@Vetmx and
@moodyblues I think the environment is a big factor that helps us determine which tool(s) to use for squirrel hunting. Where I live most of my squirrel hunting spots are in the timber. That is wooded areas with undergrowth and a substantial amount of vines that can impede your path and line of sight. This environment tends to call for relatively shorter shots. 10-40 yards. My Edgun Lelya .25 (30-35 fpe) or Benjamin Marauder pistol .22 (Prod producing around 18 fpe) both work.
There are creeks running through wooded areas (creek bottoms) that sometimes give me a longer line of site (where the water runs because there usually isn’t any substantial growth in the water) so I may be able to see and shoot clearly 10-60 yards out. Generally I’m not taking shots beyond 50 yards with my woods walker pellet guns. I also don’t like carrying long guns through the timber if I don’t have them stowed in a backpack because I don’t want them getting scratched up. I can move with and protect a short gun a lot easier.
Another area I have squirrel hunted has been in hardwood tree stands where oak trees dominate the timber. It’s usually a lot more open towards the ground with less undergrowth and vines which means less thickets hence a clear line of site on the ground and into the canopy. My line of sight can sometimes exceed 100 yards. The squirrels can spot me easily at a distance in this sort of area as I can them. I’ve taken my woods walkers into these areas and have had minimal success bagging a single squirrel usually. It’s tough to stalk up on squirrels in distant trees after killing one close to me. When I try walking from tree to tree without being seen or heard crunching fallen branches underfoot it takes a long time to slow walk between large trees. They can usually see me, sound off, and they will run off. From there it takes a considerable amount of time for the area to calm down. A couple places like this in my area have been hunted so the squirrels aren’t dumb and keep their distance. This is traditional rile, shotgun, and I imagine squirrel dog territory.
If I brought an airgun to a large hardwood stand it would be my Brocock Bantam Sniper HR in .25 (50-53 fpe) set up on a tripod. I have a tough enough time glassing for squirrels and keeping up with them within 50 yards so 100+ yards. Unless it’s dead quiet and I can hear them jumping from branch to branch and see the branches moving ai find it very difficult for me to keep my eye on one beyond 40-50 yards. If there are leaves in the trees they’re tough to keep track of moving through the canopy, so long shots on such small targets are uncomfortable or not possible for me. When leaves are gone I believe that you have to have a good eye, good glassing technique, and understanding of their behavior to keep up with them running through the branches in the canopy to take a long shot when they pause. A flat shooting gun (traditional hunting rifle) would be better here. Ideally catching them on the ground burying nuts or eating is the best time to shoot them at a distance in my opinion.
If where you’re hunting looks different than anything I’ve described them maybe you have more of an advantage selecting one tool over the other. I only know what works in the areas and terrains where I’ve actually hunted squirrels. Maybe you’re more experienced than hunting squirrels. Some of the threads I read, guys are limiting out with springers within an hour or two. That seems like the type of area that I haven’t encountered. I also think it speaks to a persons skill level. Personally I like using airguns. I like the challenge, low risk, quiet, and the uniqueness of them (not many people in my area use them). I don’t hunt tree squirrels with anything larger than a .25 airgun. Anything larger is not sporting
to me. Although I eat them, hunting is still a sport and I enjoy the sporting aspect as well. We all have our preferences for our own reasons.
Now hunting ground squirrels is an entirely different ballgame…
