For me shotgun or .22 depends on location more than anything. I will only use a .22 in places where there are no houses/civilization within a mile. I have some darn good squirrel hunting spots in farm woodlots where there are plenty of dwellings, people and livestock within a few hundred yards and will only use a shotgun there. It is dangerous and irresponsible as hell to launch bullets skyward in such places and I'm unwilling to pass up all the shot opportunities at squirrels that are not on the ground or otherwise don't have a solid backstop for .22 bullets. Over the years there have been several instances I know of personally here where people were either hit by stray bullets from long distances or had them hit their vehicle or house. My dads neighbor two houses away had a bullet come through his bathroom window when he was sitting on the pot taking a shyt one morning. Police investigation concluded it was a stray bullet that came from the ridge across the valley.
