Anybody like to squirrel hunt?

[Faulkner]

I enjoy hunting in general, but I'd rather squirrel hunt over pretty much anything else, though turkey hunting is a close second.

I was raised with what seemed like at least one treeing squirrel dog as a family pet, usually a mountain or benchleg fiest, but we've had fox terriers, Jack Russell's, and plain old Hienz 57 variety dogs that were good squirrel dogs.

Though I like hunting squirrels with dogs, I enjoy still hunting the most. I used to hunt 'em in the bottoms with a 12 or 20 guage, but I've not used anything bigger than a .410 or a .22 in the last 10 years or so. Here in the Ozarks, you'll find big ol' fox squirrels and wiley grey squirrels often sharing the same patch of woods, though the grey's seem to favor the lower lying areas.

Today I was out with my new 300mm lens for my Nikon DSLR and a .22 and ran across a bunch of fox squirrels out in the sunshine on this 35 degree day. I took some pictures and then brought enough for a mess of pan fried squirrel for supper.

 

[29aholic]

Next to Dove hunting I like squirrel hunting best

 

[kennyb]

lately i have been using my S&W 15-22 to do a LOT of squirrel hunting

 

[gizamo]

Limb bacon is a close second to Partridge.....

 

[diamonback68]

You don't "hunt" squirrels, you just circle the tree a lot until they get stupid.

 

[oldogy]

Was my favorite pastime as a kid. My place is about overrun with them bushy tailed limb rats as they do like the hickory nuts and I have several dozen mature trees. I may have to start hunting and eating them again.

 

[Faulkner]

Well, I just finished dinner with a mess of chicken fried squirrel, mash potatoes and gravy, and homemade biscuits. I wonder what the poor folks are eating tonight.

 

[redlevel]

the unlucky victim just sits around with no control and babbles on and on making no sense whatsoever.

I ain't et no squirrel, but I caught it somehow if them's the symptoms!

 

[Smith357]

I find hunting tree rats to be very relaxing. I generally use a .22lr but have been known to go after them with a pellet rifle.

 

[JoeR]

Loved hunting them, hated cleaning em. I ended up using a couple of nails in a "V" for their heads. Worked great until you got a bad head shot one. I never liked the doing the split the skin around the back and peel each end method.

JR

 

[zoom6zoom]

I hear it is similar to "Mad Cow Disease" and the unlucky victim just sits around with no control and babbles on and on making no sense whatsoever.

Thanks for the warning. I wouldn't want to catch anything that would turn me into a politician.

 

[G.T. Smith]

I like to get a couple of these here Missouri Ozark squirrels and have my wife make up either egg noodles or dumplins and cook them nice and slow in a crock pot. I got the taste for them as a kid. We had a little Heinz 57 dog. We would throw rocks or do whatever to get them to come down the tree and she would catch them for us. I finally got a .22 for Christmas in '59 and that made it a lot easier. I still have the same .22 and I still use it for hunting them. Brings back good memories of some pretty lean times. Sometimes those squirrels were just about all the meat we had and I never heard anyone complain.
Yes, I still hunt them and eat them and enjoy hell out of the hunt. I have a dog now that will hunt them but you have the darndest time getting them away from him.
Peace,
gordon

 

[David LaPell]

I remember taking to the woods when I was 12 or so with my Crosman after tree rats, but gave it up for a few years. Grouse hunting tends to take over at that time of year, and I could have shot many a gray squirrel but have held off to go after the birds instead. I am hoping this week to try and get out this week since we are not supposed to get alot of snow from this storm where I live to go after both, whichever I see first.

 

[GJH77]

You don't "hunt" squirrels, you just circle the tree a lot until they get stupid.

Or throw your hat on one side of the tree and wait for the squirrel to come around to you!

 

[gamedic]

We are planning a squirrel hunt in January. I have a great friend who is battleing pancreatic cancer. He loves any type of fishing or hunting. If his white count is high enough in January we are going to hunting camp and thin out the squirrels for a whole week. I can't wait.

 

[Centenniel]

I love squirrel hunting. Gray squirrels were the first game animal I hunted as a kid, and a day in the woods hunting them with a good .22 rifle is a day well spent. Squirrels are mighty fine table fare too!

 

[John Eilertson]

I've downed my share of squirrels over the decades, whether with .22 rifles or handguns, 12 to 20 gauge scatterguns, or even .44 magnum shotshells. Always a kick, but I've wondered what it'd be like to hunt them with a genuine "squirrel dog." Typically, I've gotten mine while hunting for other things, and either camp is nearby or I'm positive there is no larger game around. I find squirrel to be a tasty meal, as do my hunting companions. Plus, I've used some of the fur in tying flies.

 

[Kelly Green]

Man, does this bring back memories from the 50's. I started hunting squirrel as a kid. Before I ever owned a gun, I used a slingshot. I used to stretch and tan the hides and then take them to school. A lot of the kids who lived in town wanted a squirrel skin and I could trade for some really neat stuff. I had only one returned. The kid I traded with took it home and his mother had a fit. I still hunt squirrel, except I use a .22 rifle and don't mess with the hides.

A plate of fried squirrel with biscuits and gravy makes a mighty fine meal.

 

[plainshunter]

I've never hunted them before but have been wanting to. It just don't seem to be done much around these parts, not sure why. I don't know anyone who does. I think I have a place to go, but not sure. There are a bunch of them in town though...

Tree bacon, I think that is one of the funniest things I've ever heard...

 

[msinc]

You are never too old to learn something new...I am 49 and my great nephew, who left yesterday for Afghanistan {Marine scout sniper} and I shot several this past fall. when we cleaned them he showed me a little scent gland that pretty much just looked like a piece of fat under the front arm of the squirrel. He said "if you dont cut that off they will taste funny." Now I have been shooting and eating squirrels since I was 13...never heard such a thing. He made homemade egg noodles and we had a heck of a pot of stew...in fact, the best I have ever tasted. Anyone else ever heard of this "scent gland" ????