Squirrel Hunting

[OhioDeerHunter]

I've been hunting deer for a few years now and only deer. But an article in a magazine sparked my interest in squirrel hunting, mainly as a way to spend some time in the woods preparing for deer season. But I've never been squirrel hunting nor know anybody that squirrel hunts. So what kind of gun should I use, I've heard of using a .22 or a shotgun? I have 12 ga., .22, and a 16 gauge which would be the best? Any other tips for a beginner would be appreciated.

[Brent]

http://forums.cabelas.com/showthread.php?t=408

[siucowboy]

Any of those guns will work fine. Commonly guys will start the season with a shotgun (usually light game loads of 6's or 7.5's) because the generous amount of foliage allows one to get closer and squirrels are often busy working on hickory, walnuts, or some other mast tree that time of year and they are constantly moving making shots with a .22 trickier.

Later in the season when the leaves drop, a good .22 will outshine a shotgun with the additional "reach".

That all being said, I used to team hunt with an older friend of the family when I was in grade school...he carried an old marlin lever action .22 and I carried a 20 ga.....when we'd find a hickory nut tree that they were cutting hard in, he'd circle the perimeter and take careful shots at the squirrels he could see....that would usually cause the other's to come bailing out or screaming down the trunk....I got a lot of shooting in with that shotgun then!

I used to kill 100+ squirrels a year back then....but then that was when I was living in southern illinois and had tons of hardwood ridges full of mast trees.

[markmazuch]

I've been hunting deer for a few years now and only deer. But an article in a magazine sparked my interest in squirrel hunting, mainly as a way to spend some time in the woods preparing for deer season. But I've never been squirrel hunting nor know anybody that squirrel hunts. So what kind of gun should I use, I've heard of using a .22 or a shotgun? I have 12 ga., .22, and a 16 gauge which would be the best? Any other tips for a beginner would be appreciated.
I'd go with the 16 guage. I use a 20 guage, or a .22lr. I got this single shot mauser .22lr, you can take em out to 100 yards. Thats a lot of fun IF you can see em.

[bullseye22]

shotgun would be easier to hit squirrel with, but if you want more of a challenge use the .22.

[Flatcoat1]

Using a shotgun may be safer in more populated areas. Just don't aim at the nut in the mouth of the squirrel if using a .22LR - it really scares them when they see they were eating an exploding nut!!! (Yes, it really happened to me.)

[mikeingeorgia]

I use either a .22 or a .410. Managed to get one last year with a Marlin Mod 60. I was quite a bit of fun tracking that one squirrel through the woods for almost 30 mins till I could get lined up on him just the way I wanted. He took the hit from a CCI HP and dropped straight down off of the branch he was on.

[winchesterwon]

Good advice from all. For challenge and pure hunting enjoyment you cant beat the 22. There also very good to eat. Another reason to use the 22.

[Arnie Oakley]

Can someone tell me a quick, clean way to skin a squirrel? It seems I always end up with a lot of hair on the carcass that's almost impossible to remove.

Thanks,
Gary

[buckgitter]

Can someone tell me a quick, clean way to skin a squirrel? It seems I always end up with a lot of hair on the carcass that's almost impossible to remove.

Thanks,
Gary

Do you dip them in cold water first?

[Arnie Oakley]

Do you dip them in cold water first?

Do you mean before skinning?

[buckgitter]

yes before skinning. That is the way I was taught. What hair you get on them will come off easier

[ras_f250]

Got 2 put my 2cents worth in lol I use a 16ga 0r my 20ga. Yes i use 71/2 when in cuting trees that is close up and on gray squrriels. Know for red squrriel i will use 16ga 6 shot copper plate and hard shot. Yes i will break out the 582 22 remington out every know and than :) Of course i have a weaver 1" wide field view on this 2. Yes these too go toghter and are the same age 2, This little 22 and scope i bought it in 1975 and still bring those bushy tails down :) I hope this help on what 2 use :)

[winchesterwon]

This is the best way to clean a squirrel. From the rear of the squirrel lift the tail towards the head. Cut through the tail at the base through the tail bone but not all the way through the hide on the side towards the head. Continue this cut down each side of the legs about 1/2 inch at about a 45 degree angle. (towards the front of the squirrel) Now lay the squirrel on the ground on his back with the tail closest to you. Step on the tail with your toe as close to the squirrels rear as possible. Put good pressure on the tail with your foot. Grab ahold of his hind legs. Pull up and the squirrel will come out of his hide. His hide will stay on the hind legs. You have to stop at the head and help pull the front legs sort of inside out through the hide. Then take your knife and make a slice at the neck and pull again. The head and hide will be left on the ground. Now simply insert your finger inside the hide left on the hind legs and they pull off very easily. Cut the feet off at the joint with snips or nippers. The key to this cleaning process is the cut you make at the base of the tail. Cut it too far through the tail and you will pull the tail off. The cut you make down the hind quarter after you make the tail cut is also critical. Once you do it a few times it becomes pretty easy. When you do this properly you get no hair on the squirrel. Wetting them down is not nessecary. Hope this helps.

