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Post by xjeremiahx on Aug 17, 2018 22:57:37 GMT -5
So I am completely new to hunting (except for backyard small game with a pellet gun  ) and need all the help I can get. I did not grow up in a family of hunters or rural areas so I am learning all by myself as I go. I am starting off with squirrels and rabbits before I move on to deer and turkey. I am an IU student so I've decided to do more outdoors with Monroe Lake so close. I went out on the first day of squirrel season and found it difficult for various reasons. (Yeah I know squirrels in suburban environments are very different from squirrels in the wild.) 1. I can't seem to spot them even though I can hear some, since there is too many leaves and still learning to identify the right trees. Not sure when I should stop and wait or move on to find another mast tree. 2. I've heard people say use shotgun, but besides not preferring to use that due to the loss of meat, I also have a Mossberg 500 that is not threaded for chokes and need to find a gunsmith close by. 3. Last but not least is that I'm currently a poor college student on a budget and have for the most part 0 gear. I do have tick spray, boots, and one camo shirt. For this reason I also am limited to where I hunt the only place I feel comfortable for now is the area right behind the dnr headquarters at Monroe Lake. (My current trick is scrapping 2 quarters together to sound like a squirrel cutting.) Should I just wait until mid fall to go? less ticks maybe and less leaves also I could hunt rabbits at the same time. Any tips would greatly be appreciated and sorry for sounding like a complete newb/scrub. I am trying my best to learn how to properly and ethically harvest resources from nature. Also I know hunting and especially small game hunters have been decreasing anything I can to help with such as hot spots I find or methods I discover I will be more than glad to share. |
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Post by firstwd on Aug 18, 2018 5:24:13 GMT -5
Being in Bloomington you are surrounded by thousands of acres of huntable public land. First thing you need to do is get online and print off every map you think you might need. Make certain you are on land you are allowed to be on and in a place on that land that hunting is allowed!
Look on the barrel of that Mossberg and see what it says the choke is. If it's not threaded it is most likely an older gun with a modified choke, or it is a smooth bore slug barrel. A modified choke will serve you well for squirrel. For early season public ground I would suggest #4 shot, but #6 is a good all around choice. Take the tike to shoot it on a paper target and see where exactly it is hitting. Unless you are shooting them very close, there really isn't a loss of meat issue with using a shotgun. You may have to pick some pellets out but the meat will be fine.
Gear for squirrel is not real complicated, jeans and your camouflage shirt are fine.
Get a tree identification book and carry it with you. If nothing else you will give yourself a useful education.
Patience is the biggest factor for new hunters. Take the time to scout for fresh nut hulls on the ground. Those will tell you where the squirrels are feeding. To maybe shorten your scouting, concentrate on hickory trees right now, shagbark hickory are easy to spot. As you learn trees better you can find others that will provide food. Honestly, take a comfortable folding camp chair. They are relatively lite and easy to carry. Once you find a tree or two that has feeding activity set your chair up by/under some small trees about 20 yards away and just chill. Sit as still as you can and have patience. they will feed and move around so you can spot them. The leaves do make seeing them difficult sometimes but you have to realize that those same leaves hide you and your movements too.
Move extremely slow while trying to line up for a shot. Squirrel are food for several things and they can be a bit skittish, especially public land squirrels.
Get out and enjoy nature, it can be one of the best stress reliefs available to man. Have fun and take care to leave things better for the next guy.
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Post by beermaker on Aug 18, 2018 17:10:10 GMT -5
Don't get discouraged. I haven't been out myself, but I'm going to guess that the weather has not helped out the first few days of the season. I have two loaded shagbarks in the yard and not a single hull on the ground.
Don't be afraid to use a shotgun. If you are truly new to the outdoors, as described, I'm assuming that you are not a crack shot with a rifle yet and that's what it takes to drop them out of the trees right now.
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Aug 18, 2018 17:23:32 GMT -5
It gets a whole lot easier once the leaves are down. Later in the season they start to spend a lot of time on the ground, and they're a lot easier to spot when they are up in the trees.
Check out the "Where to Hunt" mapping system on the DNR website. Between the HNF, Yellowwood, Morgan-Monroe, etc. You've got tens of thousands of acres of public ground within a 1/2 hour drive of campus.
