First-time squirrel hunters
 

My wife and I would really like to try squirrel hunting for the first time this fall, and we're looking for any suggestions and pointers. It sounds like fun, and we'd like to try it.

How effective are squirrel calls? Should we use one? What about clothing? Camo or blaze orange? Gun choice?
Thanks in advance.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

welcome to the world of hunting tree rats. when it comes to a firearm it all comes down to personal prefference. i will use a 410 shotgun during the early season when the trees are still full of leaves. later in the season i will use my 10/22. some folks will use a 12,16,or even a 20 gage while hunting bushytails. if you use one of those i would suggest going with #6 or #8 shot but that is just me.

most folks wear full camo while others will have some blaze orange... really dont matter because i have had those darn critters try to crawl into my lap during deer season when i have looked like the great pumpkin.

yes calls do work to some extent... i will use mine to try to get a squirrel to poke his head out so that i can get a bead on him.

all in all hunting squirrel,s is a great way to spend time in the woods and they taste great also:D

any other questions just ask and good luck to you and your wife out in the woods this season.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

Hey, thanks for the info. We're looking forward to it, although we'll have to wait until Oct 1, since we don't have last year's license to hunt with from Sept 1-Sept 30. We got married last fall, so we never got a chance to go out at all.

My wife just won a 20 gauge Mossberg (she bought a raffle ticket through our local fish/game club), but it's set up forturkey hunting, really. You're only supposed to use lead shot in it--no slugs--but I suppose that'd work for squirrels, huh?

She can't wait to go out. She took the hunter's safety course last fall, and now she's psyched up to go. This will keep her happy until deer season opens on Oct 22.

Is it difficult to clean/dress them?

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

Glad to see a joint interest in the outdoors. Your first couple might be tricky to clean but youll get the hang of it and make short work of it. Check out some other posts or look for some directions on-line. Theres more than one way to skin a bushy tail. If you are planning a morning hunt you should see lots . Camo is good. Move slow and listen for them cutting nuts. SLOW and QUIET. The earlier the better ( I like first light ). Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes for you and your wife.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

that 20 will do just fine for tree rats...just dont use a turkey load:D

gutting a tree rat the first time you will feel like you have nothing but thumbs but after the first couple you will be a pro.

take your knife(i like to use a small pocket knife) and make a insision right at the Y(breast bone).
then cut down to the vent(anus)...just try not to go too deep.

when you are done take your finger and starting at the ribs scrape/pull the inards out.(i also find it easier if i split the small pelvic bone so that i can get all of the guts out in one easy pull).

you now have a treerat that is ready to be skinned.

this part too at first will be somewhat akward but dont worry you will get it.

the way that i skin out a tree rat is that i will place the body flat on it's belly.

then i will cut straicht across it's back(about the middle)

then i will pull the skin downand over the legs until i reach the joint between the upper and lower leg.

at this point you will cut the leg completly off...along with the tail... do the same with the upper body and the head.

ohhhhhhhh now you want to know why that bushytail has more bdy hair than a woman from europe:D... hold him under running water to get the worst of it.... then take a large pot....add some cold water and some salt(salt will draw out some of the blood) let em soak for a bit then rinse and either cook or freeze.

if you are gonna fry them up what i do is brown them slightly first...this makes pulling those last stray bits of hair easier:D

best of luck to you and your wife and enjoy the hunting/cleaning and then the eating together

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

Hey, thanks so much for the info....I know we're going to enjoy it.....can't wait for October 1st!

She's really pumped. She tried going out with someone a few years ago (before we met), which was a *mistake*, seeing that she had nevertaken a hunter's safety course. She didn't even have a license. I'm going to take her to the fish/game club so she can get used to shooting the 20 gauge and the 30/30 I gave her last year for a wedding present.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

Scott, will you be hunting on public or private land? Either way, I would suggest you wear orange. I wear orange and usually get six or eight, eight being the limit, on every outing.

As for the gun, a 20 gauge should be perfect. I take my 12 gauge Mossberg 835. After a half an hour it gets heavy! :DI used 7 1/2 shot last year, but I will probably use 6 this year.

