I figured some people would vote body shots as it is easier to hit. A squirrels eye is very small for 50 yards away. DUH I know! But if you eat em, head shot!
9out of 10 times will be head shots but I won't hesitate to take body shots, especially past 35-40yds! Behind the front legs when I do in the heart lung area. One of the best shots I made this past season was a squack on a low limb of a Walnut, facing directly away from me. He was in the classic setting on hind legs, tail curled up his back. It entered right beside his spine and traveled directly up the center of neck, and exited perfect out between the eyes. The entrance hole was almost invisible. Appeared to be a perfect shot in the face! This was with a HP and there was 0 meat damage and really appeared to have been shot with a RN.
i do it like they train in the military, 2 in the chest to stun then 1 in to head to kill..........you know incase the squirrel is wear body armour.....j/k
When it comes to squirrels, if I'm hunting them, then it's wherever I hit them... Other game, where meat preservation is an issue, it's always a head shot.
Rabbits around here, mainly body shots as I hit them with the 22-250 to see how good they can blow up. Hahaha Im not disturbed I swear.... Anything else, I will try and head shoot, usually foxes within 200m so long as they are facing me. If I shoot low that way it gets them in the neck or chest. Longer shots or broadside shots in the wind are usually taken aiming for the chest.
I used to take body shots all the time especially the chest.but the last squirrel i shot through the body was a fox squirrel. i hit him in the chest while he was sitting on a log and destroyed his heart and lungs. he then proceeded to run 10-15 yards apparently unscathed before piling up, but still thats a long ways for a squirrel and too much time to get to a hollow tree or something. i dont want to risk losing a mortally hit squirrel so from then on it has been head shots all the way. they dont run too far after being taken through the head. lol
I shoot for the head when I can and the rib cage when I can't.During the early season there is a lot of thick leaf cover and a lot of shots are off hand.I am not always able to lean my rifle off the side of a tree for a steady shot, so I shoot for the rib cage.I also shoot for the rib cage if it is a longer yardage shot.I don't keep the rib cage on a Squirrel, so for me there is no waste.I am also careful to not angle a shot toward the opposite leg.A high percentage of my shots are head shots but I don't mind shooting a rib cage shot when I feel I need to.
Small game in general, I take head shots as I am usualy using a scoped .22 rifle or a air rifle or air pistol. It really helps to keep me tuned on marksmanship.
I don't shoot 'em. My wife and I feed them all winter, along with the birds. We used about 160 pounds of seed this winter. They're fat and happy!
They're cool to watch and they keep me entertained during deer season. When they get in the attic and start chewing wires they're not as cool. Just try to keep them in the trees! SS
