Just wondering how many others spend there time hunting these delicious little bushytailed tree rats. I spend more time hunting these than any other game in Ontario. My local wmu only has a week long season but a half hour drive away in the next wmu gets three months so its a drive at least twice a week for me. .22lr only for me on these guys even though I know a lot of hunters will use a .410 or a 20guage. They may come home with more animals but I waste a lot less meat and since that is my main motivation for hunting these critters I'm happy with that. Longest shot to date was two years ago with a 150+ yard shot on one in a farm lane, still a head shot but more luck involved then anything. This year I've got a new set up and new ammo. Using a rifle that is presently on the heavy side of things for this type of hunting. Ruger 10/22 with a .920 28" barrel and hogue overmold stock. Just put a 3 point tactical sling on it to help lug the weight. Just made a deal on a mares leg on here so as of the end of the month that will be my new tree rat gun. My 10/22 is consistently on target out to 150yards with a 2" group from a rest with CCI Velocitors. I don't expect that with the mares leg and will be keeping my shots within the 50 yard range when I add a small red dot (if I can find one I like). It's still pretty hard hunting down here (Chatham Kent, Ontario) as most of the leaves are still on but we still come home with some tablefare most of the time. End of the month my daughter will be cutting her teeth on hunting with these as well and she is incredibly excited about it. She has a brand new Henry lever (full stock and barrel) that I picked up a few months ago for her and a weatherby 20guage if she needs it. I'd love to hear about anyone else thats chasing treerats and if you're local, touch base I always welcome other hunters for a walk in the woods for them.
Squirrel Hunters?
- Thread starter Gargoyle
- Start date
Not at all local to you now, but my squirreling in the past has been north of Parry Sound. I agree that hunting with a rimfire is particularly fun - typically, I'm rimfire hunting grouse and squirrel simultaneously. Depending on the population density in any given year, and how on edge the squirrels are, I probably don't manage to shoot squirrels at a much greater rate, in terms of head of game per hour hunted, than I do for deer!
Good eating though lots of preparation options - one I like is cut into pieces, and prepared like chicken wings!
RG
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Good eating though lots of preparation options - one I like is cut into pieces, and prepared like chicken wings!
RG
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I use a 22 with shorts. Rossi 37 or winchester 9422. Lately I've been using a sxs 12ga with 410 tubes. Doesn't hurt them at all. I to am from chatham kent and love hunting squirrels. I hunt mainly in 92wmu. Limit out every time I go. When the season opens in chatham I head to the back of my farm here and take my limit. They are tasty. I use a 22mag for longer shots
I would like to be able to say I limit out every time in 92 but just isn't happening this year. Leaves are still on and winds have been keeping them tucked in. Got two yesterday up there though and going back out saturday to get some more.
Sit in open hardwoods. Tuck up against a tree. If u can find walnut or hickory trees they are the best. Sit and wait for 20 minutes at a time. They come out on the forest floor. Wack em with something fairly quite and the others run to a tree for a look. Pick em off. Move a couple hundred yards and repeat.
I try to not shoot to many properties because deer season is still on and I know I'd be pissed if I were in a stand and someone was crakin off a rifle around me. I've got some great private property full of squirrels but there's also aalot of deer there as well. I usually hunt for deer then go back in with for a squirrel hunt if nothing had been seen or heard. I'm pretty sure bunny season just opened as well so I may slip out sunday before skeet for a mixed bag small game hunt before to many other hunters start up.
Happy hunting and good luck. Best advise I can give is slow down. Wait for them they're busy lil critters. Best is 20 mins after first light and 5pm ish
I try to not shoot to many properties because deer season is still on and I know I'd be pissed if I were in a stand and someone was crakin off a rifle around me. I've got some great private property full of squirrels but there's also aalot of deer there as well. I usually hunt for deer then go back in with for a squirrel hunt if nothing had been seen or heard. I'm pretty sure bunny season just opened as well so I may slip out sunday before skeet for a mixed bag small game hunt before to many other hunters start up.
Happy hunting and good luck. Best advise I can give is slow down. Wait for them they're busy lil critters. Best is 20 mins after first light and 5pm ish
yup early morning or the last hour or so of light are the prime times, but in the right bush with the right weather and it can be decent all day. Look for food sources and hunt open areas where you can see for a distance. Keep your eyes peeled for any movement. It is funny how when you're deer hunting the little guys bug the hell outta ya, and when you're squirrel hunting the chipmunks but the hell outta ya..lol Always something busting you to what you're after...
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
I was thinking the same.
The guy mentioning hunting squirrels North of Parry Sound has me confused, as I have a cottage in the area, and see nothing but red squirrels which are protected as far as I understand.
I am planning to hunt them with my bow until I have a chance to pickup a .22lr...just hope I can get within 30 yards of them, should be frustrating but fun for a newb such as myself 
how do you guys cook them? any recipes you guys recommend?
how do you guys cook them? any recipes you guys recommend?
badgreenbird
Regular
- Location
- Dawson Creek, BC
likely eastern Gray Squirrels. In some places (esp. southern Ontario) most individuals are actually black. I used to hunt them a bit in southern NB when I lived there. The little red squirrels are generally classed as a furbearing animal and are not particularly sporting or worthwhile hunting. They prefer conifer or mixedwood forest while the greys and fox squirrels are hardwood species
Ok just to clarify... Everything being hunted in my area, southern Ontario is Grey Squirrels. First of all it is the only species we actually have here. (No fox squirrels live in Ontario other than a very small population residing on Pelee Island) and yes all other squirrel species in the province are protected (red and flying). Hope this clears stuff up.
I don't use decoys. I have a owl decoy but haven't dragged it out yet. I'm fortunate to be on a major flyway just outside of town. Right now I have aa thousand or so birds coming in together so I have to wait for the main flocks to go by then shoot the stragglers. I start counting oct 1 and stop feb 1. Last year sucked but usually I kill over a thousand. Haven't broke the 1200 mark yet in that time line. Was at 1199 and drove around with the 2506 looking for # 1200 but it didn't pan out. This will be a stellar year if it gets cold and stays cold. I'm already at 187 sinc oct 1
