Squirrel Season - Page 2

ruffman · 05-25-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferroflame

I'd love to go shoot up some of those fuzzy little tree rats, but I have no idea when Kentucky's Squirrel season is. =/ Anyone have an idea? I plan on using my Marlin .22 bolt action with some subsonic ammunition. :] I'm getting a nice scope put on that baby soon...

FF... The opener is usually around Sept 1... Looks like this year the last of August... I used to combo archery deer scouting and squirrel hunting, as productive oaks yield both... I favored hunting fox squirrels over the gray cousins along the Cumberland river/Rockastle River... They are quite a bit larger and tougher to kill, just make sure they're dead before tossing them in your pack... Made that mistake only once...

thomasbrooks07 · 05-25-2008, 10:05 PM

look out for the lil guys this season the new bushy tailed rodents are ready this yeae lol

NHmsj · 05-25-2008, 10:43 PM

Ya know, as a squirrel hunter, I should have been born in the South!

msj

webs · 05-26-2008, 07:22 AM

Your right NHmsj,If a guy likes to Squirrel hunt,states like Oklahoma,Loiusiana,Arkansas and Kentucky may have some of the best Squirrel hunting in the country as well as some of the most liberal seasons and daily bag limits.My hat is off to these guys in these states, and when retirement rolls around I would sure like to sample some of it.Hey by the way,what kind of shot and powder charge do you plan on using in that .62 caliber blackpowder frontstuffer? What kind of range will this gun have?

andrew cochran · 05-26-2008, 02:41 PM

I certainly love to hunt squirrels. But I like fall hunting better than spring season. I guess because as AH said them bugs are out and it's HOT!

Cyrille · 05-26-2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHmsj

Ya know, as a squirrel hunter, I should have been born in the South!

msj

Your misfortune!

American by fortunate birth, Southern by the grace of God!

Cyrille

NHmsj · 05-26-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webs

...Hey by the way,what kind of shot and powder charge do you plan on using in that .62 caliber blackpowder frontstuffer? What kind of range will this gun have?

Hey Webs, I'm not sure just what load combination will ultimately prove best for squirrel, but I am planning on starting with 60gn of ffg with an equal measure of #6 (7/8 oz.) Of course, I have never built muzzleloader shotgun loads before, so this is going to be a new experience for me. I've been reading up, to be sure; so I have and idea of what I'll be up to. As for range, well a .62 cal is equal to a 20ga and I am assuming the smoothbore won't reach out any less. But then again, this gun will not be choked, it'll be cylinder bore. 30-35yds shouldn't be undoable I would suspect. But as stated above, I don't know anything for a fact quite yet. Once I get the gun on the range, work up a load and pattern the gun, then I'll know something concrete. I'm looking forward to the experience to be sure.

BTW, I am open to any advice or suggestions concerning loads and/or whatever!

Mark

CZer · 05-26-2008, 06:11 PM

Ya, it is great having a long squirrel season. If I ain't mistaken Missouri's opens very soon and stays in aprox till end of year. Here in KY it's always the 3rd Sat in Aug but it stays in till end of Feb. I just don't agree with our spring season. It's too late & short. 2 weeks in early to mid june. I killed about as many copperheads as squirrels last year, and saw a lot more bugs!

ArkansasHunter · 05-26-2008, 10:12 PM

In my earlier post I failed to mention Sneaks...It seems not long ago I didn't give much serious thought about sneaks. Crap !!! I mean Snakes not sneaks LOL !
Though I did and still do look out for them.
So I'm not going squirrel hunting in the spring because of the abundanes of Bugs and sneakes...A.H

webs · 05-27-2008, 07:31 AM

I certainly know what you guys are saying about the bugs being bad.A friend and I do a lot of fishing this time of the year and the mosquitoes and Knats are starting to get real bad.We use the 100% deet Repel for the mosquitoes but it doesn't phase the knats.They are attracted to the shine of your eyes and just plain swarm you.A head net works best.I also use a Thermo- Cell while Deer hunting in the fall when I am able to stay in one spot.It just doesn't work well if you have to move around much though.CZer,we also have Copperheads in this area but they really aren't a big problem.I usually only see 1 or 2 a year,if I'm lucky.NHmsj,I know a guy who hunts Turkey with a .62 caliber blackpowder shotgun and when I see him I will find out what shot and powder charge he uses.He has told me he feels confident out to about 30 yards with his set up.He took a 23 pound Tom with it last season.

NHmsj · 05-27-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webs

...I know a guy who hunts Turkey with a .62 caliber blackpowder shotgun and when I see him I will find out what shot and powder charge he uses.He has told me he feels confident out to about 30 yards with his set up.He took a 23 pound Tom with it last season.

Thanks Webs, I'd appreciate that greatly. When you're talking to him, please ask him what he uses for wads as well? From what I have been able to locate online, 20ga wads might be a tad loose for .62 and 19ga a wee too tight. I'd be very interested in what someone else with a .62 cal smoothbore does for wadding. Again, thanks a lot for any info you find and are willing to share.

