squirrel hunting with shotguns.

ArkansasHunter · 09-12-2009, 12:10 PM

Hey Tap last weekend when I went on that Hog hunt...It was Hot and Humid.

I could hear squirrel or maybe Dove hunters off in the distance so there was a good many hunters out hunting.

But the weather was awful, so much so by 10 a.m all of us that were on this hunt called it quits.

Though I sweated some, when we all met up (12 of us ) I got tickled at the guys that worn there winter camo LOL They were soaked LOL I wore a camo T-shirt and BDU's.

I may go squirrel hunting one day this next week or next Saturday we'll see.

Pyro01 · 09-14-2009, 12:37 PM

Got a big grey squirrel yesterday with my Winchester 1300 in 12 gauge using #6 lead shot and a modified choke. Got him from about 25 yards. Here's a pic.

http://gallery.me.com/karrakerc/1000...12528978420001

Edit: Fixed link to image

Freezing Hot · 09-14-2009, 01:17 PM

Pic doesn't work for me.

Edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyro01

Got a big grey squirrel yesterday with my Winchester 1300 in 12 gauge using #6 lead shot and a modified choke. Got him from about 25 yards. Here's a pic.

WAIT. There's a new thread up saying squirrel season in Wisconsin doesn't start until Thursday.

Edit #2. Never mind. I just checked, it opened Saturday.

oliver1800 · 09-14-2009, 08:47 PM

wow thanks for all the info guys, i never thought i would get this many responces. i might go this weekend or the next, i was always told by my father to hunt them in the fall or winter when its cold so the bugs arnt in the pelt. how do u hunt them in the early season?

Freezing Hot · 09-15-2009, 01:07 AM

I take my coyote call out and throw the "Rodent" sound on for a couple seconds while rustling a small, close to ground limb. It mimicks a baby squirrel being taken by a predator.

Then I get as still as possible and watch them flock to me, loud as can be and in plain sight. I take my shot, throw it in the cooler and move on.

tappedandtagged · 09-15-2009, 01:42 AM

^ They make squirrel distress calls specifically for that. I've just never had any luck. For early season, I just sneak in, sit and wait for them to come around. Later in the season, when they're foraging more, I'll walk slowly keeping my eyes open for 'em and use my 17 hmr.

Pyro01 · 09-15-2009, 03:02 AM

I recently purchased one of those game ears because after last Thursday, I was tired of the ringing in my ears that kept on going for an hour after my last shot. Anyways, bought it at Dunham's Sports, paid 25 bucks for it, and what it does is it increases your hearing significantly, and then any noises over 85 dB it turns off and acts like a normal ear plug the second you shoot, then goes right back to working. I must say it's been such a big help finding squirrels in heavily wooded areas, and even better for rabbits that hide in thickets. I was actually lucky today and managed to shoot three rabbits in 10 minutes on a friends property. 2 of them were too close to the back porch, but I wasn't about to let them get away, I took out my air pistol, popped one in the head, and then pulled out another pellet, all while this rabbit is staring out me. Now I have to pump the air pistol ten times before I can shoot, rabbit never moves, I finish pumping, aimed, and got him in the head. Both of these rabbits were about 20 feet away. After I was done talking to my friend real quick, I put the two rabbits by my car, went back to grab my shotgun, and there was another rabbit about 45 feet away. I leveled the shotgun on him and blasted him in the head. Also managed to get 1 dove today too, so it was a good day, I limited out on rabbits, and got another tasty little dove. My freezer has about 7 pounds of rabbit meat, 6 dove breasts, and 1 grey squirrel in there. I'm going to cook something this week I think, starting to run out of room :P .

oliver1800 · 09-19-2009, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

99.9% of the time I hunt squirrels with a 12ga. 870 Express I replaced the modified choke with a full one.
This combination works best for me.
I also use #6 shot.

How does the meat look ? Welp it's gonna have some BB's in it. I guess you could try to pick them out but you can also spit them out too.
You'll see tiny holes where the shot went in and you'll also see some bloody spots.

What Gags me is when you put an eye out...I don't like looking at that.
I shot a Deer one time with Buck Shot and one of the balls busted out an eyeball.

