Squirrels and Rabbits
 

I was wondering what tactics you use to get some squirrels and rabbits? I tried before in the season but didnt see much. I am using a Air rifle and its pretty acrrurate. I was wonder when you get in position, what you do to get the sqirrels and rabbits within shooting range. And any other tips are helpful.
Thanks alot

Edited by - Hunter501 on 02/10/2003 19:33:38

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

My tactics for squirrel hunting are walking up to it with my bow and taking a shot at it. I've found that squirrels let you get close enough to them, they're just so quick that they dodge the arrows. Squirrels will play with you too. It's like they know when you can shoot and you can't. I had a squirrel in a tree once in a place that wasn't a safe shot, so I moved to get a better shot. Then the squirrel moved into another way in which it wouldn't be safe to shoot. As far as air rifles I reckon you can chase em up a tree and wait for them to expose themselves.

Brandan

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

I like to scout out places, then set up where I find the most sign. It really helps develop scouting skills.

Or stalk them.

I love squirrel hunting, there are so many ways to hunt them. And they make a great stew.

"Hey ya'll, watch this"

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

With rabbits I love to stalk field edges. Squirrels are fun to stalk also but you can also simply try sitting in a good area and picking them off as they become active. QUICK TRICK: If a squirrel is circling to the other side of a tree to avoid you. Take off your jacket and hang it on a bush or something then slowy circle around to get a shot. Th squirrel will often stay still or circle once see the jacket and then circle back where you'll be waiting.

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

Read all about it here...

http://lewand.tripod.com/sq.html
<img src= 'http://24.124.38.72/uploads/barkmoonsign.jpg'>

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

I prefer to stalk them with a shotgun. If you are quiet and slow you can sneak in without them knowing you are there. You will usually hear or see them long before they see you. Then it's really pretty easy to stalk to within shotgun or even bow range if your slow and quiet. This method works very well for me even on the heavily hunted public land that I hunt.

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

when you do usually go out?

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

for squirrels i like to find a stand of oaks or other nut trees and just sit and wait..nice way to spend a fall afternoon..and you never know what else youll see in a stand of oaks in the fall..everything form turkeys to giant bucks you didnt think existed...i shoot my fair share of tree rats that way..after i shoot one if i didint see anymore i pick him up and move 50 yrds or so..moving really slow..or some days i basically still hunt through the stands of trees looking for them in the tree tops and the bushy tails bounding away...rabbits are pretty hard to hunt without a dog..i just get in some thick thick brush and jagurs and bust it...never do too good..only one i shot at was pheasant hunting and 7.5 shot and a imporoved choke at 40 yrd didnt hurt him..i hit him all 3 times..i could see the pattern in the dirt as he was running..my friends dad dumped his gun on him too..when i was pumping he shot and when i shot he got back on target..poor rabbit..it had to hurt...he never did stop..i know he caught a few pellets though...good luck...tree rats will be easier with an airgun too...i like using a 22 but an airgun with a good bit of power will take them...

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

ill be going out tommorow afternoon for squirels not the best time, but it will have to do. Wish me luck guys. Thanks for the info.

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

I have a good deal of experience with squirrel hunting. The squirrel will cirlce the tree everytime you do. Before you go into the woods, get a pocket full of rocks. If you know that the squirrel is in the tree, stand on one side that will give you a good shot, and then throw a rock or two past the tree on the opposite side. The squirrel will think that you are walking back around the tree and come to your side. Works every time. By the way, what type of air rifle are you using. I have taken many of squirrels with a benjamin .177 caliber.

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

I have only been hunting for one year but I know much about squirrels. My pap' s land is some of the best squirrel hunting there is. If you are hunting by yourself, make sure you have 3 quarters with you. You know how squirrels like to run to the other side of the tree when they spot you? Well, sit in that spot for 5 minute or so, then take two quarters and slide the other in between them, then pull it out while pressing hard on the other two. It will make a sound like a nut ing and the squirrel will come around the tree to investigate.

If you have someone with you...take a metal pipe of a big stick or something of that sort...if they run up into a nest, wait a minute...then have the other guy bang on the tree with the pipe. The squirrel will scramble out of that nest like his tail' s on fire. These two methods are proven to work. ;)


plinker




Anger, Misery, You Will Suffer Unto Me

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

i used to hunt squirrels alot when i was little, i dont do it too much any more but i used to just walk around till i found one and just kept following it until i got a good shot at him. usually they just go up a tree and you can pick um off pretty easy.

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

When I go out with a .177 airgun, I usually take my jack russel terriers, they' re fast enough to run ahead of the squirrels and get them stopped so I can shoot them before they hole up. They' ll just sit up there and stare at the dogs then, so I can make an easy shot. When I don' t take the dogs but keep the air gun, I do a lot of running, and it really sucks, that' s why we invented scatterguns.

On rabbits, I ride horseback or walk through a pasture that I know they live in, then when I see one jump, I stalk over to it, get within 20yrds, and put a pointed pellet through it' s head, right below the ear. If you shoot the body with a bb or flat nosed pellet, you' re likely to hear the slap, and then your bunny will run off. I also wait for them to come out in the evenings and eat the clover growing in my fiance' s front yard, then plink them from the porch. It usually works much better to use a .22lr though, and even moreso I like .410' s, then you can hunt them much like hunting birds, walk through a field, and get what you get.

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

Sorry guys, i though this topic died down. Thanks for the tips for next season. I will be using a Crossman .177 caliber

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

Smitty03, another tactic is to carry some fishing line with you and tie it to a sapling on the opposite side of the tree from you and stand on the other side and shake that sapling til the squirrel comes to your side of the tree.

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

i just walk around and shoot em. i shoot some rabbits when i am deer hunting.

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

I hope you have checked the game laws in your state , I don' t mean to be a party pooper but air rifles are not legal hunting implements in all states even though I took my first squirrel with a bb gun I was quickly punished for doing so illegally. I was young and didn' t realize about game laws and such..I' m sure I' m not alone either! Happy Hunting501!

RE: Squirrels and Rabbits
 

i used to use my bb/pellet rifle for squirrel before i got my .22 and .410
i use so many tricks its incredible
TIP: click two quarters together and it will imitate a scolding squirrel;)