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Post by jamesg6626 on Aug 10, 2019 22:13:59 GMT -5
I'm a relative newb-hunter. Spent many months learning everything I could last fall before getting out for some squirrels late winter. Hunted with a 10/22 and had decent success. Since then I've invested in a Rem 870 20 ga which I hope to have success during early season.
My question is, what's your go-to early/mid/late/always etc.. season arms and why? What you've always done, specific reason, favorite rifle, etc... I'm following what I've heard that a shotgun is better during the times when tree cover can make a clean rifle shot more difficult. Curious what you guys' prefer and getting excited for the upcoming season.
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Post by esshup on Aug 11, 2019 0:39:50 GMT -5
.22 LR, .17 Mach II or .17 HMR. Don't matter what time of the season for tree rats. The leaves won't be a problem, hunt on windless mornings, any tree branches moving around mean squirrels. Sneak in, be quiet and wait for a clean head shot. It'll make you a better all around hunter, coyote, deer, etc. You will learn patience, stalking and making each shot count. .22LR standard velocity, lead solids is what I use, head or upper body shots. Both of the .17 calibers, head shots only or there isn't much left for the pot.
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Post by drfleck on Aug 11, 2019 8:39:34 GMT -5
Agree with esshup. Scoped .22 all season long. Wait for the headshot. Get to your hunting spot and be in position before the sun comes up if possible. Seems like activity really slows after the sun has been up a couple hours. Ill be hunting hickory trees opening weekend.
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Post by schoolmaster on Aug 11, 2019 13:54:08 GMT -5
H&R Trapper muzzleloading 12 ga. Squirrel load is 1 oz. #5s 70 grains 2F Goex use card wads over powder and over shot. Late season I have several .22s I alternate. A Kidd ultralight, an Anschutz 164 sporter and a cz 452 carbine suppressed. Use depends on where I go to hunt.
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Post by firstwd on Aug 11, 2019 15:50:01 GMT -5
My normal squirrel gun is a .17 HMR with polymer tip Hornady rounds all season long. The early season foliage gives me cover to get in position if I need to, and the range is fantastic for late season open woods.
That being said, I spent years using a single shot 410 with 3" #5 shot and felt like I was a total terror on squirrels. I will suggest you carry what ever gun gives you confidence to succeed in the endeavor. They the shotgun a few times and see how it goes. See if picking shot out of meat is something that isn't a hassle for you. Try the rifle and see if you can hit what you're after. I would suggest a full choke and #5 shot with the 20 gauge, but nothing smaller that #6. 2 3/4" shells are great, but 3" work well if that is what you have.
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Post by esshup on Aug 11, 2019 18:21:41 GMT -5
When I was a kid I killed a LOT of squirrels in the woods with a .177 pellet gun. Still have it, but it needs a new spring an seal kit (break barrel). Then the 2nd gun was a Mossberg 151.
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Post by jamesg6626 on Aug 11, 2019 18:29:05 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips. I really like the .22lr so it's nice to see others having success all season with it. I imagine I'll try both for a while. Might look into a .17 HMR at some point as well.
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Post by esshup on Aug 12, 2019 0:33:35 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips. I really like the .22lr so it's nice to see others having success all season with it. I imagine I'll try both for a while. Might look into a .17 HMR at some point as well. .17 HMR shoots flatter so less trajectory compensation but the flip side is there is much more meat damage if you don't head shoot them.
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Post by firstwd on Aug 12, 2019 20:35:32 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips. I really like the .22lr so it's nice to see others having success all season with it. I imagine I'll try both for a while. Might look into a .17 HMR at some point as well. .17 HMR shoots flatter so less trajectory compensation but the flip side is there is much more meat damage if you don't head shoot them. And the damage is catastrophic if you use polymer tip rounds
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Post by Russ Koon on Aug 12, 2019 23:24:24 GMT -5
It'll be the old reliable Marlin lever gun for me again. Had a holographic red dot on it for a couple years, but I'm back to open sights with fiber optic dots to help the old eyes cope with the morning light in the deep woods.
Took it out to the range for the pre-season checkup today, and I can still put four out of five in the 1 1/2" dot of a NRA paper target at 30 yards using the hood of the Jeep and a couple folded jackets for a rest. My off-hand shooting days are long gone now, but I can still be dangerous to any of the little nut-munchers who are silly enough to let me get within 20 yards or so.
Got to get some other gear ready. I like to skin 'em as soon as they hit the ground and in this hot weather I want a small cooler with a frozen quart of water in my pack to get them chilled out quickly. They're much quicker and and easier to clean if you do it immediately, and I think the meat even tastes better if they're cooled out quickly.