That matted mustard stuff oozing out looked aweful !!! Still wanna squirrel hunt ???

yes sir i do. lol

Cross Hair · 09-19-2009, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyro01

I recently purchased one of those game ears because after last Thursday, I was tired of the ringing in my ears that kept on going for an hour after my last shot. Anyways, bought it at Dunham's Sports, paid 25 bucks for it, and what it does is it increases your hearing significantly, and then any noises over 85 dB it turns off and acts like a normal ear plug the second you shoot, then goes right back to working. I must say it's been such a big help finding squirrels in heavily wooded areas, and even better for rabbits that hide in thickets. I was actually lucky today and managed to shoot three rabbits in 10 minutes on a friends property. 2 of them were too close to the back porch, but I wasn't about to let them get away, I took out my air pistol, popped one in the head, and then pulled out another pellet, all while this rabbit is staring out me. Now I have to pump the air pistol ten times before I can shoot, rabbit never moves, I finish pumping, aimed, and got him in the head. Both of these rabbits were about 20 feet away. After I was done talking to my friend real quick, I put the two rabbits by my car, went back to grab my shotgun, and there was another rabbit about 45 feet away. I leveled the shotgun on him and blasted him in the head. Also managed to get 1 dove today too, so it was a good day, I limited out on rabbits, and got another tasty little dove. My freezer has about 7 pounds of rabbit meat, 6 dove breasts, and 1 grey squirrel in there. I'm going to cook something this week I think, starting to run out of room :P .

What time did you say dinner was gonna be ready

And that address again ... LOL J/K sounds like my kinda dinner!

cubesmoothie · 10-02-2009, 02:14 PM

Squirrel hunting is great fun and good eating. I've used everything there is to use, except the .17 hmr's. At first i used 12 guage semi auto and 20 guage pump most of the time, #6 shot , it doesnt tear the meat up as bad as you'd think. But it will leave shot in the meat thats really tough to get it all out. The rimfires are much funner, for me at least, to hunt squirrel with. Heck, i use pellet guns a lot these days. .177 and .22 pellet rifles will damage the meat the least, and its easy to get the pellet or two out of the meat before u fry em. If you use the .22's try to go for headshots, or for the middle of the chest. Most of the meat is on the legs, specially the back legs so dont shoot em in the ass. The perfect gun imo for squirrel would be a little .410 / .22LR over under. That way you can extend the range or hit em on the move with relative ease compared to just a shotgun or a rimfire. Shotguns are good though, if you hunt them before the leaves fall out of the trees most of the shots will be closer and the shot loads wont get snafu'ed by brush as much.

srt 10 jimbo · 10-02-2009, 03:21 PM

dunno, kinda like shooting a cockroach with a 1911.

wjh2657 · 10-08-2009, 09:05 AM

I normally hunt the dreaded man eating Tennessee Tree Rat with a Marlin 60 and CCI MiniMags. However, there are some hunting areas where the .22 LR has just too much range. Then I use my Mossberg 500e .410 with # 7 1/2 shot in 2 1/2" shells. When I take grandkids with me they use a NEF Pardner single shot in .410 with same ammo. If you can do some practice shooting ( I use mini clays stuck on tree branches) prior to season, the .410 can be a real squirrel getter, especially the Mossberg. It's a very sleek and graceful weapon, possibly the best looking of all of the Mossy 500s. It's the only shotgun I own that my wife calls "pretty"!

wunhunglo · 10-08-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerry

People used to actually use those punt guns for waterfowl before regulations.

Still legal & in still in use in parts of the UK for waterfowl.

09-12-2009, 12:10 PM	#21
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 17,218	Hey Tap last weekend when I went on that Hog hunt...It was Hot and Humid. I could hear squirrel or maybe Dove hunters off in the distance so there was a good many hunters out hunting. But the weather was awful, so much so by 10 a.m all of us that were on this hunt called it quits. Though I sweated some, when we all met up (12 of us ) I got tickled at the guys that worn there winter camo LOL They were soaked LOL I wore a camo T-shirt and BDU's. I may go squirrel hunting one day this next week or next Saturday we'll see. __________________ IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER

09-14-2009, 12:37 PM	#22
Pyro01 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Midwestern WI Posts: 205 Images: 3	Got a big grey squirrel yesterday with my Winchester 1300 in 12 gauge using #6 lead shot and a modified choke. Got him from about 25 yards. Here's a pic. http://gallery.me.com/karrakerc/1000...12528978420001 Edit: Fixed link to image __________________ Hahaha, suck railgun wabbit! Last edited by Pyro01; 09-14-2009 at 01:50 PM. Reason: Fixed the image link, sorry :P

09-14-2009, 08:47 PM	#24
oliver1800 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North East Wisconsin Posts: 402	wow thanks for all the info guys, i never thought i would get this many responces. i might go this weekend or the next, i was always told by my father to hunt them in the fall or winter when its cold so the bugs arnt in the pelt. how do u hunt them in the early season? __________________ I'm a farm boy who likes guns and hunting, don't you dare make fun of me.

