Oh man, that sucks!

I'm done looking for the buggar. I looked and looked and looked. He hid pretty good. I sure hope it doesn't happen again or atleast for a looooong, long time. :sad:

Is there any trees, with a knot hole in it?
I have had squirrels to go in knot holes.
I remember the first squirrel I shot.
It was on the top of a chicken wire fence.
I held up my brand new, Iver Johnson, 12 ga Single barrel shotgun.
I shot, and it hit it on the hind end.
It jumped, and one of its rear legs pulled off, and ran since I had a single barrel.
I couldn't get off another shot to quik.
After that there was a three legged squirrel running around the woods.
I never got another shot at it.

So that migh have happened to your squirrel

JMHO

Good Luck on the rest of the squirrels.

jrbsr

This is where I've been hunting. This patch here is kinda wide open and leads to two trails or walk ways. The river would be positioned right behind me.



Almost looks like a beach and that is certainly what we call it! :D


This is where I lost him! I was off to the left on the trail, shooting towards the first leafy small tree there and he ran around this area and I lost him.


This is the 22 LR I was using when I lost him...

Check your scope.I shot at 1 a few days ago,bout 50 yards away with my 17 hmr.He was on the ground,all i could see was his head/chest,i put the crosshairs right behind his shoulder,BOOM!!!!!!!!Walked down there,no blood nothin.I knew it was a clean miss.The next morning i went out with the 12 gauge,killed 2 that morning,midday i checked the scope on the 17hmr,@50 yards,it was hittin 2''high and 2''to the left.Its dead on now at 50 yards.Went out that evening,killed 2 more!!!I would have told you to check your scope on the 22,earlier,i didn't know if it was scoped or had iron sights.Hope this helps

Well, I shot a beer can a good 20-30 yards away and made it jump into the air. I don't think it's the scope.

My brother says it's harder to shoot with a 22. He had a hard time hitting them last week with that gun when we went out. <it's his gun> I'm about ready to just go with a shot gun! He says he could hit'em all day long with a shot gun but started using the 22 for a challenge.

I dunno. I'm tempted to just say screw it and use a shot gun.

Don't get worked up about finding that squirrel, you did your best, and the very worst thing that will happen is you provided an easy meal for a hawk or buzzard, bobcat or a coyote or other critter if he made it to the ground. It isn't a waste at all, something will use it, it is only lost to you. Them other critters that may find and eat that free meal can probably use the break from hunting anyway.
So don't ever feel bad for losing a meal for yourself once in a while, knowing that the food that didn't make your table, helped feed others. I shoot em as treats for my dogs, but once in a while one sticks in a tree or something, a natural occurrence, and I figure nature needs it for something else, and leave it if it is too hard to get. I used to get upset too but it really doesn't matter to me now, if I do my best and still lose an animal. It's nature taking it's coarse, just go with it.

I've lost 2 or 3 squirrels over the years either from not finding where they drop, or from them getting stuck high up in the tree. I hate it when it happens, but it isn't very often.

Where on the beer can did your bullet hit???My rule for squirrel huntin is,if you can hit the BACK of the can with a 22lr,17 hmr,you have a good squirrel gun.With the 22lr,25/30 yards,17hmr i like 50 yards.With a shotgun,if you can put a fairly even pattern with the can standin up right,your good to go!!!My 410,i limit my shots to 30/35 yards,12 gauge,about 40 yards.

I killed 10 or 15 b4 i started hunt'n with a rifle.Its alot more challenge with a rifle, than a shotgun.

Certainly sounds like you made a good faith effort to recover your Squirrel. You should feel good about that. Like the others said, if you shoot at enough Squirrels, you'll lose one occasionally. If you enjoy hunting with the rifle, stick with it. Don't fool yourself into believing you can't lose them with a shotgun. :wink: