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Squirrel Hunting
#4005107
01/29/13 07:27 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 267
36 South
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 267 |
So I was at work Sunday talking to one of my chiefs and i told him I wanted to do a little squirrel hunting but didn't have a .410 to shoot them with. He said he used to kill them with a 12 gauge. Seems a little big to me. I have a 12 and a 20 but want to know if I can use them. Thanks.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: 36 South]
#4005114
01/29/13 07:31 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 584
00possum
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 584 |
You bet, a 22 would work if you had one. Lighter loads would be better though.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: 36 South]
#4005116
01/29/13 07:32 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,664
jrgocards
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,664 |
use the 20 with 4 shot or a .22. Should make for a pleasant day in the woods - until it's time to clean the day's harvest. I love to squirrel hunt, but hate to clean them - so I never go squirrel hunting.
JR
Last edited by jrgocards; 01/29/13 07:32 PM.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: 36 South]
#4005128
01/29/13 07:34 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 152
Jesse Griffiths
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 152 |
12 works great, just more pellets. I like #4 shot and try to catch them with the edge of the pattern.
author of The Turkey Book, The Hog Book and Afield @thewildbooks.com @daidue.com
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: Jesse Griffiths]
#4005143
01/29/13 07:38 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
they aren't really all that tough, dove loads work well in the 12/20ga(s)
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: rifleman]
#4005154
01/29/13 07:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,814
quackaholic1
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,814 |
Killed many a squirrel with a 20 gauge single shot in my youth using regular ole #6 dove loads.
Last edited by quackaholic1; 01/29/13 07:41 PM.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: quackaholic1]
#4005271
01/29/13 08:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185
hook_n_line
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185 |
12gauge works great. Once they are up a tree stand still. When they poke their head around to see where you are make a clean shot. Works even better if you have a dog.
Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: hook_n_line]
#4005356
01/29/13 08:37 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,550
kyotee1
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,550 |
^^^ Fox squirrels will, Gray or cat squirrels won't be in the tree you saw them in if you stand still and wait. They'll be a mile from ya.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: kyotee1]
#4005376
01/29/13 08:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
yep, cat squirrels are a little different. Pretty much like shooting skeet with 4 legs & a tail.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: rifleman]
#4005397
01/29/13 08:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 267
36 South
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 267 |
All great info... I still have a bunch of shells from dove season for the ole 20. Think ill give it a try when this rain moves out. Thanks for all the imput.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: Jesse Griffiths]
#4005693
01/29/13 10:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,649
Savage388
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,649 |
12 works great, just more pellets. I like #4 shot and try to catch them with the edge of the pattern. I don't know where you will be hunting, but in deep East Texas (God's Country) our trees can be very tall. I've killed a truck load of cat squirrels with a 12 and 4 shot. I seems a little heavy, but the extra powder will really send the lead to the tops of those big oaks and pines.
ODERINT DUM METUANT
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: Savage388]
#4005721
01/29/13 10:24 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 953
TF Panther
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 953 |
Limb Chickens are tough. I like number 5's.....High brass. Especially for those big Fox squirrells. Gauge unimportant. Boil them fox's and then maken squirell and dumplings......good.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: TF Panther]
#4006237
01/30/13 12:51 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 604
BgBkHunter
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 604 |
20 is plenty. I also like using my gamo air rifle, it does a great job on them little boogers out to 40-50yds....
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: 36 South]
#4007615
01/30/13 01:30 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,608
Reloder28
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,608 |
Gee, just wish I had a place to squirrel hunt. There seems to have been a harsh decline in their numbers since the droughts.