09-15-2009, 03:02 AM	#27
Pyro01 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Midwestern WI Posts: 205 Images: 3	I recently purchased one of those game ears because after last Thursday, I was tired of the ringing in my ears that kept on going for an hour after my last shot. Anyways, bought it at Dunham's Sports, paid 25 bucks for it, and what it does is it increases your hearing significantly, and then any noises over 85 dB it turns off and acts like a normal ear plug the second you shoot, then goes right back to working. I must say it's been such a big help finding squirrels in heavily wooded areas, and even better for rabbits that hide in thickets. I was actually lucky today and managed to shoot three rabbits in 10 minutes on a friends property. 2 of them were too close to the back porch, but I wasn't about to let them get away, I took out my air pistol, popped one in the head, and then pulled out another pellet, all while this rabbit is staring out me. Now I have to pump the air pistol ten times before I can shoot, rabbit never moves, I finish pumping, aimed, and got him in the head. Both of these rabbits were about 20 feet away. After I was done talking to my friend real quick, I put the two rabbits by my car, went back to grab my shotgun, and there was another rabbit about 45 feet away. I leveled the shotgun on him and blasted him in the head. Also managed to get 1 dove today too, so it was a good day, I limited out on rabbits, and got another tasty little dove. My freezer has about 7 pounds of rabbit meat, 6 dove breasts, and 1 grey squirrel in there. I'm going to cook something this week I think, starting to run out of room :P . __________________ Hahaha, suck railgun wabbit!

10-02-2009, 03:21 PM	#31
srt 10 jimbo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 300	dunno, kinda like shooting a cockroach with a 1911. __________________

09-15-2009, 01:07 AM	#25
Freezing Hot Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 49	I take my coyote call out and throw the "Rodent" sound on for a couple seconds while rustling a small, close to ground limb. It mimicks a baby squirrel being taken by a predator. Then I get as still as possible and watch them flock to me, loud as can be and in plain sight. I take my shot, throw it in the cooler and move on.

09-15-2009, 01:42 AM	#26
tappedandtagged Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Southwest Arkansas Posts: 840 Blog Entries: 1	^ They make squirrel distress calls specifically for that. I've just never had any luck. For early season, I just sneak in, sit and wait for them to come around. Later in the season, when they're foraging more, I'll walk slowly keeping my eyes open for 'em and use my 17 hmr.

10-02-2009, 02:14 PM	#30
cubesmoothie Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 27	Squirrel hunting is great fun and good eating. I've used everything there is to use, except the .17 hmr's. At first i used 12 guage semi auto and 20 guage pump most of the time, #6 shot , it doesnt tear the meat up as bad as you'd think. But it will leave shot in the meat thats really tough to get it all out. The rimfires are much funner, for me at least, to hunt squirrel with. Heck, i use pellet guns a lot these days. .177 and .22 pellet rifles will damage the meat the least, and its easy to get the pellet or two out of the meat before u fry em. If you use the .22's try to go for headshots, or for the middle of the chest. Most of the meat is on the legs, specially the back legs so dont shoot em in the ass. The perfect gun imo for squirrel would be a little .410 / .22LR over under. That way you can extend the range or hit em on the move with relative ease compared to just a shotgun or a rimfire. Shotguns are good though, if you hunt them before the leaves fall out of the trees most of the shots will be closer and the shot loads wont get snafu'ed by brush as much.

10-08-2009, 09:05 AM	#32
wjh2657 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Lafayette, TN Posts: 19	I normally hunt the dreaded man eating Tennessee Tree Rat with a Marlin 60 and CCI MiniMags. However, there are some hunting areas where the .22 LR has just too much range. Then I use my Mossberg 500e .410 with # 7 1/2 shot in 2 1/2" shells. When I take grandkids with me they use a NEF Pardner single shot in .410 with same ammo. If you can do some practice shooting ( I use mini clays stuck on tree branches) prior to season, the .410 can be a real squirrel getter, especially the Mossberg. It's a very sleek and graceful weapon, possibly the best looking of all of the Mossy 500s. It's the only shotgun I own that my wife calls "pretty"! Last edited by wjh2657; 10-08-2009 at 09:08 AM.