Calling All Squirrel Snipers

[Texas Star]

Some guy asked about the Marlin 795 on another board, and I said that it'd shoot all the squirrels he could eat.

He expressed amazement that anyone would eat squirrels, although he's eaten rabbit. I think he's only seen squirrels in parks.

So: squirrel snipers, let's see pics of your bag, with comments about the great American tradition of squirrel hunting.

For you squirrel hunters, how many use .22's and how many rely on shotguns?

Shotgunners: which pellet size do you favor, and how far out will you take a shot?

I'm hoping to see some fine CZ and Winchester 52 rimfires with nice 'scopes.

Do you wear camo for squirrel hunting, or is that overkill or too full of drama? Do you employ calls?

Squirrel recipes are welcome.

 

[35Rem]

I haven't squirrel hunted much, but hope to more in the future. As my kids get a little older, it will be an easy way to introduce them to hunting.
This hunt I used a Stevens 5100 16 ga. My buddy had a Scoped Ruger 10/22. With #6 shot I could shoot out to 50 yards very effectively. For some reason THIS PARTICULAR shotgun shoots that far and hits hard. it is unusual.
I wear camo. They have good eyes.
haven't used a call, but it might make a wary squirrel make a mistake.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Here's my two favorite squirrel rifles:

I have others, but these two are my favorites, as well as my father's favorite squirrel rifles.

When these two aren't being used, it's usually my 9422, Remington 41P or 341. I do occasionally use my father's old 16ga 94 Stevens too.

;9I don't use camouflage- usually just whatever I'm wearing, or a pair of overalls. I do like to use .22 Shorts instead of .22LR's- it doesn't tear them up too bad- the CCI .22 Short HP works the best! I've got an old canvas messenger style bag that is likely war surplus that works the best for carrying them out of the woods.

I don't use calls, but I used to have friends that had some of the best squirrel dogs- but they are gone now.
I doubt I'll ever have enough use to justify the cost of a squirrel dog. I don't even know anyone that has squirrel dogs anymore- bear and coon dogs, but not squirrel dogs.

 

[tops]

I bought a M39 carbine and a Weaver K2.5 in 1964 and killed a lot of squirrels with it. I still have it and even though I live in a rural area I am now afraid to shoot a rifle up in the air. I don't hunt much anymore but when I squirrel hunt I use a 1935 L.C. Smith 20 ga., 26 in., M&IC, #6 shot. I carry a call with me and if I sit for a while and don't see anything I use the call and sometimes it will make one show himself. Larry

 

[thomasinaz]

We used to squirrel hunt a lot in Upstate NY, when I was in the Air Force up there. Most of us used 22 rifles, and one used a 410 bore shotgun. I used a 10-22 with a cheapo 4X scope. We had a lot of success in the wooded areas around the farm fields. One friend had a great way to cook them, but I didn't pay much attention to his recipe (wish I did now).. He soaked them in Dr Pepper or Coke for half a day or so. The cooking involved boiling them for a while, then rolled in a flour mixture and fried. After they were cooked for a while he added some water and beer and salt and black pepper. It made a kind of stew that was delicious with biscuits....

 

[crsides]

cz you asked?

and win

Charlie

 

[NAVET72]

Here is my New Savage 93BTVS 22 mag with a Bushnell 4-12x40 DOA 600 Scope.

Clyde

 

[Texas Star]

Thanks, guys! Keep 'em coming!

 

[DeadAye]

No pics - but
My main squirrel gun for a long time was a K17. A friend clued me into .22LR CBIs being a better round because it's so quiet but my 17 patterned like a shotgun with the slow moving bullets. So now I just use a Bull Barrel 22 LR Contender with the CBIs.
On a good day I can shoot 1 hole 3 shot groups with that combo.
On a bad day, cloverleafs

I still eat with a plastic tooth from a childhood dinner. Shotgun pellet in a squirrel busted one of my teeth - No more of that for me and mine.

 

[Joe in SC]

I haven't hunted squirrels for several years, but I hope to start again this season after a couple of good frosts. I have dined on squirrel many times and prefer it pare boiled then pan fried in bacon grease/veg oil mix. Dumplins and squirrel goes pretty good too.

No pictures but I have a Browning T-Bolt that carries lightly and is a tack driver. As good as anything I've ever used. I do have a couple model 52's, one a B model with standard weight barrel that is still a bit heavy for woods hunting, but would do in a pinch or ifn' I felt frisky. The other is the Japan re-pop sporter. It is a fine rifle and will give any true model 52 sporter a run for it's money accuracy wise. I will probably take it at least once or twice this season. Actually, there's no shortage of good, accurate .22 rim-fires around the house. I've got a couple old Winchester single shots I bought for my grandkids that are up to the task also. A SAKO Finn-fire that will shoot their eyes out if you can hold steady enough resides in the back of the safe too. Dang, just talking about it has got me ready to go!

