Calling All Squirrel Snipers

[anglaispierre]

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!

Several hunters follow and control the dogs, several vehicles to survey the hunt generally, and the rest of us posted at fixed positions around the woods we are hunting. Once we are allocated a position we do not move from it. We maintain a safety angle of 30 degrees between each hunter. The dogs drive the deer out of the woods, and we shoot them (away from the woods so as not to endanger the dogs and the hunters with the dogs), except that I am not very good at that part. My hunt are allowed 10 to 12 deer per year for our territory, and we initially have three days fixed for hunting. If we don't get our quota within that time we continue on subsequent week-ends until we have them. The quota is based on population. I can't go out on my own hunting deer, must be part of the organised hunt.

My own hunt insist on shotguns only, but others allow rifles. The thinking behind our restriction is that the range is less with a shotgun, so there is less danger to other hunters or anyone else out in the woods. The downside is the short range and the lack of accuracy. Deer should only be shot at less than 30 metres to increase the chance of a clean kill. We use number 1 or 2 shot for deer, but if we see a boar we need to change to a slug. We always get our quota.

And we don't have a single white flag between us!

 

[chadwimc]

I shoot 'em from a boat every once in a while. On this day it was about 10 degrees. The coves were iced over, so we hunted the main lake. I was going for the "layered look".

Mossberg 9200, # 5 or 6 shot.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I shoot 'em from a boat every once in a while. On this day it was about 10 degrees. The coves were iced over, so we hunted the main lake. I was going for the "layered look".

Mossberg 9200, # 5 or 6 shot.

Chad a buddy and I used to float the Stones river a small river here in middle Tennessee. It has plenty of gray squirrels and fox squirrels. If you shot a fox squirrel and it fell into the water it would sink pretty quick. The gray squirrels would float. I never did figure that out. Those were good times. Don

 

[Mule88]

I wear camo when hunting squirrels (need all the help I can get) I make things hard on myself and been using either a M-17 or m-617 with 6 inch Bbl. Im usually pretty successful if i can get within 35 yds or so. I dont use a scope but if I did I may be able to add a few yards to that. I just love the challenge the handgun gives. May not get as many squirrels but I have alot of fun doing it.

 

[Centenniel]

I love to hunt squirrels. My first hunting experiences as a young boy were hunting gray squirrels with a .22 rifle. I still prefer a good, accurate .22 for the task, and my current choice is a Kimber Hunter with a Burris 3x9 Compact scope. I do love to eat those squirrel I take while still hunting. I use WMT ammo and take head shots which allow quick, clean kills and limit/eliminate meat loss.

 

[CajunBass]

Several hunters follow and control the dogs, several vehicles to survey the hunt generally, and the rest of us posted at fixed positions around the woods we are hunting. Once we are allocated a position we do not move from it. We maintain a safety angle of 30 degrees between each hunter. The dogs drive the deer out of the woods, and we shoot them (away from the woods so as not to endanger the dogs and the hunters with the dogs), except that I am not very good at that part. My hunt are allowed 10 to 12 deer per year for our territory, and we initially have three days fixed for hunting. If we don't get our quota within that time we continue on subsequent week-ends until we have them. The quota is based on population. I can't go out on my own hunting deer, must be part of the organised hunt.

My own hunt insist on shotguns only, but others allow rifles. The thinking behind our restriction is that the range is less with a shotgun, so there is less danger to other hunters or anyone else out in the woods. The downside is the short range and the lack of accuracy. Deer should only be shot at less than 30 metres to increase the chance of a clean kill. We use number 1 or 2 shot for deer, but if we see a boar we need to change to a slug. We always get our quota.

And we don't have a single white flag between us!

That sounds exactly like the way I've always hunted Whitetail Deer here in Virginia. Nothing will send a chill up my spine like a pack of Walkers hitting a hot trail first thing in the morning. Walkers and beagles are the most popular, but you'll see most every kind of hound you can think of. Like you, our choice of firearms are shotguns only, Buckshot only.

As we say around here..."When the tailgate drops...the BS stops."

Just remembered. I've got a few pictures.

My wife is handicapped. We get an invitation once a year to hunt with a group that puts on a hunt for the handicapped a few times a year. The invited hunter can take along one helper. Here she is in her blind early in the morning. It was COLD that day. But she stuck it out all day. She was so excited every time she heard a dog strike.

This club was really organized. They had blinds built and numbered. As soon as someone shot, there was a crew there to drag the kill out, and get it back to the skinning area. I'm not sure who killed the ones in the picture, but they're a couple of nice central Virginia Whitetails. I believe seven were killed this day. My wife didn't get a shot, but that didn't dampen her spirits one bit.

 

[celticfisherman]

Several hunters follow and control the dogs, several vehicles to survey the hunt generally, and the rest of us posted at fixed positions around the woods we are hunting. Once we are allocated a position we do not move from it. We maintain a safety angle of 30 degrees between each hunter. The dogs drive the deer out of the woods, and we shoot them (away from the woods so as not to endanger the dogs and the hunters with the dogs), except that I am not very good at that part. My hunt are allowed 10 to 12 deer per year for our territory, and we initially have three days fixed for hunting. If we don't get our quota within that time we continue on subsequent week-ends until we have them. The quota is based on population. I can't go out on my own hunting deer, must be part of the organised hunt.

My own hunt insist on shotguns only, but others allow rifles. The thinking behind our restriction is that the range is less with a shotgun, so there is less danger to other hunters or anyone else out in the woods. The downside is the short range and the lack of accuracy. Deer should only be shot at less than 30 metres to increase the chance of a clean kill. We use number 1 or 2 shot for deer, but if we see a boar we need to change to a slug. We always get our quota.

