Squirrel hunting

1963beretta

1963beretta

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Vaughan, Ontario
I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a dedicated squirrel hunt for quite some time and finally decided to get it done. I packed my trusted Marlin 925, a couple mags and a pack of bulk hollow point Winchester .22’s. My hunt started slow as there wasnt much action at first. But I posted up next to a tree and waited patiently. I got a few looks on the critters, and bagged the ones that presented a shot. Squirrels are sneaky little buggers that have a nack of putting a tree in between them and you. And taking 50 yard shots using a .22 on critters that dont like to sit still was a challenge. In any event, I had a great time out in the bush and I got to put my Marlin to use for something other then plinking. In the end, I made a squirrel stew that was incredible and really enjoyed eating the super tender meat. I can really get used to that. Makes me wonder why I waited so long to do this.

Anyone else go out for squirrels? What type of firearms do you like using and how do you hunt them? And more importantly, what are your favourite recipes?
 
Did that tail skinning method work for you? I've never got that to work, maybe it only works when they're warm. Love to shoot and eat squirrels, just got into it in the last couple years. I use a shotgun because they don't hold still, and the places I hunt are in farmland, worried about where a 22 bullet might end up. The best recipe I have found so far is 10 minutes in the instantpot, then finish in the oven or barbecue for 15 minutes.
 
I never have had the chance.

But I’ve wanted to do exactly as you describe since the first time I read an old copy of field&stream when I was a young boy. Always thought that’d be great hunt.
 
I have done it quite a few times. I use my Anschutz .22 and enjoy the challenge. As far as eating them I have not. The area I shoot at is a dumping ground for several food trucks so their diet is less then Ideal IMO. I know what my friend looks like after eating at whimpys so I have no doubt these squirrels have diabetes, hyper tension, high cholesterol and blocked arteries LOL Now my mates hawks do not mind at all!

Where in Vaughn? Perhaps a Squirrel hunt/meet is possible?
 
holzmeister said:
I have done it quite a few times. I use my Anschutz .22 and enjoy the challenge. As far as eating them I have not. The area I shoot at is a dumping ground for several food trucks so their diet is less then Ideal IMO. I know what my friend looks like after eating at whimpys so I have no doubt these squirrels have diabetes, hyper tension, high cholesterol and blocked arteries LOL Now my mates hawks do not mind at all!

Where in Vaughn? Perhaps a Squirrel hunt/meet is possible?
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I'm not too far from Bass Pro Shops. I was hunting them in the Kawartha's but I'm sure there would be decent squirrel hunting in the Simcoe county forests off the 400. I've been through a few of the tracks for a walk and have always seen squirrels while I was there
 
Gillshot said:
Did that tail skinning method work for you? I've never got that to work, maybe it only works when they're warm. Love to shoot and eat squirrels, just got into it in the last couple years. I use a shotgun because they don't hold still, and the places I hunt are in farmland, worried about where a 22 bullet might end up. The best recipe I have found so far is 10 minutes in the instantpot, then finish in the oven or barbecue for 15 minutes.
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Not as easy as that video makes it seem. The first one I tried was cold and figured that was the reason why it was more difficult. But the next two were warm and it wasnt much easier. As I got the skin just about to peel like in the video, the tail would end up ripping off. So it was back to pulling it by hand.
 
Gillshot said:
Did that tail skinning method work for you? I've never got that to work, maybe it only works when they're warm. Love to shoot and eat squirrels, just got into it in the last couple years. I use a shotgun because they don't hold still, and the places I hunt are in farmland, worried about where a 22 bullet might end up. The best recipe I have found so far is 10 minutes in the instantpot, then finish in the oven or barbecue for 15 minutes.
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I do it when they are warm, but the real trick is to cut all the way through the tail bone, but leave the skin on the bottom side. Take me about 2 min to clean a squirrel, so I do it right away, letting the bush settle down after my shot then get back to hunting. Love eating squirrel.
 
I'm in Winnipeg and I see tons of grey squirrels every time I go for a walk in the city. When I'm out of the city all I see are the little red squirrels. I may see the odd grey out of the city, but they are pretty rare. The reds here require a trapping license and are too small to be worth the effort of cleaning anyway. If I new of a rural spot where I could depend on a few opportunities at greys I would be out there!
 
Squirrel hunting is a great hunt that most people will enjoy and it's good practice for still hunting and accurate shooting. I really enjoy using my crossbow and it's excellent for those who still hunt deer. Good squirrel hunting spots are almost always great spots for deer so squirrel hunting often turns into half hunting and half scouting for deer trips. I have tagged 2 deer with my crossbow while I was hunting squirrels.

I've been busted by deer multiple times while stalking because those pesky squirrels start chattering at me while I'm putting the sneak on deer. I'm sure everyone who stand hunts deer has been busted by squirrels at one point or another too. Eating them is the best revenge...
 
I hunt them. Use a pair of savages mostly. First is a fv 17mach2 and the other is a fv 22lr in a mdt chassis
I love hiding up and sniping them. Sometimes ill take my 9422 or rossi 37 if i want a challange
 
I've wanted to try squirrel hunting for a while now only 1 problem,we don't have any around here,just the little red ones.Gonna have to head south I guess maybe around Thessalon or Iron Bridge area maybe,lots of hardwoods in that area.
 
They taste surprisingly good in rice a roni. I prefer the bbq as im a horrible cook. The entire carcass on the grill up set my liberal neighbour so i ate lots of bbq tree rat last year.

When i go bow hunting deer squirrels seem like theyre in every tree. Sit with a rimfire and theyre like ghosts. I prefer head shots and thats why i bought a 17mach2. It shoots just flat enough to best a 22lr over typical bush hunting ranges and yet if i have to take a chest shot i can still eat backstraps. The hmr and 22mag are often to violent for anything but a head shot. In more open hardwoods the lil 17 makes 100 yard ground shots possible
When i head south turkey hunting eventually ill be bringing my lil 17. I just love it. It sits in a modified factory synthetic stock i painted like a rattlesnake. It really blends in quite well in the fall leaves but it might also find its way into a mdt chassis
Something about squirrel hunting always reminds me of better times and who doesnt enjoy a stoll thru the woods with a rimfire
 
I take a few dozen each year. Strictly with airguns. Definitely fine dining. That meat is light tasting so it goes with anything you put it in. Sometimes I just put the meat in a slow cooker with a can of mushroom soup until the meat almost falls off the bone.
 
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