You don't know what you don't know.........until you know.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: BgBkHunter]
#4007664
01/30/13 01:54 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,550
kyotee1
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,550 |
20 is plenty. I also like using my gamo air rifle, it does a great job on them little boogers out to 40-50yds.... Fox and Gray Squirrels are Game Animals and air rifles/pellet guns are illegal to use on any game animal or game bird. Means and Methods Firearms NEW LAW: Silencers may be used to take any wildlife resource; however, all federal, state and local laws continue to apply. Game animals and game birds may be hunted with any legal firearm, EXCEPT: •white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope may NOT be hunted with rimfire ammunition of any caliber. •shotguns are the only legal firearm that may be used to hunt Eastern turkey during the spring Eastern turkey season (see County Listing). Rifles and handguns may not be used to hunt Eastern turkey. •pellet guns and other air guns are NOT LEGAL. •fully automatic firearms are NOT LEGAL. •a shotgun is the only legal firearm for hunting migratory game birds (see Definitions - Legal Shotgun). Nongame Animals (Non-Protected): Any lawful firearm, pellet gun, or other air gun is legal. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/regulations/fish_hunt/hunt/means/Game Animals The following are classified as game animals: White-tailed deer Mule deer Desert bighorn sheep Pronghorn antelope Gray or cat squirrel Red or fox squirrel Collared peccary or javelina Nongame and Other Species Nongame Animals Includes, but is not limited to the following: Armadillos* Bobcats* Coyotes* Flying squirrels Frogs Ground squirrels Mountain lions Porcupines Prairie dogs Rabbits Turtles http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/regulations/fish_hunt/hunt/nongame/
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: rifleman]
#4007879
01/30/13 03:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185
hook_n_line
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185 |
yep, cat squirrels are a little different. Pretty much like shooting skeet with 4 legs & a tail. My grandpa's neighbor would throw out a high pitched whistle and those cats squirrels would slam on the brakes and lay flat on a tree limb. I remember him sayin "Don't look for a squirrel, look for an ear, or a paw." Now that man was an oldtimer. He never went to a grocery store. lol
Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: 36 South]
#4008266
01/30/13 04:54 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 13,770
1860.colt
emoji colt.45
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emoji colt.45
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 13,770 |
had chance ta go squirrel hunting with friend who used a dog last year.. was very impressed bye the dog, very well trained.. got a shot at squirrel using 410 #8's was one for one.. had fried squirrel that night.. was a bad year for hog hunting, dry year.. have used .22 with bird shot..
Last edited by colt.45; 01/30/13 04:57 PM.
i'm postaddic
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: rifleman]
#4008582
01/30/13 06:34 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,339
caldwelldeerhunter
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,339 |
they aren't really all that tough, dove loads work well in the 12/20ga(s) x2
If I put my wife in a high fence will her rack get bigger?
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: caldwelldeerhunter]
#4010006
01/31/13 02:07 AM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 182
rsalaud
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 182 |
Really? Flying squirrels and ground squirrels are game, but not Fox and Greys? Had no idea...
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: rsalaud]
#4010029
01/31/13 02:13 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 138
DHfam
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 138 |
You'd think a 12 would blow the squirly to pieces
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: DHfam]
#4011956
01/31/13 07:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 339
Creek Henry
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 339 |
The last coupla times I've hunted squirrel I took 2 loads with me; 1oz #6 and 1.25 oz #4 high brass. The whole point of using a shotgun is to be as versatile as possible.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: Creek Henry]
#4011994
01/31/13 07:46 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,032
Nightbird
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,032 |
I remember going to Mississippi to visit the grandparents and go hunting. We would use 12 gauge with #6's and have no problems with them squirrels. They wouldn't tear the squirrels up at all.
James
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger" Friedrich Nietzsche
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: Nightbird]
#4012404
01/31/13 10:20 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091 |
Wow,y'all are bringing back the memories. Being from east TX, squirrel hunting is in my blood. No deer seasons growing up (and dang few deer) so I learned to squirrel hunt from both my grandpas and my Dad. Both grandpas had dogs that would tree a squirrel and watching Pop blast them out with an old single barrel 12 gauge was a hoot. My Paw Paw had a mutt that would tree the first one fine, but once you shot it he would stop at every tree wanting you to shoot another one-he kinda had everything backwards. Learned from Daddy how to hunt 'em without a dog (mostly to be still and watch and listen). Also learned little tricks like the whistle trick mentioned above and throwing a chunk of limb on the other side of the tree to make him show himself, plus countless others. I started bowhunting at 15 so squirrel hunting went by the wayside. I sure miss it sometimes. Maybe I'll take a shotgun or .22 out next October for memories' sake. 20 gauge with 6s or 7 1/2s is plenty. A .22 is even more fun. Cat squirrels are always around water (95% of the time in a creekbottom) and fox squirrels can be anywhere. I always considered cat squirrels as "trophy" sqirrels since they were more scarce,faster, and could hide so much better.
Last edited by Nogalus Prairie; 01/31/13 10:37 PM.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: Nogalus Prairie]
#4012416
01/31/13 10:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
Think you have this weekend to shoot a few.
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Re: Squirrel Hunting
[Re: rifleman]
#4012420
01/31/13 10:25 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091 |
Think you have this weekend to shoot a few. No joke?? Heck,I will just do that then. Thanks!
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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