If I can get away from this yard work for a while tomorrow, I'll check out a few of my favorite hickories to see if they're cutting on them yet.
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Post by dbd870 on Aug 13, 2019 8:09:29 GMT -5
12GA early; 22lr later on
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Post by HighCotton on Aug 13, 2019 14:50:27 GMT -5
The CZ 457 will have to wait for now. My go to for the early season will be my Maverick 88, 20 gauge. Full choke and #5, 1 oz. I like to see my velocities in the 1200+ fps range. Next to that will be my Ruger Mk4 LITE, 22lr, topped with the Sig Sauer Romeo5. Loaded with CCI Mini Mag HP's. So far, I'll only be good to about 15 yards with the Ruger. I've been practicing a lot with her so I'm pretty confident I can keep the groups under 1.5" free hand! But, as the years have told me, it can all change once I hit the woods! With all the foliage, and better chances at 30 or so yards, my guess is the Maverick 88 will win the day for early season. As a sidebar, as noted by others here, if toting a shotgun, it is definitely best to roll with at least #5 shot. I would never recommend anything over #6's. Years ago, my youngest son made a very real observation as I was teaching he and his buddy the various ways to skin or dress a squirrel. Having been with me on upland hunts (where it is common to shoot 7-1/2's or 8's), he noted how tough the skin/hide of a squirrel seemed to be compared to the birds we hunted.
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Post by squirrelhunter on Aug 13, 2019 19:53:37 GMT -5
I use a Marlin bolt action 22lr with a 3-9x variable scope. I rarely use a 12 gauge,don't seem sporting to me,I only use shotguns for moving targets in most instances. I do occasionally use my T/C G2 Contender pistol in 22lr too.
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Post by HillBillyJeff on Aug 13, 2019 22:08:57 GMT -5
I've only ever used a 22 on squirrels. Mainly the Remington Field Master. Once the ground gets frozen I love to hunt field edges. Catch a lot of them out there foraging midday. Also work the corn field edges when the corn is still in. Many times I've seen an ear drop out of a tree. I get a warm and fuzzy feeling inside when that happens. Don't really have any trees here that they gather in heavily like a hickory other than when there is a good pine cone crop I can set up in some pines behind the house and limit in an hour or two from the same spot.
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Post by HighCotton on Aug 14, 2019 7:29:58 GMT -5
I've only ever used a 22 on squirrels. Mainly the Remington Field Master. Once the ground gets frozen I love to hunt field edges. Catch a lot of them out there foraging midday. Also work the corn field edges when the corn is still in. Many times I've seen an ear drop out of a tree. I get a warm and fuzzy feeling inside when that happens. Don't really have any trees here that they gather in heavily like a hickory other than when there is a good pine cone crop I can set up in some pines behind the house and limit in an hour or two from the same spot. HBJ: I like the signature in your profile, "You do your thing. I'll do mine." As most of us know on this site, This is your passion and you are a master at the squirrel game. I've learned a lot from you. So, I just used your quote with my nephew that I'll be taking squirrel hunting for his first time this season. His buddy from school just got a new Savage in .17 HMR and he's ribbing him, telling him that a real "Man" don't use no shotgun on squirrels. So, I'm using this as a teaching moment and stole your quote as it fits perfectly. I'm telling him there is no shame in using a shotgun. It's legal. It works. And for now, it's "our thing." In my decades of hunting the bushytails, I've taken them by many means, from a Recurve, to my LCRx in .38 Spcl to my Grandpa's ole Browning 12 gauge. Just about every level of shotgun. Black powder, Flinter! Many .22LR's in pistol and rifle. The screaming .17 HMR and so on! It's part of what I love about squirrel season. I've used the opportunity to try many weapons. But, when it comes to early season and teaching a kid or someone new to the sport, I just like to roll with a good 20 gauge to start. In due time I'll work him up to a good rifle. My way of doing "My thing!"
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Post by genesis273 on Aug 14, 2019 7:36:11 GMT -5
I'll have the Savage tomorrow morning with the Winchester super suppressed 45gr .22lr.
