Squirrel hunting experience and knowledge

[Nutcracker]

@ gfhickman, one thing about finding a good spot & sitting is you don't scare as many away & can get a good shooting position set up.

Every squirrel I have killed in the last 50 years has been used as food. I hunt them for sport, I like hunting squirrels as much today as I did in 1970. But they are all used as food. I skin them as soon as possible, then put them in a pan of water, add some salt, and sit all night in the fridge. The next day, I quarter them up, then vacuum pack. I give most away to friends who can't or don't hunt anymore & keep a couple for myself. I mostly pressure cook mine in chicken broth for 25-35 minutes, then remove, roll in flour & fry. Or debone and put them back in the cooker with veggies & more chicken stock, cook another 15 minutes & make stew.

To skin, I use a squirrel holder & attach it to a tree with a ratchet strap. A good pair of butcher cutters (scissors) & a real sharp knife.

Good luck in your hunting & be sure to post some photos.

 

[Moog]

I want to start squirrel hunting myself, but there is a little challenge for me. I'm in a wheelchair and would have limited mobility in my trees. I do have a great transition spot though, field/tree line that would let be get right to that line. I appreciate the info that spot hunting (don't know if that makes sense) is a viable hunting method. I really doubt my ability to stalk in a wheelchair. I am thinking, if legal, I might resort to baiting, to increase the likelyhood of spoting them. Just got this property so the woods are all filled with obstacles, but I plan on slowly clearing that over time. I have a creek that runs through them that would poetically offer another ideal location. I take hunters safety in early February so after that squirrels beware!!! Question for you all, what do you all do with your take? Eat, stuff, skin...?

Since you have your own property that would be really good if you can get a path cleared out. Maybe cover it with gravel. Some states have public land that is set up for special access for people with disabilities. You might want to check into that.
These days they make special wheel chairs that are set up for the outdoors. They are powered and have treads instead of wheels. Probably ain't cheap though.
I always skin the squirrels in the field. It's easier to do it then before they stiffin up. It's also better for the meat. I usually make a stir fry out of them.

Edit: Nutcracker, plus one on letting the meat sit over night in salt water. I've always done it that way as well.

 

[AmosBurton]

A good squirrel dog will up your odds in a hurry. I had a little terrier mix that could spot squirrels I would have walked right past.

I have a squirrel dog but he ain't a good one, lol. I will say, he is good at spotting them...
He's a 90lb German shepherd and he hates intruder squirrels.
If we spot them at the same time from the window, I'm lucky if I can get the window up and a shot off before he runs down the hall, out the dog door, around the house, into the back yard and chases said squirrel outside the fence. I keep trying but he always beats me. And he has gotten extremely close to catching one. I do believe he will one day...

@gfhickman - find a spot you can roll up to that gives you a good 30-50yd habitat range and be still, with squirrel attention deficit disorder they will soon forget about you and then you can start taking them out, a blind only makes that an even more successful strategy. If you over hunt the spot move your spot 100-150yds, or more, if you can.

 

[gfhickman]

@AmosBurton plan on getting permission from my neighbors to hunt the entire tree line. There is also a farmer across the way that had a field along a tree line (grew corn last year) that would offer even more potential spots. I doubt I'll have a blind, but I'll sit still and look. Thanks for the advice.

 

[dv8eod]

Home - Be Adaptive Equipment Inc.

We are committed to producing the highest quality adaptive hunting, shooting, and fishing equipment for all disabled outdoorsmen and women.

beadaptive.com

Types of Adaptive Outdoor Equipment for Hunters with Disabilities

I break down adaptive equipment into three categories: equipment originally designed for able-bodied people but that can be used by people with disabilities, equipment specifically designed for people with physical disabilities, and equipment or modifications of equipment people build in their...

www.mossyoak.com

Adaptive Shooting

Organizations that offer outdoor opportunities for people with disabilities.

adaptiveshooting.nra.org

Hopefully this will get you started on your way. A search for adaptive equipment brings up tons of links and info. If the military is/was involved, VA is another good source for assistance and information.

 

[maxtrouble]

Youtube is your friend. Here is one of the better hunting channels. Peanuts are a very effective bait for my poor shooting skills.

 

[tdh1971]

Popcorn works really well.

