this is the first year that i am stictly going to bow hunt for everything.no guns.squirrel season starts sept.1 here in ohio.i have never hunted them with a bow.do any of you squirrel hunters have any suggestions for early season when the leaves are still on the trees?i was preadetor hunting last year and set up a moving rabbit decoy.i had an electronic caller going.i saw no coyotes,but 12 squirrels hit the ground and messed with my decoy for hours.i could have got a few of them but didn't.do you guys think i sould try this again,or do you have a better way.please heip me,i need some tips from you experts.thanks,steve
Try it, what do you have lose
it works every time i go coyote hunting.sometimes the squirrels get aggravating.i don't shoot the squirrels because i don't want to spook the coyotes
Seabass.
You could also try a squirrell in distress call. Same affect as you describe. A lot easier when they're on the ground. Loose less arrows that way too.
Magnus
magnus,i think my cheapo call may have that sound.good looking out brother.the rabbit squall works pretty good,but i think you are on to something.thanks again,steve
Steve,
Good for you setting your guns down. I want one more with my rife to honor the man who passed last fall who gave it to me. After that I may use my muzzle loader from time to time but am slowly venturing to bow only.
If you sit and be patient you should see a lot of squirrels. Most people try to walk up on them, this only works best when you are deer or turkey hunting so maybe try that instead :biglaugh:
I use things that peak their curiosity. They are already jumpy, dont need them on edge too but if distress calls work go for it.
Sometimes I will periodically rub 2 quarters together or 2 rocks to make it sound like a squirrel is chewing on a nut.
They are tough critters and if you have old broadheads, you will have less work with a direct hit.
In any case let us know how you make out and good luck!
don't get me wrong,i love my guns.i have 46 or more.i always used my 22 for squirrels.i enjoy that very much.i have never tried an all bow season.i want to do something different this season.i an thinking of selling most of them.i have alot that have sentimental value.i lost my dad and grandfather last year.i will never sell the guns they gave me.my dad left me when i was seven years old and never looked back,but i could never sell the first gun he gave me.here in ohio,it is easier to shoot a bow than a gun.more people will let you hunt their property with a bow than a gun.i think it will be alot of fun to do it the tred barta way,the hard way.not that it was ever easy for me.lol.thanks for the comments guys,steve
A buddy of mine in Kansas is a fanatic about calling squirrels. I've only done it with my mouth and then only to get one to stop for a moment too long.
I did the same thing starting last fall and I'm not much skinnier for it...lol(Dang grocery stores!)
As long as the fullness or emptiness of your game bag doesn't determine the happiness of your hunt, you'll do just fine.
I tried the squirrels in the tree tops and decided I didn't have enough arrows so I'll wait for them to come down on my playing field.
Good hunting!!
God bless,Mudd
Flu flus and blunts for early season squirrels. That or shoot them on the ground only :)
I pack a lunch and plan on stopping at the grocery on the way home 'cause bowhunting for squirrels don't make much meat for me.
Here's my one Trophy Squirrel Hunt (http://sticknstring.webs.com/2009squirrelhunt.htm) from last year.
i'm not saying anything bad about guns.in fact i love them.i was raised on them.i just want to realy focus on my trad bows.i figure the more expireances good or bad hunting everything with my bow,the better shot i will be.i have no problem getting squirrels with my bolt action 22,that might not be the case with my black widow.i don't care if i kill anything,i just like to be out there.i like the challenge.guns are great,i just want to try something different this season.
thats to bad njloco.in ohio we can still use are bows during the gun seasons.we do however have to wear hunter orange.around here on state land thats a good idea anyway.lol
seabass
Get a Mr. Squirrel call - the silver disc with the hole thru it - and follow the directions on the back. And SHAKE THAT SAPLING while you call. I like to setup by a hickory sapling 10-15 ft tall and shake it while calling till them big yellow leaves fall off! You'll feel like an idiot the first couple times you try it but TRUST ME the fox squirrels will come running in to you on the ground. Never had any luck with grays, just fox squirrels. If I would have had one of these things when I was a bloodthirsty kid there wouldnt be a squirrel left in Crawford or Wyandot counties in Ohio!
Oh, yeah, and congrats on your chioce to challenge yourself further with the bow!
Ryan
Squirrel hunting with a bow is similar to hunting them with a shotgun. Find a pile of shavings or cut shells and back up 10-15 yards in decent cover.
The acorns are hitting the ground early around here so that should bring them out of the trees and get them on the ground a little earlier than usual.
I discovered it's a lot cheaper to shoot bow than firearm. I can re-use my arrows!
I don't do much small game hunting anymore, except a rare excursion on the dove field with a shotgun. But regarding deer hunting, this will be my 14th season bow only.
I never intended to give up the rifle. Rather, one season I was having so much fun with the bow, I decided to continue using it into rifle season "until I got tired of it". So far, I haven't gotten tired of it.
I love making arrows and loading my own ammunition. Both are very satisfying tasks.
I love shooting my bow but every Thanksgiving day it's gun time. I hunt the same and the last ten deer I've shot are with in twenty yards. I just like the power and the smell of the powder once a year. Plus CT shut down bow season for a month during gun season. So when in Rome!
I did it last year. Bow only from Sept. till Jan. Relized I never had a deer in view that I couldn't have killed with my bow. Doesn't mean I killed em all! Just that everything I saw was eventually in range at some point during the enncounter.
I enjoy hunting more with my bows. Put more meat in the freezer with the ole shootin iron.....Randy