt these cute little furry creatures?
They are how I learned to hunt, with my Grandfather. Silent (as a 9-year old can be), stalking through the woods, listening, swinging my .22 at sparrows...

I still go out and get a few, just in his remembrance. Make some stew.
Take a kid hunting on September 1st. It might last a lifetime.
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: Bobman on Aug 26, 2004, 01:39:13 PM
I haven't targeted squirrels specifically but have taken them as a bonus while bird hunting.  I did put a scope on my bolt action .22 last year with the intention of going for squirrels but never found the time to go.  Hopefully this year  ::) I can get it done.
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: The Smokestick Kid on Aug 26, 2004, 01:41:10 PM
I don't get out after them much anymore, but I think I will this year. A farmer who is a friend of ours likes to make squirrel stew, so I guess I'll go out and shoot some for him. I gre up hunting squirrels, then moved up to rabbits, then turkeys and coyotes and now deer. Definatly a great way to teach a child to hunt. I also think that crow season opens up on the 1st. Can you believe it? CROW season. HAHAHA

-Zach
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: PA_BOWHUNTER on Aug 28, 2004, 04:40:20 PM
Do you guys still hunt these cute little furry creatures?
They are how I learned to hunt, with my Grandfather. Silent (as a 9-year old can be), stalking through the woods, listening, swinging my .22 at sparrows...

I still go out and get a few, just in his remembrance. Make some stew.
Take a kid hunting on September 1st. It might last a lifetime.

Same here DM.  Those little bushy tails were the start of my hunting experience.  I tagged along with my father alot before i was old enough to hunt but squirrels were the first thing I actually bagged myself.
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: RGFIXIT on Aug 28, 2004, 05:19:36 PM
I love squirrel hunting
 Don the camo, grab my pistol and head for the hardwoods.

I know special piece of woods in the Seneca National Forest that holds  White Oaks, Red Oaks, Hickory, Butternut and Walnut all in the same 10 acres. Bushytail heaven ;D

There's even black squirrels in that piece.

RG
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: Coldfeet on Aug 29, 2004, 07:54:08 AM
Grew up on Squirrels and still love to hunt them with my son and even the dog. We get out quite a bit for them and now I have heard of another good spot to try that has quiet a few Black Squirrels. I even got the wife to enjoy eating them and for her thats something to say. Next in line would be Rabbits. Although my all time favorite would have tto be Duck hunting.
Cold Feet
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: devil-man on Aug 31, 2004, 11:33:14 AM
Any one else going out tomorrow morning?
I'll probably go for 1-2 hrs before work...
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: The Smokestick Kid on Aug 31, 2004, 05:14:35 PM
I think I'm gonna go out for a little while...I have a brick of .22 bullets around here, I just need to find it.

-Zach
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: dogfish on Sep 02, 2004, 09:45:53 AM
Got a hot date with my wife Labor-day morning down in the wood lot hunting squirrels.
I do love that woman.
She wants to do some scouting at the same time and move here tree stand location.
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: devil-man on Sep 02, 2004, 10:49:39 PM
I've gotten a couple (2). Put 'em in the freezer to await their cousins. I have the whole weekend off, so maybe I'll make stew on Monday. Is there a football game?
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: BuckShotJon on Sep 03, 2004, 07:09:29 AM
I finally found someone that is willing to eat these tree rats so now I will go thin my woods out of them so that they don't bother me during bow season. I stopped hunting them becuase no one seemed to want them. I found a new guy that is willing to eat any wild game. Time to get the 12 gauge out and make a real ruckus with them.

Jon
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: venisonman on Sep 03, 2004, 08:45:39 AM
BSJ,

Do you find squirrel hunting in your bow area changes the deer movement? Or do you stop a certain number of days before bow season?

My bow spot has lots of squirrel but I avoid it except to ensure my stands are safe and ready.
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: Somers on Sep 03, 2004, 10:07:38 AM
Got out for a few hours w/ the .22 yesterday.  Bagged 3 grays and a pesky red.  Needed some more red tail fur for fly tying anyway.  Great to be out and stalking again.  That's the first time I pursued them soley (as opposed to bycatch when bird/bunny hunting) in over 10 years.  All these posts and some of the recipes got me thinking.  Still not my favorite meal, but not bad.  I'll try a few other recipes and see what happens.