 

[JimD]

If they are not baited squirrels will look for food around nut trees. Walnut, pecan, etc. They also like acorns from oak trees. If you can set up near nut trees you may not need to bait. When looking for trees you want to pay attention for movement in trees that doesn't seem to be from the wind and is too much for a bird to make. Maybe a squirrel you can't see yet.

I like to pressure cook squirrels for an hour. Makes them nice and tender. I either pull the meat off and put bbq sauce on it or dip pieces in bbq sauce as I eat them. I keep only the four legs and the back part of the back. So you have 5 pieces per squirrel. A little like eating wings if you pick the meat off as you eat them. To clean them I use the shirt and pants method. I cut the skin in the middle of the squirrel and get a couple fingers in the slit from each hand and then pull in opposite directions. Legs are poked back through after the skin is pulled past them. Takes fairly strong hands but isn't hard and doesn't take too long. You have to cook squirrels for a long time for them to be tender but if you do that they are tasty.

 

[HogKiller]

I want to start squirrel hunting myself, but there is a little challenge for me. I'm in a wheelchair and would have limited mobility in my trees. I do have a great transition spot though, field/tree line that would let be get right to that line. I appreciate the info that spot hunting (don't know if that makes sense) is a viable hunting method. I really doubt my ability to stalk in a wheelchair. I am thinking, if legal, I might resort to baiting, to increase the likelyhood of spoting them. Just got this property so the woods are all filled with obstacles, but I plan on slowly clearing that over time. I have a creek that runs through them that would poetically offer another ideal location. I take hunters safety in early February so after that squirrels beware!!! Question for you all, what do you all do with your take? Eat, stuff, skin...?

I started reading this and I thought of a ATV/tracked wheel chair, electric of course because we must be green. Hunters safety, don't shoot orange vests, don't look down the barrel, keep your finger off the trigger until you want to blast the little suckers and......know your target and what is behind it. Because I only shoot ground squirrels, i.e. disease carrying vermin, I leave them belly up for the hawks/vultures to get. A few attachments for the gun, ammo, maybe air, a grabber or fishing pole, oh and a cooler for the beer, hydration is a must.

 

[gfhickman]

@HogKiller: A few things those chairs cost almost as much as a car (not actually but seems it.) I have an electric wheel chair that folds that's about 50lbs. A bit heavy for me to load myself from my regular chair, but it does go cross country fairly well. I'm very well versed in firearm safety, I regularly compete in pb and air competitions, have taken range officer training, and conceal carry responsibily. I've just not hunted, in my land I do not need a license, but to hunt neighbors property I'll need the license. North Carolina offers a disabled combined hunting, inland fishing and coastal fishing life time license for $170 US. This license includes all game minus ducks and bears which you need a yearly stamp for. I'll take the class for that and many other reasons. I agree must be hydrated at all times, but I'll keep to water and other non-adult beverages. The medication I take doesn't mix well with alchol, so I avoid it.

 

[dizzums]

other than time of day, they tend to be most active morning and evening, another good indicator are if other prey animals are active, particularly birds .. ive noticed squirrels like to be around other animals that are actively feeding, presumably, i think they feel safer and get more predator warning .. theyll shadow my chickens as they make their rounds in the yard ...

 

[HogKiller]

@HogKiller: A few things those chairs cost almost as much as a car (not actually but seems it.) I have an electric wheel chair that folds that's about 50lbs. A bit heavy for me to load myself from my regular chair, but it does go cross country fairly well. I'm very well versed in firearm safety, I regularly compete in pb and air competitions, have taken range officer training, and conceal carry responsibily. I've just not hunted, in my land I do not need a license, but to hunt neighbors property I'll need the license. North Carolina offers a disabled combined hunting, inland fishing and coastal fishing life time license for $170 US. This license includes all game minus ducks and bears which you need a yearly stamp for. I'll take the class for that and many other reasons. I agree must be hydrated at all times, but I'll keep to water and other non-adult beverages. The medication I take doesn't mix well with alchol, so I avoid it.

It was somewhat tongue in cheek. I'm sure you are versed in firearm safety. "Living" in that long state on the left coast as I am, shooting anything is forbidden and otherwise generally discouraged. My only squirrel hunting is on private property and they encourage me to eliminate any and all ground squirrels. At the rate I'm going I'm going to need a ATV chair, just to get around my permission, as long as I have my buddy to fetch and carry I'm good for now though.

