Back yard Squirrels - Head shot vs heart/lungs

[dannyshoots]

Wanted to throw this experience out there. For over four years now, I've baited squirrels in my backyard and popped them regularly. Always placing the pellet between the eye and ear for an instant clean kill. I have a "sniper room" in my basement and shoot from a bench through an open window to the feeder or as I refer to it "the alter of doom" for squirrels. So as I was doing some chrono work with my Impact today, a squirrel decided to pay the feeder a visit. Couldn't believe it. I was shooting .30 from a 700mm STX. So I figured, hell a 44.75 gr JSB traveling at about 835 should take a squirrel right down with a body shot. I placed it perfectly through the heart and lungs and the damn squirrel ran every bit of 15 feet up the tree and almost launched himself over the fence into the neighbor's back yard! Fortunately, he landed dead before impact, on my side of the fence. But the lesson was learned. The best body shots maybe ok for the woods but head shots are the only way to go for residential pesting. I won't try that again! If that .30 wouldn't do it, nothing else in my collection will either.

 

[Shinyknight]

I've taken many squirrels with my .22 cal marauder. I always go for right where his armpit is and drop them no problem. Never had one run off more than 2 feet without dropping dead. IDK how one would be able to run with a 30 cal to the chest. 

 

[cea1960]

Yep! They be tough! Some years ago i shot a fox squirrel in the body with a .22 crosman destroyer. The squirrel made it 10', over a 4' fence and another 10' before expiring. Upon examining it, a good chunk of lung was hanging out the exit hole. It's been all headshots after that.

 

[SteveV]

I know in a strictly hunting situation, much prefer head shots - no pooling blood in the body cavity makes for a less messy prep and the tree rat ends up tasting better.

 

[outdoorman]

I've taken over 300 squirrels since I began fighting back on them 3 years ago with my D34. I mostly go for heart/lung shots unless they are under 20 yards. Most of the time they last about 15 seconds with a heart/lung shot and they rarely escape in that time although a few have disappeared on me. Many times they keel over and die instantly. A head shot takes more precision which is a little more difficult using a springer from a shooting stick. Sometimes they die instantly, sometimes they do the crazy dance for a few seconds but at least they don't run off. They can be amazingly tough critters and some have required multiple shots at very close range to make them stop breathing. I'll never forget one heart/lung shot I took from 27 yards. It took off trying to get back to it's nest and expired halfway through the entrance.

 

[markT]

Squirrels are tough. Dang tough. I’d rather do a heart lung shot due to the possibility of missing a “pea” size brain. The shock from a 22 pellet usually does the trick even if one is off the target some. But each hunter has make his own decision of what he wants to see after the shot. 

 

[jdh2550]

this one hit the ground dead with a heart and lung shot

 

[fishinwrench]

Head shots seem to kill them too quickly sometimes, and a .22 pellet doesn't blow them out of the tree like a .22 rimfire does.

I lost a couple last Winter because they just collapsed immediately and got stuck in the tree. I'm gonna start taking shoulder shots and see if that helps keep that from happening.