Mark

ArkansasHunter · 05-27-2008, 12:14 PM

webs we have an abundance of water mockisins around here. And all of them have attitude problems.
They don't seem to mind fall'in out of tree's and land'in on you and they'll chaise you too.
They have an odor and when you smell this odor I leave the area.

Jersey Jailer · 05-27-2008, 12:19 PM

Live on a farm, they're vermin, but I give them a chance, go after them with my Ruger Vaquero (NM) in 45 LC. provided they're on the ground. The ones that I give no quarter to is the groung hogs.

andrew cochran · 05-27-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

webs we have an abundance of water mockisins around here. And all of them have attitude problems.
They don't seem to mind fall'in out of tree's and land'in on you and they'll chaise you too.
They have an odor and when you smell this odor I leave the area.

Exactly! Their all over my property right now. I live close to a lake so it even werse that usual. We do have a few rattlers to but not as many as cotton mouths!

webs · 05-27-2008, 05:43 PM

NHmsj,I talked to my friend and his gun is a caplock shotgun that has a measured bore size of .615.He loads this gun with 68 grains of FFg and 7/8 ounce of #4 shot for turkey.He uses .625 size patch diameter and puts one over the powder,a second cushion patch over it(under the shot) and the third patch over the top of the shot, which you probably know.He suggested you contact WWW.circlefly.com for more information.
A.H. and Andrew,I hunt hogs in Florida in and around the swamps and have seen a few Cotton Mouths.They are fat ugly snakes and just plain scary looking,but so far I have had no problems being around them.Sure hate to tangle with one though,thats for sure.

NHmsj · 05-28-2008, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webs

NHmsj,I talked to my friend and his gun is a caplock shotgun that has a measured bore size of .615.He loads this gun with 68 grains of FFg and 7/8 ounce of #4 shot for turkey.He uses .625 size patch diameter and puts one over the powder,a second cushion patch over it(under the shot) and the third patch over the top of the shot, which you probably know.He suggested you contact WWW.circlefly.com for more information.

Webs, your friend's gun has a .615 bore? Seems he is toting an actual 20ga shotgun as opposed to a .62 caliber smoothbore. I'm wondering if those .625 wads might be just a bit under-sized for a sufficiently tight fit in a .62 bore. I have located one outfit online that offers "over-sized" wads and shot cards - .628 dia., and I'm thinking that extra .003" certainly couldn't hurt. Also, thanks for the load data. Of course, I'll be using #6 shot for squirrel, but 68 grains ffg (I'll go with 70, can't measure out 68) and 7/8 oz shot is a good enough place to start. Again, thanks for your efforts, they are appreciated. And, once more, I am open to any and all advice and/or suggestions you or anyone else might like to share about small game shotgunning with a .62 cal muzzleloading smoothbore.

Mark

webs · 05-28-2008, 11:30 AM

NHmsj,Its sounds like your .62 smoothbore is a 19 1/2 ga.(lol)Good luck with your search.
My apologies for what may seem to some, getting off the subject of this thread.It was not intended to take away from the rest of this threads content but was only some Squirrel hunters rachet jawing.Hope no one was offended.

andrew cochran · 05-28-2008, 05:05 PM

Nawt me!

binfordw · 05-28-2008, 06:16 PM

Squirrels are my favorite game.

Fun and decently challenging to hunt, more focus is put on being a good shot rather than being in the right place. Plus they are easy to carry and cleaning is a snap

My rifle of choice this year will likely be my Theoben Evo.

Don357 · 05-28-2008, 09:38 PM

Season runs from Oct to Jan here, and you still have to watch for creepy crawleys and Mr. Noshoulders. Over the last few years it ain't got cold enuff to get rid of the bug or put Mr. Noshoulders to sleep for all winter. My ex-wifes cousin got bit a few years ago in late Nov by a rattler with 2 1/2 " between his fangs. His brother shot him 7times and he still got away.
Anyway I'll be using my Tula T03-78-01 .22LR Squirrel sniper rifle. Got a 3x9x32 Tasco scope on it , and when I sighted it in last year at 25yds, I managed to put 15rds in hole you could cover with a nickel. I'll be using CCI mini-mags 36gr HP.

05-25-2008, 10:43 PM	#23
NHmsj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 124	Should of been... Ya know, as a squirrel hunter, I should have been born in the South! msj __________________ "I yam what I yam, and that's all that I yam!" (Popeye the Sailor)

05-26-2008, 02:41 PM	#25
andrew cochran Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Little town in ARKANSAW! Posts: 2,138	I certainly love to hunt squirrels. But I like fall hunting better than spring season. I guess because as AH said them bugs are out and it's HOT! __________________ If you don't have anything good to say... Don't say it!

