A Great Hunt!!!!

[Sledneck]

Well, if I titled the thread "Squirrel Hunting", you might not have checked this out, but bear with me for a second because squirrel season is apon us, yep thats right, squirrel season. Zones 1-9 open Sept 11 and 10-14 open Oct 14th for gray squirrels. Now I know most people probably think I am nuts to go out hunting squirrels, but it is some of the most fun thing to hunt out there. You can put the things you learn hunting big game to good use and practice. It can be as serious or fun as you want. Sometimes I bring my wife with me and she loves to shoot the .22 at these little buggers. Drab clothing or camo is very good to have because they can see very well and are very skiddish. Sometimes I use a 28 ga. but I think it made it too easy. A face mask is also something you would want to wear as there is nothing more alarming to game that a humans white face staring at them, they'll just go limb to limb and be gone. Squirrels are most often found on ridges of hardwoods, but if you pay attention, they are everywhere and easily found, but getting a good shot can be difficult at times....

Now some people think I am loony because I like to hunt squirrels, but even more think I am insane because I eat them. Squirrel is some very very tasty meat, you'd have to try it to believe me. The problem I had in the past was cleaning them and getting hair everywhere, although I have recently learned how to do it properly and thought I would share what I learned.

First thing is you need clean running water(hose). Wet down all of the hair. Then part the hair on his back about mid way, perpendicular to his spine(across the back). with the hair parted slice the skin about a 2" slit and try to cut the least amount of hair possible. Slip your fingers into the slit(lol sounds dirty) and peel back the skin. Work the skin down over the legs and around the belly. lop off the feet and tail, remove the inners and there you go, nice and clean w/o getting hair everywhere. Soaking the meat in a brine will make it even better and more tender.
Beerchug

[tacoma]

I used to hunt squirrels when I was younger! Now I don't want to alarm any game which I may be hunting in the fall (deer/bear/turkey). I have to agree though, hunting with a .22 with open sites is a hoot. I have also nabbed a few with a bow...using crap arrows because they hit the ground and sometimes don't stay there!

Good luck and make sure to send us some pictures. Have you ever got an all black or white squirrel?

[Sledneck]

the bow would be fin...field points I presume...nope no white ones, but I have shot black ones at my camp in Maine.

[fisher16]

I also did it when I was younger with my Dad before the fall out with my they weren't able to get along parents but it was fun. Havn't done it in years. Someone has to keep their numbers in check.

[Sledneck]

lol, I notice that everyone used to do it when they were younger, as did I. The past 2 years I got back into it, gave me some time to do a little scouting before deer season and an excuse to get out in the woods. I am now 25 and probably appreciate the time I get to spend outdoors more than ever, as I spend the majority of my time in an office working or in meetings.

[buckmanjr]

I shot 24 this year from the back deck (:

[Sledneck]

yea, you guys have a problem with all those squirrels over there. the noisy red ones at that....the new air rifle is powerful huh??

[buckmanjr]

1000 fps (:

we should go scout across the river and shoot some squirles

[Fishstory]

Up until now I only knew 2 people that hunted squirrels....One was from Maine and the other from Monson Laughing1 , need I say more?

Now if I could figure a way to put my Hi8 tapes from my camcorder on the internet, I would show you the video of me feeding squirrels on my deck, they would climb my leg and sit on my shoulder and eat peanuts....I can't begin to imagine them being to tough to shoot Tongue1

[Sledneck]

them's city squirrels.....I telll you, out in the woods everything wants them tasty morsels and they are very skiddish and extremely alert. I don't eat any squirrels that are near any residences or anything like that, just the ones I find out in the middle of the woods. I have never eaten red squirrel either, I just kill them for tails and outta pure hatred, I can't tell you how many times I have been on stand when a red squirrel sits on a branch next to me and won't shut up for what seems like an eternity, bringing all kinds of unwanted attention and ruining my cover.

[fisher16]

Agree1 Agree1 Agree1 Agree1 Agree1 Agree1 Agree1 Agree1 Agree1 Agree1

[grizbear13]

Agree1Agree1Agree1Agree1Agree1 MachineGunMachineGunMachineGunMachineGunMachineGun

[Maineman17]

IT's a lot of fun ive gone with my pellet gun and got 2 last year. Out in the woods and a few reds at my house in maine.

[tacoma]

You said it...the ones that sit right above you and alarm everything within a 5 mile radius!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have had a couple wasted shots just to shut them up...oh well!!!!!!

[YOTE BUSTER]

SledAgree1 with you nothing more relaxing than tree rat hunting and there is no better way of fine tuneing your hunting skills.I bought 17 CAL. last year and going to give it a try on some squirrels real soonThumbsup

[Sledneck]

Yote, with the high velocity of that round it will blow them apart, you must not eat em cuz there won't be much left....the .17 is what we use on Coyotes, and it drops them pretty good.

[YOTE BUSTER]

Sled i eat them. the only good meat on them is the from the front shoulders back that means head shots only.As far as yotes go the 17 SUCKS lost three of them that i hit with the 17(and they were good hits) i'll stick with my 22 hornet

[Sledneck]

I will take your work for it on the yotes, I see you are a yote guruBow1 Bow1 I am sure I could learn alot from you.

[buckman]

I wouldn't use a .17 on yotes. It's just to small. If you ask me, and you haven'tWink1 ,it's almost cruel. Besides tred, I have seen you shootLaughing1 Laughing1 Laughing1

[grizbear13]

Thumbsup My 308 stops em dead good insurance round ..MachineGun

[Sledneck]

I wouldn't use a .17 on yotes. It's just to small. If you ask me, and you haven'tWink1 ,it's almost cruel. Besides tred, I have seen you shootLaughing1 Laughing1 Laughing1


you have???

[buckmanjr]

Went for a walk with the dog today and the pellet gun, didnt see any squirles.

[Maineman17]

well hershey isnt exactly descreet but shes good at finding them...Wink1

[Maineman17]

http://www.airgunhunters.com/images/hunting1/bigjim12.jpg


wow heres a pic i found on google...

[buckmanjr]

its half of what i got last year (:

[buckmanjr]

well hershey isnt exactly descreet but shes good at finding them...Wink1

Hershey is the best bird dog. Stays right with you and goes in the under brush and flushes them up.

[Sledneck]

Hershey is the best bird dog. Stays right with you and goes in the under brush and flushes them up.

Notsure Notsure Notsure lol funny

[buckmanjr]

hey, u know you love my dog (: (:

[Maineman17]

ive never seen hershey flush birds...but what happened to hunta lol