[Triskel]

The most productive and most fun way to hunt squirrels is with a dog and a buddy. But it's not a good way to practice for deer hunting. You have to be careful though, if you try it this way deer hunting just won't be the same.

If I didn't have the dog and was inclined to hunt squirrels, I guess I'd use a .22 and hunt them like you would deer. Figure out where they feed and nest and be sitting between those spots during the first hour of daylight.

As far as skinning them goes, Winchesterwon has it right. Hold it by the base of the tail with its head hanging down. Lay your knife at the base of the hind quarters right where is joins the tail and make the first cut there. I skin out the legs before I cut off the head. I like to use a leatherman to break the leg bones and to grab the belly skin to start the legs. I've seen a video of this somewhere but I can't find a link to it right now. If you are doing a bunch of them it does help to dunk them in water first and then put them in another bucket of water until you part them all out.


Have Fun! get a dog :)

[winchesterwon]

Well I never tried dipping them in water , but I always limbered them up before I skinned them. The water might help with the fleas though! LOL

[Flatcoat1]

winchesterwon, the only thing we do differently is grab hold of the fur on the belly and pull upwards to release the fur/hide on the belly and hind legs. Do this BEFORE you cut the head off! Other than that we do everything just like you say. And, yes, once you get use to it it becomes very easy and clean. (We wait until we get them all skinned before we gut them - unless we have an assembly line going. Most ever done at one time was thirty squirrels - six, five squirrel limits! What a great dinner that was!)

[Arnie Oakley]

Thank you for the tips guys, I'll give it a try. Also, do you guys have any suggestions for cooking squirrels?

Gary

[JimmyJ]

Thank you for the tips guys, I'll give it a try. Also, do you guys have any suggestions for cooking squirrels?

Gary

I'm with Gary on this one. Lord knows we've got plenty of these little tree rats around here. Honestly now, since I've never tried squirrel before...what does it taste like? Please don't say chicken. Are there any special skinning/cleaning techniques I should know? I've heard that the younger ones tend to eat better than the older ones...true?

Any recipes? I've heard of fried squirrel with biscuits and gravy. Any others? I'm really curious.

[winchesterwon]

Heres a simple recipe Gary, Put a can of cream of celery , and a can of cream of mushroom in a crock pot. I use the better quality of Campbells soup. You can add potatoes and onions if you like. Spice er up a liitle . Easy on the Old Bay though. Then lay squirrel legs on top of this concoction. Let er cook all day and its ready for supper.

[rooster52]

We have alot of fox squirrel s here in Michigan and I think it is one of the best eating wild game animal I hunt!

[Flatcoat1]

Its hard to beat a nice, young gray squirrel fried up and served with mashed potatoes unless . . . Try this: Using some chicken broth, boil up a couple of squirrels - old squirrel a little longer than the young ones - until tender. Remove meat and make some dumplings. (I have a dumpling recipe that takes only three minutes to cook and about a minute to prepare. I will try and post it here ASAP.) Add a favorite vegetable such as peas or corn and you have a whole meal. (I like a little dash of Tobasco sauce on my dumplings.) This is still my son's favorite meat after ten years. It may have been his first! (Steelhead and salmon is starting to replace squirrel.)

[Arnie Oakley]

Thanks once again guys for the recipes. Someone let the cat out of the bag, and I know I'm getting a .17HMR for Christmas. There are way to many squirrels where I bowhunt, so it's time to thin them out. If I can't eat it, I won't shoot it, so the recipes are great. Sounds simple enough winchesterwon, and believe me, I like simple! Thank you.

Gary

[NoChoke]

If you you want yo have some fun try hunting squirrels with a scoped .177 cal air rifle. Some of them throw pellets up to 1200 fps, which is plenty for killing squirrels. But I like them mostly because they are so quiet. You'd be surprised how 20 squirrels can disappear for 20 mins after you fire a 22.

[tjen]

MY favorite is a 22lr with standard velocity ammo for its quiter sound levels to not scare the whole woods and for is less damage to my next meal. My favorite ammo is Eley EPS because it very accurate and has a flat tip for ankoring the furry guys, but CCi's Green Tag is just as accurate and less costly.I am not in a hury and wait for good still shots.

My favorite shot gun was a 410 with #4 shot because it would Knock em out of the top of a 70 foot oak and it only needed one pellet in the right spot to do it and it would not mess them up with dozens or more of pellets. #6 or smaller was very iffy for a clean kill unless close and then way to many pellets for table fare.