 

[gfhickman]

@HogKiller yeah I saw that after I posted. Shame any American had to live in the communist states of America. While NC isn't constituitonal carry yet, we are much freer than most. BTW I would love one of those tracked chairs or even a coyote 4wd, but alas disability doesn't afford me the resources for many rifles let alone a guchi conveyance.

 

[HogKiller]

@HogKiller yeah I saw that after I posted. Shame any American had to live in the communist states of America. While NC isn't constituitonal carry yet, we are much freer than most. BTW I would love one of those tracked chairs or even a coyote 4wd, but alas disability doesn't afford me the resources for many rifles let alone a guchi conveyance.

There is a very snarky remark available regarding current free cash flow but....it'd get me a time out. You enjoy what you can. This state still isn't as bad as Illinois they've gone over the edge on air guns from what I'm reading.

 

[gfhickman]

I saw that

There is a very snarky remark available regarding current free cash flow but....it'd get me a time out. You enjoy what you can. This state still isn't as bad as Illinois they've gone over the edge on air guns from what I'm reading.

Myself

There is a very snarky remark available regarding current free cash flow but....it'd get me a time out. You enjoy what you can. This state still isn't as bad as Illinois they've gone over the edge on air guns from what I'm reading.

I saw that myself, how is a non-firearm so restricted, when every firearm should be available. I do understand that air rifles aren't toys and can cause real damage, just not on par with their pb cousins. I just need to save and make smart choices. While I like the idea of eventually air rifle hunting deer, I doubt my first deer gun will be an airrifle. I'm currently getting into FT hunter class, so I'm saving for a good .177 rig, but I will be able to start the sport with my current 22 cal Avenger, which shoots accurately in its current tune, will see when I dial the fpe down to sub 20.

 

[HogKiller]

I saw that

Myself

I saw that myself, how is a non-firearm so restricted, when every firearm should be available. I do understand that air rifles aren't toys and can cause real damage, just not on par with their pb cousins. I just need to save and make smart choices. While I like the idea of eventually air rifle hunting deer, I doubt my first deer gun will be an airrifle. I'm currently getting into FT hunter class, so I'm saving for a good .177 rig, but I will be able to start the sport with my current 22 cal Avenger, which shoots accurately in its current tune, will see when I dial the fpe down to sub 20.

A .17 PB?? I've got a Savage A17 and it's a friggin' laser, swapped out the trigger, the stock one is less than ideal. It was working great until some idiot changed out the stock, I need it bedded, it 'may' help. Now really good shooters use .17 air, I'm not in that category.

 

[JimD]

If you see a hawk or an owl or an eagle be prepared to not see a squirrel. They come around here sometimes and the squirrels are not active at all when they are flying around. I saw a hawk on one side of a tree and a squirrel on the other side once. The hawk evidently missed but the squirrel did not move until the hawk gave up and flew away.

 

[EdinGa]

If you see a hawk or an owl or an eagle be prepared to not see a squirrel. They come around here sometimes and the squirrels are not active at all when they are flying around. I saw a hawk on one side of a tree and a squirrel on the other side once. The hawk evidently missed but the squirrel did not move until the hawk gave up and flew away.

That's another good thing about a dog. Our Great Dane likes to chase them up the tree behind our deck. After they run up the tree, he circles around trying to spot them and they move to the opposite side as he moves. I've whacked a couple of them by standing still and waiting for them to come around.

 

[gfhickman]

That's another good thing about a dog. Our Great Dane likes to chase them up the tree behind our deck. After they run up the tree, he circles around trying to spot them and they move to the opposite side as he moves. I've whacked a couple of them by standing still and waiting for them to come around.

I love danes, used to have a harlequin. Mine was the same way, chase then all the time. Sadly being in a chair I can't have a large did anymore. My current pup is a Schnoodel, all of 15lbs and loves to ride in my lap when she isn't running like she is possessed.

 

[EdinGa]

I love danes, used to have a harlequin. Mine was the same way, chase then all the time. Sadly being in a chair I can't have a large did anymore. My current pup is a Schnoodel, all of 15lbs and loves to ride in my lap when she isn't running like she is possessed.

We've owned 6 of them in the last 30 years. They are great dogs. Our current old man is almost 7 now. We decided to change breeds this time and have a soon to be 6 month old pyredoodle who will be responsible for protecting my wife when we lose the Dane.