And we don't have a single white flag between us!

No offense man but if you can't hunt squirrels and deer on your own... You sold the white flag.

 

[anglaispierre]

I wear camo when hunting squirrels (need all the help I can get) I make things hard on myself and been using either a M-17 or m-617 with 6 inch Bbl. Im usually pretty successful if i can get within 35 yds or so. I dont use a scope but if I did I may be able to add a few yards to that. I just love the challenge the handgun gives. May not get as many squirrels but I have alot of fun doing it.

That's what I like to hear. Someone who hunts without fancy add-ons like scopes and red dots. If I was allowed to hunt squirrels, that's how I would like to do it. Sadly, handguns are banned for hunting here in France. But the standard sights of my Winchesters or my CZ are all I need. Same at the range. People tell me to cock my handguns and shoot single action to make for greater accuracy. Some say use a rest. May as well have a machine do it for me. I want the challenge of doing it all for myself, not going for the easy option. Hunting is the same. It's me against that animal. Sometimes he wins, sometimes I do. Killing per se is not the objective.

As for the restriction on hunting deer, it's a conservation thing. If every individual hunter shot every deer he saw, there'd be none left in no time. Many times I have watched them, sometimes very close, gun in hand but open. Sometimes you just have to admire nature rather than kill it. I don't have a problem with that. And squirrels are quite rare in this region.

CajunBass, nice to hear your wife has a go when she can. Long may she continue. I divorced my ex-wife long before I came to France and took up hunting. I still miss her, but some of those fancy scopes should improve my accuracy (lol).

 

[29aholic]

For some reason this computer wont let me on Photobucket so no pics. My old stand by for years was a Remington 514 single shot with a 7/8" Mossberg scope on it. I gave $10 for it and it was one of the most accurate 22 rifles I have ever seen. Lost that gun ( long story), but by then I had a 4 digit SN Winchester 52 with a 6X Lyman Junior Targetspot on it. I shot the best group I've ever shot with anything including smoe high dollar bench guns with that rifle. 5 shots center to center @ .003". I called that rifle my magic gun because it never failed me. I got the hots for something and traded that gun off (been trying ever since to get it back) so I use the Winchester 74 that I killed my very first squirrels with. It was my best friend's Dad's gun and my friend gave it to me when his Dad died.
I also have a K22, 10/22 bull barrel, and a 22 conversion for my M4 rifle.
If I really want a challenge I have a Green Mountain .32 barrel that drops into my Hawken stock. It shoots phenominally (sp?) with Dupont FFFG, a wonder lube patch, and round ball.

 

[Smith357]

My tree rat rifles are a Kimber .22 Hunter and a Sheridan Silver Streak.

 

[zoom6zoom]

I once shot a rat at about 20 yards.

If you've got ratatouille on the lunch menu, I'm gonna pass, thanks anyway.

Since I can't discharge a firearm in my back yard, my pellet rifles are my tool of choice. I'm shooting the damn tree rats as home defense, not for groceries. I don't know what it is they like about my roof so much.

The Stoeger X20 Supressed in .22 has pretty much taken over as my first choice.
The Gamo Whisper in .177 has taken countless flufftails, but now gets reserved for when I have to shoot one inside the attic (hence the light and laser!)

 

[Faulkner]

I'd just about rather squirrel hunt that any other outdoor activity. My dad and grandfather started me out young with a Winchester single shot .410. Hunted with a 20 guage during my teenage years. My senior year in high school I bought the Browning BL22 pictured below and its been my main-stay squirrel rifle ever since. This .22 has taken hundreds of squirrels in the past 25+ years.

Started my boys squirrel hunting early too. Hunting with their grandfather and I, we went ahead and started them out with .22 rifles when they were 6 years old, my oldest is in his early 20's and has never hunted them with a shotgun and typically bags a limit with his .22.

We love pan fried squirrel with mashed pototoes and gravey, and a batch of homemade biscuits.

 

[peabody]

stevens single barrel 16ga.... marlin model 60.......remington 1100 20ga.... ruger 10-22 ....... ruger standard 22 auto.... ruger super single 6 9.5 barrel........iver johnson .410 .........smith and wesson .38 pre model 10 , wadcutters.............winchester 97 16ga, ...........


heck ? i've used em all on squirrels... great vittles...


peabody

 

[chief38]

I have a few "Squirrel guns"..........

An old Marlin 39A (late 40's) a Winchester 62 pump, a Marlin Bolt Action (got that one when I was 11) and the best is a CZ 453 American with a single set trigger & a Burris 6X scope.

I also like taking my M63 into the woods while Pheasant hunting just for that squirrel that pops up once in a while. No fair shooting one with a 12 gauge.

 

[ancient-one]

I used to do a lot of squirrel using a Remington Model 121A pump. Wish I still could.

 

[M29since14]

...I divorced my ex-wife long before I came to France and took up hunting. I still miss her, but some of those fancy scopes should improve my accuracy (lol).

And now we know the real truth about why you deny yourself the use of the telescopes!

 

[cobra44]

I found another sport involving squirrels. Since I do not eat the meat, and they are fairly easy to hit, I try to shoot the nuts they are gathering out of their paws.
Pretty hard to do, and the look on their face when you hit one - Priceless.

 

[zoom6zoom]

I found another sport involving squirrels. Since I do not eat the meat, and they are fairly easy to hit, I try to shoot the nuts they are gathering out of their paws.
Pretty hard to do, and the look on their face when you hit one - Priceless.

I dunno.... seems cruel to shoot 'em in the nuts.

 

[truckemup97]

I dunno.... seems cruel to shoot 'em in the nuts.

I wondered why the squirrel population seemed to be declining.

 

[gizamo]