Let us know how you do!

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

Sure.....we'll keep you guys posted!We appreciate all the advice.

As for your question, it most likely will be on public land. And that's good to hear about the 20 gauge being a good choice. It's a nice gun....she's got the 500 Mossberg with camo pattern. I think it came with the Xtra full choke installed in the end. Should we go with a different choke, or will that do?

We were looking at squirrel calls in Walmart today. 9 bucks, which didn't seem to be too bad. I'd like to pick one up and see how it works.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

Well a 22 works fine but if able i would use a 22 mag. and calls work sometimes and some times they don't i don't think you need camo.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

I use full choke with shotgun,even used modified in early season with all the leaves on.For calls I use a bellows bark type call sparingly,and a lohmans whistle call if you want an aggresive type call,hope this helps.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

I would change the choke to a regular full. If you use the Xtra full it will blow-em up pretty bad at close range. Early in the season, say Sept., focus on hickory trees, if there are any squirrels around they will be there. Too bad you will be hunting later you'll miss the hickory fest, but they should be cutting acorns by then. Good luck!! Wish my wife were intersted in hunting.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

Ok....we'll definitely try a different choke. It's set up for turkey hunting, so maybe that's why it has the Xtra full choke?

We went over to the fish/game club today and shot the 20 gauge, both 30/30's, and an old Montgomery Ward Westernfield .22 LR that my dad gave to me years ago.

The shotgun is dead on at 50 yds, and the 30/30's were pretty good, too. The .22 is way off, though. We need to sight that in yet, but ran out of daylight.

Thanks for the info on the squirrel calls, too.
Yeah.... my wife is a rare breed. Shereally can't wait to gohunting, although this will be the first year she's ever went (legally). She LOVED shooting today. And she's a pretty darned good shot, too. She wants to try the trap, skeet and clay shooting activities that they have going on over there, too. I've never tried it either, but wouldn't mind going over.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

sounds like you and your wife had a full day:Dlike all have said... good luck and keep us posted.......and if you need anything else.......give a shout:D

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

I dont know if its been mentioned but something i'd like to add is that when i hunt squirrels with another person we usuallywalk kinda spaced out. So that maybe the first person is 30 yrds infront of the second. this way when the first person walks past a tree the bushytail will try to avoid him and move to the opposite side of the tree. this gives the second person a clear shot. i can tell ya from experience this method works great.

also (i've never tried this but call me crazy i'd kinda like to), i just came up with this ;). when u see a squirrel on the ground eating nuts and u try to stalk up to u and it runs away or it wont come to a call...just run at it (with the gun on saftey). this way the squirrel will run up a tree and u can shoot it. i've never tried this cuz it just popped into my mind but it should work:eek:

good luck!

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

Thanks for all the info! I'll keep everyone posted.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

Scott, I use a 12 gauge Mossberg 500 with the camo pattern for squirrels. I love the Mossbergs, but I would take a 20 gauge Mossberg over a 12 gauge Mossberg for squirrel hunting any day.When I go squirrel hunting, I stalk them. The trick to stalking them is to walk really really quiet.That way you can hear them run up thetree and get a shot off.When you walk look in the trees.You will see the squirrels jumping branch to branch. You will be able to see the branch shaking like the devil. You can also sit and wait for the squirrels to bark. Once they start barking, sneak up on them.I am almost as excited as you are about your hunting trip! :DKeep us posted.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

I will definitely keep everyone posted! Thanks for all the info that everyone has given us!

Yes....we're REALLY excited about it, too. I wish we had last year's tags to hunt with. That way, we could hunt in September. We'll have to wait until Oct 1st now....but that's ok. That'll give my wife more opportunities to get used to the 20 gauge.

We've got to do some scouting around in the meantime. Maybe we can find some good spots to hunt. Any suggestions as to what to look for?

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

scott why dont you go out and get this years licence? if you plan on hunting deer and turkey you could buy a sportsman licence today and be in the woods by this coming weekend:D

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

I suppose we could......although it'd be $38 to use the license for only 4 weeks. I might talk to my wife about it.

