Small Game, Predator and TrappingFrom shooting squirrels in your backyard to calling coyotes in Arizona. This forum now contains trapping information..
I went out today and scouted for deer and squirrel hunted. I killed three gray squirrels, and started down the hollow. At the base of the hollowI heard two barking. I sat down on a big log to rest and wait to see ifI could spot them. After about four minutesI saw one coming down the hill towards the hollow. I looked through the scope and saw that he had a black head. I shot twice and missed and he kept running closer. Then I noticed he was really black in color. He ran up on a dead tree that was leaning over and stopped. I could only see himfrom the front legs back. I aimed whereI thought his head should be and fired; it rolled down the hill. I ran up to get it and found that it was black from head to toe on the underside, but the rest of it looked like a regular fox squirrel. This color phase isreally rare here in VA. I have hunted for 16 years, and this is the first one I've killed that was this color. I tore him up pretty bad; I grazed him under the belly and squarely hit the opposite front leg. I was using Rem. PSP .22 mag. I took some 35mm pictures and tried to contact the taxidermist to see if he can still mount him. I"ll try to post some pics.
great job!! I have only shot one black squirrel in my life.
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when i got up to michagan every year the squirrels are almost all black on our property, i kill tons of them, they must be different species tho. Nice job- mounted blacks look sweet-especially when you can get a partial limb mount.
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I live in eastern wv and have killed a dozen or so black phase fox squirrels, have also taken a couple completely black greys. not to rare here. Funny part is I remember as a kid seeing a fox squirrel was a big thing, now they outnumber the greys 2-1. Best eating that comes from the woods, except leatherback mushrooms.
RR
i have a question, what is a fox squirrel? I've seen them mentioned just currious on what they were.i've seen a red and grey, but cant say i've ssen a black one either.
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--unsure of original author--
Description The largest tree squirrel. 3 color phases: in northeastern part of range, gray above, yellowish below; in western part, bright rust/red below; in South, black, often with white blaze on face and white tail tip (in South Carolina, can be black with white ears and nose). Large, bushy tail with yellow-tipped hairs. L 17 7/8"“28" (454"“698 mm); T 7 7/8"“13" (200"“330 mm); HF 2"“3 1/4" (51"“82 mm); Wt 17 3/4"“37 1/2 oz (504"“1,062 g).
Similar Species Eastern Gray Squirrel is smaller and has silvery-tipped tail hairs.
Breeding Litter of 2"“4 young born late February"“early March, sometimes June"“July, occasionally August"“early September. 2-year-old females may have 2 litters per year. Gestation about 45 days.
Habitat Woods, particularly oak-hickory; in the South, live oak and mixed forests, cypress and mangrove swamps, piney areas. 1 or 2 tree holes per acre (.4 ha) are needed for good habitat.
Range Eastern U.S. (except New England, most of New Jersey, extreme w New York, and n and e Pennsylvania); east to Dakotas, ne Colorado, and e Texas. This species has also been introduced to various places outside of its native range, now occuring in many locations along the west coast.
Black Fox Squirrel