05-27-2008, 12:19 PM	#33
Jersey Jailer Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: SOUTH Jersey Posts: 499	Live on a farm, they're vermin, but I give them a chance, go after them with my Ruger Vaquero (NM) in 45 LC. provided they're on the ground. The ones that I give no quarter to is the groung hogs. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Austrailian Shepherds are like potato chips... You can't have just one

05-28-2008, 05:05 PM	#38
andrew cochran Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Little town in ARKANSAW! Posts: 2,138	Nawt me! __________________ If you don't have anything good to say... Don't say it!

05-26-2008, 07:22 AM	#24
webs Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 252 Images: 3	Your right NHmsj,If a guy likes to Squirrel hunt,states like Oklahoma,Loiusiana,Arkansas and Kentucky may have some of the best Squirrel hunting in the country as well as some of the most liberal seasons and daily bag limits.My hat is off to these guys in these states, and when retirement rolls around I would sure like to sample some of it.Hey by the way,what kind of shot and powder charge do you plan on using in that .62 caliber blackpowder frontstuffer? What kind of range will this gun have?

05-26-2008, 06:11 PM	#28
CZer Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Harlan, KY Posts: 44	Ya, it is great having a long squirrel season. If I ain't mistaken Missouri's opens very soon and stays in aprox till end of year. Here in KY it's always the 3rd Sat in Aug but it stays in till end of Feb. I just don't agree with our spring season. It's too late & short. 2 weeks in early to mid june. I killed about as many copperheads as squirrels last year, and saw a lot more bugs!

05-26-2008, 10:12 PM	#29
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,678	In my earlier post I failed to mention Sneaks...It seems not long ago I didn't give much serious thought about sneaks. Crap !!! I mean Snakes not sneaks LOL ! Though I did and still do look out for them. So I'm not going squirrel hunting in the spring because of the abundanes of Bugs and sneakes...A.H

05-27-2008, 07:31 AM	#30
webs Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 252 Images: 3	I certainly know what you guys are saying about the bugs being bad.A friend and I do a lot of fishing this time of the year and the mosquitoes and Knats are starting to get real bad.We use the 100% deet Repel for the mosquitoes but it doesn't phase the knats.They are attracted to the shine of your eyes and just plain swarm you.A head net works best.I also use a Thermo- Cell while Deer hunting in the fall when I am able to stay in one spot.It just doesn't work well if you have to move around much though.CZer,we also have Copperheads in this area but they really aren't a big problem.I usually only see 1 or 2 a year,if I'm lucky.NHmsj,I know a guy who hunts Turkey with a .62 caliber blackpowder shotgun and when I see him I will find out what shot and powder charge he uses.He has told me he feels confident out to about 30 yards with his set up.He took a 23 pound Tom with it last season.

05-27-2008, 12:14 PM	#32
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,678	webs we have an abundance of water mockisins around here. And all of them have attitude problems. They don't seem to mind fall'in out of tree's and land'in on you and they'll chaise you too. They have an odor and when you smell this odor I leave the area.

05-27-2008, 05:43 PM	#35
webs Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 252 Images: 3	NHmsj,I talked to my friend and his gun is a caplock shotgun that has a measured bore size of .615.He loads this gun with 68 grains of FFg and 7/8 ounce of #4 shot for turkey.He uses .625 size patch diameter and puts one over the powder,a second cushion patch over it(under the shot) and the third patch over the top of the shot, which you probably know.He suggested you contact WWW.circlefly.com for more information. A.H. and Andrew,I hunt hogs in Florida in and around the swamps and have seen a few Cotton Mouths.They are fat ugly snakes and just plain scary looking,but so far I have had no problems being around them.Sure hate to tangle with one though,thats for sure.

05-28-2008, 11:30 AM	#37
webs Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 252 Images: 3	NHmsj,Its sounds like your .62 smoothbore is a 19 1/2 ga.(lol)Good luck with your search. My apologies for what may seem to some, getting off the subject of this thread.It was not intended to take away from the rest of this threads content but was only some Squirrel hunters rachet jawing.Hope no one was offended.

05-28-2008, 06:16 PM	#39
binfordw Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 56	Squirrels are my favorite game. Fun and decently challenging to hunt, more focus is put on being a good shot rather than being in the right place. Plus they are easy to carry and cleaning is a snap My rifle of choice this year will likely be my Theoben Evo.

05-28-2008, 09:38 PM	#40
Don357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Semmes Alabama Posts: 271	Season runs from Oct to Jan here, and you still have to watch for creepy crawleys and Mr. Noshoulders. Over the last few years it ain't got cold enuff to get rid of the bug or put Mr. Noshoulders to sleep for all winter. My ex-wifes cousin got bit a few years ago in late Nov by a rattler with 2 1/2 " between his fangs. His brother shot him 7times and he still got away. Anyway I'll be using my Tula T03-78-01 .22LR Squirrel sniper rifle. Got a 3x9x32 Tasco scope on it , and when I sighted it in last year at 25yds, I managed to put 15rds in hole you could cover with a nickel. I'll be using CCI mini-mags 36gr HP.