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Post by HillBillyJeff on Aug 14, 2019 20:21:33 GMT -5
I've only ever used a 22 on squirrels. Mainly the Remington Field Master. Once the ground gets frozen I love to hunt field edges. Catch a lot of them out there foraging midday. Also work the corn field edges when the corn is still in. Many times I've seen an ear drop out of a tree. I get a warm and fuzzy feeling inside when that happens. Don't really have any trees here that they gather in heavily like a hickory other than when there is a good pine cone crop I can set up in some pines behind the house and limit in an hour or two from the same spot. HBJ: I like the signature in your profile, "You do your thing. I'll do mine." As most of us know on this site, This is your passion and you are a master at the squirrel game. I've learned a lot from you. So, I just used your quote with my nephew that I'll be taking squirrel hunting for his first time this season. His buddy from school just got a new Savage in .17 HMR and he's ribbing him, telling him that a real "Man" don't use no shotgun on squirrels. So, I'm using this as a teaching moment and stole your quote as it fits perfectly. I'm telling him there is no shame in using a shotgun. It's legal. It works. And for now, it's "our thing." In my decades of hunting the bushytails, I've taken them by many means, from a Recurve, to my LCRx in .38 Spcl to my Grandpa's ole Browning 12 gauge. Just about every level of shotgun. Black powder, Flinter! Many .22LR's in pistol and rifle. The screaming .17 HMR and so on! It's part of what I love about squirrel season. I've used the opportunity to try many weapons. But, when it comes to early season and teaching a kid or someone new to the sport, I just like to roll with a good 20 gauge to start. In due time I'll work him up to a good rifle. My way of doing "My thing!" The first time I rabbit hunted was over by the local HS my dad worked at. He told me there was an old coffee can I believe that the rabbit would hide in and called home. He went into the school to work and I walked over where the rabbit can was with a 12 gauge. Got pretty close and looking straight into the can at the rabbit I let it loose. Pretty much every pellet and wad hit that rabbit. It was inedible. We all have learning experiences. Another time I couldn't get the slide safety off a 410 and missed a chance to pop a bunny. Spent the rest of the winter hunt without gloves on to teach myself a lesson. Have your son tell his buddy that a real man doesn't need a 17 and can hunt squirrels with a 22 short and open sights.
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Post by maddog on Aug 21, 2019 7:59:26 GMT -5
I use a .22 for the entire squirrel season. Probably haven't used a shotgun for 8-10 yrs. I'm playing with a new one currently, that I bought back in July. It's a RAR with a nikon P3 3x9 EFR on board. The scope is one of the best I have used .
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Post by robinsroost on Aug 21, 2019 16:34:24 GMT -5
Early, a 20ga 1100 Remington, shooting 1oz of 4's. When the leaves start to change color and fall, my trusty Model 39M Marlin. When they are foraging on the ground, my Model 500 Mossberg .410, shooting 3/4oz of 5's...…..robin PS: Both shotguns are full choke. I like larger shot, 4's and 5's, because I usually get a complete pass through, leaving no shot in the meat. Why does a box of 25 .410 shells cost twice as much as a box of 25 12ga shells?
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Post by moose1am on Aug 21, 2019 17:07:00 GMT -5
Agree with esshup. Scoped .22 all season long. Wait for the headshot. Get to your hunting spot and be in position before the sun comes up if possible. Seems like activity really slows after the sun has been up a couple of hours. I'll be hunting hickory trees opening weekend. I was reading about gray squirrels and read that they are up and moving right before dawn and that the fox squirrels get up and start moving later in the morning. I always hunted squirrels with a 12 gauge Remington Model 870 pump shotgun. Stakeout some hickory trees and scout around the woods before the season starts to find out which hickory trees the squirrels are cutting on. You will see the cuttings coming down and can locate which trees the squirrels are using. I never got up early enough to get into the woods during the dark. I waited to sneak into the woods right as it got light. Our woods had an old dirt road that makes it easy to access the edge of the woods. But the access point was at the top of a hill and it was a steep drop down into the basin of the woods where the stream was located. These days with GPS handheld units should make it easier to navigate the woods. We had to make a mental map of the woods before we could locate the best hickory trees. Pignut hickory tree is also good. I used #4 or #5 shot and 2 and 3/4" shells with high top brass. Most of my shotgun shells were Remington or Winchester brands. Now when I was young I used a 22 single-shot 22 rifle. I did pretty well with that gun on squirrels. Just aim for the head. The area I hunted was farmland for the most part. I didn't worry about where the lead when after I pulled the trigger if I missed the squirrel. There were few houses anywhere back in those days. Now the same area is packed with new homes these days which is why I recommend using a shotgun. If you are miles away from homes and know for sure that your bullet won't hit someone or someone's property then the 22 is fine. But, if you are hunting where there is the slightest chance that the bullet will end up hitting someone's property or a person then I'd not recommend using a rifle and shooting up into a tree. Now if you are shooting down at the ground and know that the bullet won't get away from you then the 22 rifle or other small-caliber rifle is fine. The older you get the more safety-conscious you get.
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