Which is the better month for squirrel hunting? Sept or Oct?

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

I'm taking my kids this fall for the first time this fall, and I haven't gone but once myself before. Good luck, and let us know how you do!Isaw the squirrel skinning video,and got game shears to cut off the legs,etc. A buddy of mine at work says YoshidaGourmet sauce(you can get some at Sam's Club) makes 'em taste great. BTW,1965 is when I was born....

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

yeah i guess you are right about the 4 weeks part:Das to which month is better......i really never gave it much thought but i will say that during the month of october the black flies...skeeters and ticks are not as bad if there are any around at all.

during the month of october we usally start out in the am hoping for a few turkeys... then we might switch over and try to take a tree rat or two( we walk back to the vehical to exchange shot shells)

either way you look at it from september through out febuary you will have plenty of chances to get out to hunt;):D

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

Yes, that's true. We hope to get out a LOT this fall/winter to do some hunting.

I have a sister that lives on Rte 5 about 6 miles east of Auburn, NY. Small world, eh?

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

lol yeah it is a small world:Dif you ever stop in to visit your sis let me know....... mabey we could head out and shoot some tree rats;):D

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

when my wife and i first got married she was interested in going deer and squirrel hunting with me until she hit a deer with her car and then on the way home the same day almost hit 3 more !! so that took her outta deer huntin'

my wife is verry short and she has a hard time shootin' my marlin model 60 22 lr. so, i thought id be a good husband and buy her (me) a gun that she could use for squirrel and maybe deer. . .a Rosi 22/410 interchangable barrels (the 22 comes off and the 410 is snapped on) its a youth model and is a single shot breakdown. she would go out in the evenings after work and shoot pop cans until dark. . . .but when it came time to hunt squirrels. . . .she didn't want to kill the cute fuzzy critters.

now here's where i've got a problem, she'll help me gut, skin, clean, and she'll cook and eat 'em. but wont take this sweet little gun and plug one. ! ! ! ![:@]

so, the gun is now in the case under the backseat of my dodge. i figure if i get bored during work, i can take an early hour lunch and go pop a squirrel !! :D

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

i prefer a 22 lr or magnum for squirrels one word H E A D S H O T

this year i'm gonna be bustin' the nut munchers from 200 yds away with a .204 ruger calib. in a savage model 12FV

http://www.savagearms.com/12fvsingleshot.htm

if anyone is interested in that Rosi, u can get one from bass pro for about $170 or a little less

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

that sounds like one heck of a deal:D

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

that Rosi is a heck of a deal !! i've met some people who argue that "oh, well, its a single shot, what are ya gonna do if ya miss?" thats when i reply, "i don't miss, all i need is ONE GOOD SHOT. . . "

and, best of all, one of my nephews has the same gun (he is got his for christmas one year and made me want one) but he has a scope mounted on his (a cheap 4x, but what more do ya need) the 22 barrel is drilled and tapped for a scope !!! !

as for the .204. . . . .well, lets just say that if ya screw up and do a body shot, you'll be hungry later !! but a carefully placed head shot or a 6"+/- barker shot will do the trick from 100 to 300 yds. [:@]

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

One additional comment on calls .... I have tried several and never found them to work for me! I can call in turkeys and even called in an elk once, but can only manage to scare off squirrels! I hunt unpressured land and find if I sit quietly they will show up soon enough. If not, I slowly move another 50 yards in the timber and stop again. It's a blast, so enjoy it!

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RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

Great! Let me know. I did buya squirrel callthis past weekend, and have been practicing with it, but I'm not too good at using it yet.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

I just picked a few calls from Gander Mtn too. I'm going out in a little bit, I'll let everyone know how they work out. Hopefully I'll have some pics to go with the review.

RE: First-time squirrel hunters
 

Well after a long day in the woods with my buddy Spikehorn11, he got one and I got nuttin. Theres always tomorrow morning. The calls I used worked well, I had several reds come up within spitting distance but they were too close and it was too dark. For pics of Spikehorn11's kill: http://forum.hunting.net/asppg/tm.asp?m=1196746&mpage=1&key=&#1196929