[Triskel]

Fricasseed Squirrel

Roll a few parted out squirrels in seasoned flour. Brown them up a few pieces at a time in bacon grease. Put all the squirrel back in the frying pan and cover with chicken stock. Simmer 2 hours for greys, at least 3 for fox squirrel. Sorry JJ but I've got to tell you when you cook them up this way, they taste a lot like chicken. :)

smoked squirrel

Put a few parted out squirrel in the crock pot with 3 cups of water, 1/2 tsp time, 1/2 tsp of salt. Cook on high for 4 hours. Put them on the smoker for 10 minutes, Dab some barbeque sauce on them and give them 5 more minutes. You want the squirrel really tender out of the crock pot but not falling apart. I use one of those mesh fish grilling things in a weber kettle over indirect heat. Good stuff!

[JimmyJ]

...If I can't eat it, I won't shoot it...

Gary

Gary,

I love shootin' Coy dogs, but I sure as heck don't wanna eat one!!! LOL.

[Arnie Oakley]

Gary,

I love shootin' Coy dogs, but I sure as heck don't wanna eat one!!! LOL.

Jimmy,
I'm sure sooner or later someone will post a recipe! Merry Christmas.

Gary

[JimmyJ]

Jimmy,
I'm sure sooner or later someone will post a recipe! Merry Christmas.

Gary

Ha....LOL!!! Merry Christmas to you too my friend!

[Rossi20]

Is it possible to use a 9mm for squirrel hunting?

[JimmyJ]

Is it possible to use a 9mm for squirrel hunting?

Anything's possible, but a little over kill don't ya think! Not to mention expensive. I'm not sure what the particular regs. are in your area, but I'd look into it if I were you. Most areas will certainly have caliber requirements for certain game. Be it large or small game.

From a safety standpoint, I wouldn't want to be hunting in any area where hunters are shooting 9mm's at squirrels. That's just me though.

[Rossi20]

I'll be the only person in the area where I hunt. I was only asking because I heard a very credible person say that you can use a 9mm for squirrel hunting.

[JimmyJ]

I'll be the only person in the area where I hunt. I was only asking because I heard a very credible person say that you can use a 9mm for squirrel hunting.

That maybe the case and theoretically, you could use a .38, .357, or a .44mag but why??? There'd be nothing left of the animal if your hunting it for consumption! A nice shooting .22 is all you need for these little tree rats. Even a 20 guage or a .410 loaded with proper shot makes nice squirrel medicine.

I use the .22 listed below. It's fun, effective, a very cheap to shoot. You can buy a box of 500+ rounds at WallyWorld for about $7 bucks.

A 9mm round on a squirrel is going to do some major damage be it a hollow point or a fmj.

I haven't heard of a single person here on this forum or elsewhere for that matter that chooses a 9mm for their squirrel hunting. I have however heard of 9mm "replica" pellet guns being used. I mean REALLY...I wouldn't use my Glock .40S&W on squirrels!

[Rossi20]

Ok I'll stick to my 20 gauge but keep my 9mm incase they attack.

[Flatcoat1]

JimmyJ, did shoot one squirrel with a 12ga slug once. I had just killed my buck and was waiting so I could settle down. A fox squirrel presented a shot at 20 yards on a fallen tree. I took aim and BOOM! (Always wanted to try and "bark" a squirrel and this time I did. I hit right under its head and the bark or wood chip went up and killed the squirrel.)

[JimmyJ]

Ok I'll stick to my 20 gauge but keep my 9mm incase they attack.

LOL!!! The "KILLER SQUIRREL ATTACKS".

[JimmyJ]

JimmyJ, did shoot one squirrel with a 12ga slug once. I had just killed my buck and was waiting so I could settle down. A fox squirrel presented a shot at 20 yards on a fallen tree. I took aim and BOOM! (Always wanted to try and "bark" a squirrel and this time I did. I hit right under its head and the bark or wood chip went up and killed the squirrel.)

Scared me for a second there til I read further into your post. At first I thought you ACTUALLY hit him with the slug! "Hey, where'd he go?" LOL.

I've heard of this method from some old timers. Very little damage to the squirrels if any!

[Rossi20]

LOL!!! The "KILLER SQUIRREL ATTACKS".

It wasn't that funny when they attacked my uncle.

[JimmyJ]

It wasn't that funny when they attacked my uncle.

Where the heck do you live that the squirrels attack??? Man, around here the squirrels see you and they're gone!

[Flatcoat1]

Fell asleep once deer hunting and awoke to a couple of squirrels that had snuck up my pants leg. It really didn't scare me until I heard one of them ask the other, "Should we eat them here or take them with us?"

[Rossi20]

Fell asleep once deer hunting and awoke to a couple of squirrels that had snuck up my pants leg. It really didn't score me until I heard one of them ask the other, "Should we eat them here or take them with us?"

LOL. Another example of evil squirrels. I hope you left fully intact.

[JimmyJ]

Fell asleep once deer hunting and awoke to a couple of squirrels that had snuck up my pants leg. It really didn't score me until I heard one of them ask the other, "Should we eat them here or take them with us?"

Now that's funny right there...I don't care who you are!!!

[Rossi20]

Now that's funny right there...I don't care who you are!!!

I tell you whhat.