Interesting point Venisonman.  I was hunting a small parcel of state land, so I really didn't think about that.  I imagine the old bucks would realize something is up and possibly go nocturnal.  Anytime you head into thier bedrooms consistently they seem to figure it out.
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: Bobman on Sep 03, 2004, 10:20:40 AM
BSJ,

Do you find squirrel hunting in your bow area changes the deer movement? Or do you stop a certain number of days before bow season?

My bow spot has lots of squirrel but I avoid it except to ensure my stands are safe and ready.

I don't think it matters.  The land I hunt for grouse, rabbits and turkey is the same I hunt for deer and I've never seen any significant change in deer patterns in the area.  I've even been grouse hunting while my brother was bow hunting (I don't bow hunt) in the same area and other than chasing a few deer his way when I got close to him he didn't notice the deer behaving any differently either.  Could be wrong but who really knows?
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: devil-man on Sep 03, 2004, 12:12:26 PM
I'm not sure about this either, but just in case I hunt squirrels on a totally different piece of land right outside of town. After I bag a bird and a doe it doesn't matter...

Jon- I hope there's something left of them after getting blown out of a tree by your 12 gauge :)
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: reubenpa on Sep 03, 2004, 08:06:17 PM
I went out onto state lands with my wife and boy.. 11 months, and I bagged my first gray of the year a little one.  I got it right in the ear at about 35 yards with a 22... I love my 22. I have a savage elcheapo with a leopold 4-12 on it!!!   I love that scope!!!
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: BuckShotJon on Sep 07, 2004, 07:41:55 AM
venisonman,

I cease to do any type of loud activity in the bow woods for a full month before the opener. That way everything will go back to noraml with the deer. I do still scout during this time but try to make myself very unknown in the woods during that time.

Jon
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: devil-man on Sep 08, 2004, 10:30:09 PM
It's easy- don't be chasing after squirrels if you don't want to disturb the deer's daily habits. The little guys are everywhere, look for them elsewhere...
BTW- The stew was good. Grandpa would have liked it.
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: BuckShotJon on Sep 16, 2004, 03:45:19 PM
Quote
Jon- I hope there's something left of them after getting blown out of a tree by your 12 gauge 


You would be amazed but early on with lots of leaves it does not do much damage by the time it makes it to them. I mostly use 8 shot....and you might find as high as 6-8 pellets, but most times lower.....of course I spread the pattern based on the denisty of the woods with either a modified or IC choke.

Jon
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: Bobman on Sep 29, 2004, 08:18:44 AM
I went out for some tree rats on Sunday with my .22, should have taken the shotgun.  Too many leaves to get a good shot.  I could hear them in the trees but couldn't see anything and could only get a peek at them as they moved on the forest floor.  I did see about 6 grays and 1 black but no shots for the rifle  :'(.
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: archbishop on Mar 29, 2005, 02:51:15 PM
i switch up between the 12 guage and 22 depends on the time of year and what else is open and if im gonna stay out late for coyotes but i love to hunt squirrels my oldest want a 410 for her birthday and she just might get it
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: Bobman on Apr 06, 2005, 09:20:44 AM
i switch up between the 12 guage and 22 depends on the time of year and what else is open and if im gonna stay out late for coyotes but i love to hunt squirrels my oldest want a 410 for her birthday and she just might get it

I wouldn't waste the time with the .410, just get her a 20 gauge.  It's more versatile and will be more useful to her in the long run.  And if she decides not to hunt, it will have more resale value than the .410. 
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: Bobman on Apr 06, 2005, 09:29:54 AM
I agree.

Hey devil-man, that's one of those posts that they were complaining about on MFF.  You're not gonna start doing that over here are you  ;D ;) ;D!
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: devil-man on Apr 06, 2005, 10:05:37 AM
What are you talking about, Bobman?  :-X

A .410 is a glorified pellet gun. That's all I was trying to say.  ;)
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: archbishop on Apr 06, 2005, 10:07:50 AM
yup ;D
Title: Re: Squirrels
Post by: Bobman on Apr 06, 2005, 10:33:26 AM
OK!  ;D ;D
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