 

[2152hq]

Haven't hunted in many years.
I can remember going and using an LC Smith 12ga SxS. My Dad bought it from the local Police Chief for $35.
I used Peters HV 2 3/4 #4,,cause that's what everyone used all season for pheasants & rabbits.
Just about knocked my teeth loose. Can't remember getting any squirrels either. Just as well I guess.
Took a single shot .22 later but always ended up bored waiting around for those things and started shooting at sticks and stuff. More fun shooting,,not much of a hunter.

I found out the shipping date later on the LC Smith (Sept something 1908) while working at Marlin.
Col. Brophy was there and anyone with an LCS no matter the condition or grade was of interest to him. He looked up the info for me.
Those records are the ones he literally saved from the trash dumpsters in Marlins move to N. Haven.

 

[pluspea]

I also like my 1022, but this one is not bad.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

Like some others I have not hunted in several years. I now don't even have a place to hunt. "City dweller" I do have the guns to hunt squirrels if I ever get to go again. Don


CZ 452 American with a Mueller 4.5 X 14 scope.

Ruger 77/22 with a Nikon 4X scope. Made in 1984.

 

[M29since14]

Do you wear camo for squirrel hunting, or is that overkill or too full of drama? Do you employ calls? ...

You employ a dog, if you have a good one. And no - the dog doesn't need any camo. He's fine the way he is.

Of course you usually need at least a half-gallon of mosquito repellent, here in Indiana.

Shotguns are for things that fly so they are not used in civilized midwestern squirrel hunting. Any .22 accurate at "top-of-oak-tree" range will do, but I do not have a ready picture of mine - an old Savage Anschutz 54 Sporter. Handsome rifle, but I like Crsides' CZ too. If I were to get into the notion again, I think I might have to have one of those. Very handsome!

Autoloaders also considered uncivilized.

 

[anglaispierre]

Here in France squirrels are protected. So are hedgehogs. No squirrel stew. No hedgehog pie. Lots of restrictions on deer. Wild boar are unrestricted - wish I could find one. Hunting season starts in a few weeks - hope I have more success than previous years. But how do you judge success? A morning's hunting with 20 or 30 of the local hunters followed by a few aperatifs and a meal prepared in our hunting lodge, accompanied by good French wine. Good company, and friendly conversation (in patois French, which stretches my comprehension of the language). What more could you ask for?

When I hunt on my own, that's how I normally return home.

 

[anglaispierre]

but I like Crsides' CZ too. If I were to get into the notion again, I think I might have to have one of those. Very handsome!

I agree. The FS looks nice. I have the Standard 452. No scope. I use it for target practice, but I once shot a rat at about 20 yards. I saw it basking in the sun, ran in the house to get my gun and as I got back it decided to move. It didn't get far.

 

[M29since14]

...I once shot a rat at about 20 yards. I saw it basking in the sun, ran in the house to get my gun and as I got back it decided to move. It didn't get far.

Tisk - tisk! I hope the authorities do not hear about this!

I have a hard time imagining how 20-30 French hunters have much success with anything, except driving game AWAY. But, given your description of the occasion, I would be willing to observe and see if I could make some sense of it. Are the guns loaded?

Forgot to add - good luck with the coming pursuits!

 

[jkc]

Like others, I haven't hunted squirrels in quite some while, but when I did, I used a scoped .22 rimfire, and made of them squirrel stew, pretty much the same recipe as for beef stew, only with more tasty results ... Squirrel hunting offers a great opportunity for training youngsters in hunting skills, patience, marksmanship, ethics, safe gun handling, etc. Have at it ---!

 

[coalfieldhunter]

several years ago I used a Ruger single six with a 6 inch barrel. Now my older eyes don't seem to work so well, but I can still hit them with the open sights on a Stevens favorite. Brunswick stew or the slow pan frying some have talked about makes a great meal. Won't be long till the season starts!

 

[CajunBass]

A couple of my squirrel hunting pictures. I'm blessed to be able to walk out back and start hunting.

My 1984 Ruger 77/22, Simmons 2x7 scope, my old vest, and couple of squirrels from the hillside.

A better picture of the rifle.

When it rains, the nice wooden rifles stay inside.

Remington 597, Bushnell 4x.