Where are you from, by the way?
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Post by omegahunter on Aug 18, 2018 17:29:55 GMT -5
Walk as slowly and quietly as possible keeping your eyes peeled for branches shaking and listen for cuttings falling through the leaves and hitting the ground.
Hickory is what you should be looking for right now and Shagbark is the easiest to identify, even from a distance.
An un-tubed field barrel is likely full or modified choke. Either will work for squirrels. Put the bead at the end of their nose to try to keep pellets from the back legs as much as possible.
Good luck!!
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Post by xjeremiahx on Aug 18, 2018 23:38:16 GMT -5
It gets a whole lot easier once the leaves are down. Later in the season they start to spend a lot of time on the ground, and they're a lot easier to spot when they are up in the trees. Check out the "Where to Hunt" mapping system on the DNR website. Between the HNF, Yellowwood, Morgan-Monroe, etc. You've got tens of thousands of acres of public ground within a 1/2 hour drive of campus. Where are you from, by the way? Columbus, Ohio |
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Post by xjeremiahx on Aug 18, 2018 23:40:51 GMT -5
Don't be afraid to use a shotgun. If you are truly new to the outdoors, as described, I'm assuming that you are not a crack shot with a rifle yet and that's what it takes to drop them out of the trees right now. Update: Went out today and got a healthy medium sized fox squirrel cutting away on a small tree next to 3 large shagbark hickory trees. Yeah I used the shotgun was only 10 feet away too he didn't notice since I crept up through a fallen tree. |
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Post by xjeremiahx on Aug 18, 2018 23:47:21 GMT -5
Being in Bloomington you are surrounded by thousands of acres of huntable public land. First thing you need to do is get online and print off every map you think you might need. Make certain you are on land you are allowed to be on and in a place on that land that hunting is allowed! Look on the barrel of that Mossberg and see what it says the choke is. If it's not threaded it is most likely an older gun with a modified choke, or it is a smooth bore slug barrel. A modified choke will serve you well for squirrel. For early season public ground I would suggest #4 shot, but #6 is a good all around choice. Take the tike to shoot it on a paper target and see where exactly it is hitting. Unless you are shooting them very close, there really isn't a loss of meat issue with using a shotgun. You may have to pick some pellets out but the meat will be fine. Gear for squirrel is not real complicated, jeans and your camouflage shirt are fine. Get a tree identification book and carry it with you. If nothing else you will give yourself a useful education. Patience is the biggest factor for new hunters. Take the time to scout for fresh nut hulls on the ground. Those will tell you where the squirrels are feeding. To maybe shorten your scouting, concentrate on hickory trees right now, shagbark hickory are easy to spot. As you learn trees better you can find others that will provide food. Honestly, take a comfortable folding camp chair. They are relatively lite and easy to carry. Once you find a tree or two that has feeding activity set your chair up by/under some small trees about 20 yards away and just chill. Sit as still as you can and have patience. they will feed and move around so you can spot them. The leaves do make seeing them difficult sometimes but you have to realize that those same leaves hide you and your movements too. Move extremely slow while trying to line up for a shot. Squirrel are food for several things and they can be a bit skittish, especially public land squirrels. Get out and enjoy nature, it can be one of the best stress reliefs available to man. Have fun and take care to leave things better for the next guy. Yeah I considered bringing my chair and just waiting. I guess I'm a tad impatient so just wondering how long should I wait for since, I'm not sure how to tell if there are fresh cuttings. Also I've waited quite a while (30 minutes)at prime locations with acorns, hickory and a green fruit I used to have in my backyard (thick covering for the nuts making a long and loud cutting noise) and still no squirrel or movement. True that, Any day out fishing/Hunting still beats a day at work! I've been getting into all the outdoor activities perhaps a bit too much lol |
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Post by xjeremiahx on Aug 18, 2018 23:51:20 GMT -5
Walk as slowly and quietly as possible keeping your eyes peeled for branches shaking and listen for cuttings falling through the leaves and hitting the ground. Hickory is what you should be looking for right now and Shagbark is the easiest to identify, even from a distance. An unchoked field barrel is likely full or modified choke. Either will work for squirrels. Put the bead at the end of their nose to try to keep pellets from the back legs as much as possible. Good luck!! Yup shargbark has been my go-to. Yeah I think its just smooth bore no choke at all. The squirrel I got today, I had only target load and was 10 feet away, so I aimed to the side of the head and literally took it with only one pellet that went right into the brain. Looked like it was a rifle shot. Cleaned it out and have the tail drying for mepps. Should probably field dress them since I waited until I got back It was harder than I remember. |
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Post by squirrelhunter on Aug 28, 2018 14:17:42 GMT -5
I always wait until I get home to dress them,they are a little stiffer but it saves bringing extra gear to the woods plus when I'm done they can go right into the refrigerator for a day before the freezer.
