What's the preferred tool to harvest these creatures. Rifle or shotgun?

Nahum 1:7

I use both, depending on my mood.
If it is a calm morning when the squirrels aren't as nervous and take a little more time feeding, i tend to use a 22, it ruins less meat, and no hard shot in the middle of a bite of squirrel pot pie :-)
If it is windy, or something and they are a little more nervous, I will use the scattergun.
As far as kinds of 22s and shotguns, I use either a regular Fieldmaster 22, or I have an old mossberg target rifle that has a big scope on it (heavy as hell but damned accurate)
As far as shotguns, If I am hunting in a wide open area of hardwoods, where i can see a decent distance, I will use a 12 guage with 3 inch magnums (for LOOOOOOONG shots) with size 6 shot, but usualy loads are regular 3 inch loads with 6 or 4 shot
For times when i am hunting in thicker stuff, I have a really old 16 guage I use with 6 shot, 2 3/4 inch loads.
Hope this helps!

Jennings Buckmaster Bow
.50 Cal Thompson Center Renegade

early season when the leaves are on the trees I use the 22,you can slip and wait,get a setting shot while they eat.
when the leaves are gone and I walk through they will be on the ground,I can't see them till they run up a tree,with the shotgun I can shoot them on the run.

I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.

Either one will work great. I heve used both. Right now I am using a 20 guage and Remington Express 2.75" #5 shot. A .410 with 3" #4 shot might even be better. Sometimes my 20 eats em up if they're just a little too close or if I have to hit them more than once. Oveall though I really enjoy hunting them with a shotgun. It's not quite as challenging as with a .22 but a heck of a lot of fun. If you're not eexperienced hunting squirrels I would recommend a shotgun in either .410 or .20 guage with the ammo I mentioned above. Besides I use the shotgun for deer and hog too so if a morning of deer and hog hunting is not going too good I can always just switch shells and get an hour or so of squirrel hunting in to make myself feel better.

I use a Browning BL-22, with a Bushnell red dot sight, and Winchester Power Points. Sometimes I'll use my Marlin 25MN , Bushnell Trophy 3-9, and Winchester 40gr FMJ's.

You can't eat what you miss!

I use an over/under with 20 guage/22 magnum, that way I'm prepared for every shot. The only thing I'd still like to do is put a shotgun scope on it, to make the shots with the 22 magnum a little easier.

Get your kids in the woods & off the streets !!

i would say that a bow is the best weapon that you can use for those little guys