|
Post by lwb on Jul 20, 2012 18:44:01 GMT -5
Just wondering what everyone thinks the chances are for a good season with all the heat and dry weather we have had this year.I been out a few times looking around and am not seeing as many as last year. Still looking forward to opening day, being retired any day in the woods is better than a day setting at home. ;D
|
|
|
Post by daneowner on Jul 20, 2012 19:30:20 GMT -5
Seems to be quite a few squirrels here, but the mast crop doesn't look good due to the dry weather in my location. Some of the oak trees do have a few acorns on them, but they are very small. What Hickory nuts i've seen are also small. I'm retired also and looking forward to opening day. Good Hunting!
|
|
|
Post by featherduster on Jul 21, 2012 5:35:43 GMT -5
Ditto daneowner's remarks. One thing I can say for sure is it's to hot for me to be chasing tree rats, I'll wait till December. Good luck.
|
|
|
Post by squirrelhunter on Jul 22, 2012 14:50:25 GMT -5
I doubt I hunt at all this season.I don't have a good or easily accessible place to hunt.
|
|
|
Post by mrbuckfly1 on Jul 24, 2012 7:01:30 GMT -5
Looks like the mast will be spotty in west central Indiana.Lots of nuts have already fell due to the drought and the woods is a month or more a head of normal conditions.I observed a couple squirrels cutting in a walnut tree on fathers day this year.Never have I seen them in walnut this early.There does seem to be a fair population of squirrels in my area and as always I'm anxious to get after them.
|
|
|
Post by trapperdave on Aug 5, 2012 18:10:20 GMT -5
no shortage of treerats in my woods this year. Ill be chasing them with ruger single six for fun n giggles.
|
|
|
Post by drs on Aug 6, 2012 7:53:39 GMT -5
I have plenty of Mast crops, on my property. Hickorynuts, Acorns, Pine Cones, & Walnuts as well as many other "Squirrel Foods". Should be a good year for Squirrel Hunting. Our season opens on Aug. 18th this year.
|
|
|
Post by mrbuckfly1 on Aug 7, 2012 18:12:00 GMT -5
Good to hear the mast in your area is doing so well.Wish the mast here was better but I will be in the woods regardless.Allways do a lot of squirrel hunting.I hunted LBL during the spring squirrel season last year(June) and I must admit I have never seen ticks as thick as they were there.Repel 98% deet didn't seem work to well.Next time I will be sure to have permathrin.
|
|
|
Post by drs on Aug 8, 2012 5:09:20 GMT -5
Good to hear the mast in your area is doing so well.Wish the mast here was better but I will be in the woods regardless.Allways do a lot of squirrel hunting.I hunted LBL during the spring squirrel season last year(June) and I must admit I have never seen ticks as thick as they were there.Repel 98% deet didn't seem work to well.Next time I will be sure to have permathrin. Western Kentucky is in an exceptional drought this year. I am certain this will have a great affect on mast production in that area including LBL. Ticks, Mites, Chiggers, and Mosquitoes are all bad this Summer everywhere.
|
|
|
Post by mossberg500 on Aug 11, 2012 11:19:01 GMT -5
If and when i go out tree rat huntin , I'll wait until fall when the leaves are changing
|
|
|
Post by drs on Aug 11, 2012 12:00:34 GMT -5
If and when i go out tree rat huntin , I'll wait until fall when the leaves are changing I've been hunting Squirrels for some 50 years, and found that the prime time for Squirrels are the last two weeks in August & the first three weeks in September. First they tend to hit Popular first then on to Hickory, Acorns, with Beechnuts being the last mast for hunting them in the trees. After that they are on the ground most of the time.
|
|
|
Post by mrbuckfly1 on Aug 11, 2012 13:59:48 GMT -5
I like to squirrel hunt as much as I like to deer hunt.I start hunting them when the leaves are on with a.410 single barrel and a side by side 20ga.When the leaves thin out some I use a .22 cal. rifle and when they fall and the woods open up I go to a .17 mach 2.Guess you could say I am pretty much ate up with it.They are my favorite wild game to eat and keep me in the woods for the entire season.Can't wait until next wednesday.