If after 30 minutes of waiting and not seeing anything,I'd move on. I usually only wait 15-20 minutes myself before moving to another spot.
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Post by jbird on Aug 30, 2018 12:34:06 GMT -5
For squirrels - you need to learn to ID walnut trees, the various oaks and the various hickory trees. Summer time is difficult because it is far easier for them to hide. Gear is simple. #6 lead shot shell and a scatter gun are fine or a 22 caliber rifle if you want more of a challenge. Good walking boots, jeans and a dark shirt are fine and a hat (the hat is more to keep ticks off your head). Maybe, some small binoculars if you have some. I don't clean mine until I get home. use a piece of cord or rope to tie the squirrels together or get a burlap bag to carry, or even a bucket wrapped in camo tape (makes a good seat too and a place to store a few other things if needed) heck even an old backpack will work. Go when it's cool out. Squirrels don't like the sweltering heat any more than you do. Morning and evenings are best. You should be doing a lot more watching than walking and watch in the distance and not just the tree right in front of you. Going in the morning or right after a rain is good because as they move you can hear the moisture fall from the limbs to guide your eyes. Also keep an eye out on the ground for signs of them cutting as well. This will help tell you what they are feeding on and maybe focus on just those types of trees.
Best trick to see squirrels......GO DEER HUNTING! once you hunt deer....you will understand!
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Post by surveyor on Sept 3, 2018 17:05:34 GMT -5
Time of day hasn't been mentioned much here and I find it vitally important! That first and last couple hours of daylight is when you will see most of the squirrels. You may already know that, I don't know. When I was a kid, I'd go back of my house and limit out easily every morning I went. There was a couple other guys that would go in there around noon and tell me there just weren't any squirrels in those woods. Not wanting them to actually be competition, I always told them they were right, it was just a lousy woods for squirrel hunting!
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Post by squirrelgravy on Sept 8, 2018 10:20:18 GMT -5
I always hunt with a small pack with a towel and a few plastic bags. When I kill one I immediately skin, gut and remove its feet. A little water to rinse off helps. They are food, just like any other wild game, and I want them gutted and cooling quickly. I put the cleaned squirrels in a double bag and the towel I clean my hands with and stick it in another bag and put them both in my pack. I can't tell you how many times I've been cleaning one quietly and spotted another one or two scurrying around.
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Post by xjeremiahx on Sept 11, 2018 22:47:42 GMT -5
Yeah It's getting cooler so I'm going to plan another trip. I definitely will try morning or late evening and after rain. So far have been using a plastic bag to harvest them however I think I will try a burlap sack or bucket next time. I guess field dressing one is also a good way to spend some time waiting for another one to come along. I'll bring a chair and the shotgun for now, but really would prefer the pellet gun.
Thank you everyone for your answers I will let you know how it goes.
BTW if anyone is hunting monroe there is a place in deam wilderness about .3 miles away from the tower that has a large open clearing. Really good spot close to the road with 4 hickory trees and one acorn tree.
PS: Headed to yellowwood lake/park seems to have a decent amount of pine and less hills. Does anyone know if squirrels like small areas with torn down trees or is that more for rabbits? I see some patches of land near yellowwood that fit that description. Also with it being so close to the lake might drop in a line or two.
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) and need all the help I can get. I did not grow up in a family of hunters or rural areas so I am learning all by myself as I go. I am starting off with squirrels and rabbits before I move on to deer and turkey. I am an IU student so I've decided to do more outdoors with Monroe Lake so close.
