|
|
Post by wesb81219 on Aug 16, 2018 21:32:58 GMT -5
I have a jack Russell rat terrier mix and he thoroughly enjoys looking for the squirrels in the back yard. I want to try him at it any thoughts, advice or tips for squirrel hunting with a dog?
|
|
|
|
Post by blueberry815 on Aug 17, 2018 10:53:17 GMT -5
I've never hunted squirrels with a dog, however I thought about trying it with my jack russell. While she loves looking for squirrels, she is terrified of guns. I'd make sure your dog isn't!
|
|
|
|
Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Aug 17, 2018 16:45:41 GMT -5
Growing up with coon dogs, occasionally we'd have one that would do well treeing coons and squirrels. Most of them would take off looking for coon, even if you let them out during the day. It's tough for a dog to remember to tree coons at night, squirrels in the day, and never a cat or a possum.
We would go after all the leaves were down, and treat it just like coon hunting.. follow the dog at a distance, wait until he treed and walk up and hopefully find a squirrel. Oftentimes they'd go in a hole or be several trees away by the time we got there, but sometimes they'd just be up on a limb barking back at the dog.
We never really got more than a couple at a time, but it was a fun way to hunt them.
|
|
|
|
Post by wesb81219 on Aug 17, 2018 16:49:59 GMT -5
Growing up with coon dogs, occasionally we'd have one that would do well treeing coons and squirrels. Most of them would take off looking for coon, even if you let them out during the day. It's tough for a dog to remember to tree coons at night, squirrels in the day, and never a cat or a possum. We would go after all the leaves were down, and treat it just like coon hunting.. follow the dog at a distance, wait until he treed and walk up and hopefully find a squirrel. Oftentimes they'd go in a hole or be several trees away by the time we got there, but sometimes they'd just be up on a limb barking back at the dog. We never really got more than a couple at a time, but it was a fun way to hunt them. The only potential problem I gather from that is that my dog checks and barks up every tree in my back yard and the little woodline on the very back of my little property lol |
|
|
|
Post by nfalls116 on Aug 17, 2018 16:55:31 GMT -5
Growing up with coon dogs, occasionally we'd have one that would do well treeing coons and squirrels. Most of them would take off looking for coon, even if you let them out during the day. It's tough for a dog to remember to tree coons at night, squirrels in the day, and never a cat or a possum. We would go after all the leaves were down, and treat it just like coon hunting.. follow the dog at a distance, wait until he treed and walk up and hopefully find a squirrel. Oftentimes they'd go in a hole or be several trees away by the time we got there, but sometimes they'd just be up on a limb barking back at the dog. We never really got more than a couple at a time, but it was a fun way to hunt them. The only potential problem I gather from that is that my dog checks and barks up every tree in my back yard and the little woodline on the very back of my little property lol The best part of taking him along would be the squirrels are going to be focused on where he is and what he’s doing not solely on your presence. If the dog has good recall take him out and see what he does praise him for behavior you like. |
|
|
|
Post by bullseye69 on Aug 21, 2018 14:34:34 GMT -5
Have you shot a gun around him? Does he not care about the BANG?
|
|
|
|
Post by wesb81219 on Aug 21, 2018 17:48:34 GMT -5
Not a whole lot mostly 22 but it doesn't seem to bother him much. Might have to try the mossberg around him before I take him out. Have you shot a gun around him? Does he not care about the BANG? |
|
|
|
Post by welder on Aug 21, 2018 19:16:38 GMT -5
I had some of my most enjoyable squirrel hunts with my dog about 30+ years ago. I was a teenager and he was a mutt. We spent untold hours in the outdoors year around. He was a good little tree dog and no matter how thick of junk I shot them into, even if they weren't completely dead,he would retrieve every single one!
|
|
|
|
Post by nfalls116 on Aug 21, 2018 19:48:28 GMT -5
Not a whole lot mostly 22 but it doesn't seem to bother him much. Might have to try the mossberg around him before I take him out. Have you shot a gun around him? Does he not care about the BANG? Just make sure he is paying attention when you shoot ive seen dogs do some funny stuff when it came to tolerating gunfire |
|
|
|
Post by beermaker on Aug 22, 2018 4:36:12 GMT -5
A friend of mine has hunted with terriers, curs, and feists for years. He says they are most useful later in the season when squirrels are gathering nuts on the ground.
|
|
|
|
Post by bullseye69 on Aug 22, 2018 11:48:11 GMT -5
I use my cur when I go out. I sit by a tree and just watch her run around sniffing. She will spot one moving way before I do and they usually start barking at her and give themselves away.
|
|
|
|
Post by indyqdog on Aug 22, 2018 19:51:22 GMT -5
Not a whole lot mostly 22 but it doesn't seem to bother him much. Might have to try the mossberg around him before I take him out. Have you shot a gun around him? Does he not care about the BANG? There are a few guys on here that have experience gun-breaking dogs. Depends on a number of factors but don't just jump from .22 to 12ga. The whole point of gun-breaking is to teach them that the sound is associated with good things. For bird dogs, we throw birds and when the dog is going after it, we shoot a starter pistol from 100yds away. Then, depending on the dog's reaction, we will slowly start working in closer and closer until we are standing over the dog firing the starter pistol. Then, we rinse and repeat with a heavier blank or light-gauge shotgun firing "poppers." Same thing. Keep working in closer and graduate them to the next heaviest load. All it takes is one bad experience with the gun to ruin em forever--just take your time and it'll be fine. |
|
|
|
Post by squirrelhunter on Sept 5, 2018 10:47:04 GMT -5
We always got them gun broke by shooting a starter pistol off a few times while walking out to feed them,that way when they hear the shots they know there's something good coming. We always hunted with feist,in fact my cousin raises and sells them. I love hunting squirrels with dogs.
|
|