|
|
|
Post by drs on Aug 12, 2012 4:54:19 GMT -5
I like to squirrel hunt as much as I like to deer hunt.I start hunting them when the leaves are on with a.410 single barrel and a side by side 20ga.When the leaves thin out some I use a .22 cal. rifle and when they fall and the woods open up I go to a .17 mach 2.Guess you could say I am pretty much ate up with it.They are my favorite wild game to eat and keep me in the woods for the entire season.Can't wait until next wednesday The same here! I enjoy Squirrel Hunting as much as hunting Deer. Our season opens August 18th down here in Ky. Mostly Gray Squirrels here with some Fox Squirrels. I also start out using my .410 S/S using 3" shells loaded with #5 shot. Also use my CZ AMERICAN CLASSIC in .22 LR with a Weaver 4-power Rimfire Scope. When I lived in Indiana, I used a loaded down .22 Hornet & also my Winchester Model 43 bolt action in .25-20 Win. We can't use Centerfire Cartridges for Small Game down here in Ky. Never used a .17 caliber for Squirrels; How does the little .17 Mach-2 work?
|
|
|
Post by mrbuckfly1 on Aug 12, 2012 7:03:44 GMT -5
I have been using a .17 mach 2 for squirrel since 2004 when they were first introduced.It is a .22 cal. stinger case necked down to .17 cal.The 17 grain V-max bullet shoots very flat.It is somewhat of a hyper round so bullet placement is critical.Head shots or shots squarely thru the rib cage are in order.A shot that hits heavy bone or guts will ruin some meat.i Believe it extends the range over a .22 cal. about 25 yards or so.Mine is a 452 CZ Varmint and I really like it.
|
|
|
Post by lwb on Aug 13, 2012 14:13:09 GMT -5
I will be out the first part of the season with my 20ga. o/u and my Ruger mk.111 on my side for close shots.Once the leaves are gone I will change to my Marlin 22 mag and the ruger to close out the season.
|
|
|
Post by omegahunter on Aug 15, 2012 6:21:02 GMT -5
Wish I was going this morning instead of going to work. Nice temperature this morning! Good luck to all who are going.
|
|
|
Post by dadfsr on Aug 15, 2012 7:08:55 GMT -5
The tree rats were working on what few pears are on the old tree in the back yard yesterday when I got home from work....grrrr.....I know where I'll be sitting Sat AM with the Gamo!!! Because we really like the pear jam that wife makes I did take a walk back in the woods yesterday afternoon and heard a bunch of cutting. They were working about every nut tree that I have-walnut, hickory and oaks-didn't seem to make much difference. Did kick up a pair of nice high racked 8's too....had a pair of high racked 6's back there last year-wondering if they are the same ones?
|
|
|
Post by daneowner on Aug 15, 2012 8:46:36 GMT -5
Morning all, Just finished cleaning 5 sguirrels this morning, all were young. Have to be honest though, took me 7 shots with the .22 cal., not the rifles fault, these older nerves just ain't as steady as they use to be. LOL! Four of the five where on hickorys. Good hunting to all! dadsfr, Congrats on finding the sheds.
|
|
|
Post by drs on Aug 15, 2012 9:21:15 GMT -5
Morning all, Just finished cleaning 5 sguirrels this morning, all were young. Have to be honest though, took me 7 shots with the .22 cal., not the rifles fault, these older nerves just ain't as steady as they use to be. LOL! Four of the five where on hickorys. Good hunting to all! dadsfr, Congrats on finding the sheds. Sounds like you had a very productive morning! Were they Fox or Gray Squirrels? Our season opens this Saturday.
|
|
|
Post by daneowner on Aug 15, 2012 10:00:54 GMT -5
drs, All Fox squirrels, I see very few Grays in my local area.
|
|