Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire So who squirrel hunts?

Used to squirrel hunt religiously as a kid. I had a Model 12 20 guage and cannot tell you how many I killed, as I hunted every chance I got. Grew out of it as I got older, but after retiring last year, took up the sport again. Last year, I killed 52 squirrels, all with my Remington 511 22. Never saw so many squirrels here on the farm, they were literally everywhere. I went yesterday morning and only saw one. What a difference a year makes. I must have hit the migration just right last year.

Nothing like a crisp fall morning in the Missouri Ozark woods and hunting those tree rats with the 22 of choice that day. usually either my M77/22 with scope or my 39A Mounty sporting a peep site. if i go 12 ga later in the year its with an old win 97.

Always skinned the head out here, unless head shot. After cooking, both the brains and the tongue was eaten. I loved to squirrel hunt when I could walk good, and had the woods to hunt in, of which most are off limits now. Also had a lot of older folks that wanted the meat. Now nobody much will eat them. miles

I squirrel hunt every year. But less as I get older.
When I was younger I used a shotgun but now I hunt with a 22. I don't sit and hunt. I move slowly.It is a good way to find where the deer are using.
I like to eat them too. I brown them then add some liquid to the pot and let them simmer a couple of hours till they are tender. They make a good gravy.

I like a good squirrel hunt too , usually several different 22s or sometimes in early season i'll use an old 870 or Model 12 in 16 ga.

nice looking flintlock there htredneck! you throwing shot or a ball at them? (i am assuming 30 cal?)

I so want to take the day off now.

Biscuits and squirrel gravy.

That's what I started hunting as a kid. Loved it and still do. When young I used a shotgun, but hated when they didn't die quick. Plus chomping down on shot hurt sometime! So I went to a 22 and head shots only. I don't kill as many, but it makes you work for it more, and the shooting skill is higher. I use the Remington sub sonic hollow points. My rifle shoots them well, quiet and I can hear when I get a good shot with the thud!

I started out in hunting by hunting squirrels and still do every year. Here in Missouri the season opens in late May but I prefer to wait until it cools down. Many good memories from afield especially with my dog.
When I cook up the squirrel meat I like to make a stir fry.
Looking forward to getting out the Marlin 25-20.

I love to hunt them. Also my favorite wild game to eat.

Haven't squirrel hunted since the late 70's and just haven't had time but since I retired at the end of April this fall is gonna be different. Got a new CZ 455 .22 on order but if need be I've got several other 22's to pick from. Got several spots picked out including a piece of a 6000 acre spread of heavily forested state land that always has lots of squirrels when I'm deer hunting. Buddy of mine has a dynamite squirrel recipe. We did lots of tree rat hunting when we were starving college students and that saved grocery money so we could have extra beer money.

Can you share the recipe?

Man that brings back memories! Back then Mepps had that ad in the back of every Sports Afield,Outdoor Life, Field & Stream etc.

I haven't read one of magazines in years, I wonder if they still advertise for squirrel tails?

I hunt them with the kids every year now. We have a blast and really get after them until deer season starts. October is the bomb for squirrel hunting, with beautiful weather and lots of good shooting.

The squirrel dogs grabbing a bonus during the hunt

Good dogs!!!

Just found this thread, cause I been out all morning squirrel hunting.

I've hunted them since I was 12 yrs. old. However a lot of big game hunting got in the way for years. Since my DG hunt with my son, back in 2011, I've considered my bucket list pretty much full, as far as big game hunting is concerned. Since 2012, I've found a new love for hunting "limb chickens". Our season, here in Indiana opened Aug. 15th [as it does every year] and goes to Jan. 31st.

I currently have 4 .22 rifles, and would rather hunt squirrels than anything else. With almost 100 whitetails under my belt in the last 30 yrs, except for a freezer deer, I don't even care to hunt them much anymore.


maddog