Squirrel opens up here in a couple weeks. Even with the usual heat and ticks it is better than the couch. Just wonder who else is nutty about squirrels. :p
Share any tips, special equipment, or pics if you like.
Rob
I usually don't hunt them until in done with large game or unless they are infront of my tree stand begging me for an arrow
Why would any one want to go shoot a squirrel.? :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I use this early season mostly for deer scouting and stumping but they can be so much fun. Makes me sit down and watch instead of going 100mph looking for deer sign.
Going to give the VPA small game thumpers a try this year instead of my usual old broadheads. They look promising.
I think I'll try out some Ace hex blunts on the bushytails. Squirrel dumplings, mmmmmmmm
you guys are luck. our dont come in till mid October. but its archery season then so i dont do much with the squirrels. that be fun to hunt them now and just go after them! good luck.
Nothing better than a cool, misty rainy morning where a deer hunt turns,into a,squirrel hunt.
QuoteOriginally posted by macbow:
Nothing better than a cool, misty rainy morning where a deer hunt turns,into a,squirrel hunt.
Yeah Baby :jumper:
It started yesterday for us. They'll be in the hickories, as they always are. But I confess, I like to eat them too much so I snipe them with a .22. After my freezer is full and I'm set for meat, I'll try it with a bow. December is my favorite time to squirrell hunt, I like finding them on the ground.
Squirrell hunting I'll say is my favorite hunting of all. I love to deer hunt also , but squirrel ranks above them. I am nutty over squirrell.
Season starts day after tomorrow---but I gotta work. Maybe Wed :archer2:
3 weeks to go for the tree rats here
Our opened on May 28th, I think.
Unfortunately, it's jsut too darned hot this summer to get out for any length of time.
actually, ours opened the saturday before memorial day, but thats old news.
it opens on that day every year, the saturday before memorial day. i might give it a shot in the morning, i need to check my cameras anyways.
Rob, im with you, hunting squirrels is great practice, fun and eating. Squirrel, pan fried in a cast iron skillet and gravy from the drippins, and biscuits, thats good stuff right there.
My shafts are getting made this weekend, flu- flus for the high work, standard fletch for the rest.
Ill be using Douglas fir tipped with Game Nabbers.
Guilty as charged. I am a squirrel nut. (http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/tarponnut/Squirrel.jpg) (http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/tarponnut/squirrrel2.jpg)
Here is a short video of some shots at squirrels, not classic spot and stalk clearly, but lots of fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1egeVAu8vxk&list=UUqKkfFgDtxvDEKvu9ba1-nQ&index=2&feature=plcp
Great video Tarponnut!
Moleman do those game nabbers stick in the tree on an aerial shot?
Rob
Rob, ive never had the first one stick in a tree.
They do have a point but it is ground at such a shallow angle that penetration on anything solid is pretty much out of the question, but when hitting small game there awesome. Not only do they penetrate without sticking in a tree, they also deliver blunt trauma. The flared serrated portion at the back of the head delivers tissue damage as well. (http://%20[url=http://images.imagelinky.com/1343949501.JPG%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://images.imagelinky.com/1343949501.JPG)[/url] [/IMG]
Squirrel is my favorite game animal to hunt. Rabbit is probably my favorite to eat. I hunt deer and hogs as well but that's more for the meat than pure enjoyment, although I enjoy hunting them as well. In my mind, very few things can beat a day in the woods chasing some tree rats.
Hey Rob,
I'm pondering a Southern Indiana Squirrel Bowhunt down there at JWSF. My brother and I are going and you are very welcome to swing by and hang out at camp. We haven't settled on a weekend but it'll be sooner rather than later.
Sounds like fun John.
I wish the heat would lay off for a weekend trip.
Did someone call me ?
What are you guys using for arrows and heads? Flu flu's, blunts, broadheads, wood, carbon, etc.?
Don't drink anything, while you watch these. You'll be laughing alot! :biglaugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmwIcOz7ZKo&feature=plcp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqagzoZuD1c&feature=context-chv
The Videos are All Great!! Looks like a Fine Hunt!!
I noticed on the YouTube Ad, there was one about BedBugs that have Infested the USA 500%!! Talk about Creepy!
this bow was a mere 70# at my draw, but I used heavy enough arrows to still get the job done.
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn33/elkbreath/_-1.jpg)
heres a pack in squirrel hunt. Had to get mules to get him out.
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn33/elkbreath/5ff64282.jpg)
Hands down, squirrel is my favorite game animal to eat.
I've never seriously chased 'em, but this year I think I'll hit it hard a few times while scouting for deer. Sounds like a blast, the recipes on the grilling forum sealed the deal! :thumbsup:
Squirrel hunting is a blast. I have to post one of my favorite photos. A good squirrel dog sure makes bowhunting them a lot easier!!!
(http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s64/GordonJabben/DSC_0194.jpg)
Good looking Boykin, Gordon. I had one for 14 years, great little dogs.
BOB
Thanks Bob, this is my third one and feel I have been blessed with the best hunting companions a man could ask for.
Fun thread!!!
I'm planning on trying to put some bushytails in the pot this year with my bow. For you guys that have said how much you enjoy them as table fare....any favorite recipes that you are willing to share??
Great photo of the Spaniel and squirrels!! :)
Wonderful looking boykin. Those dogs rock. It's a toss up between a Black Mouth Cur and a Boykin as my favorite dog breed
Check out "Squirrels Unlimited".
Thanks Brian, I know the curs are wonderful squirrel dogs.
Gordon- good looking dog! My buddy has one (Boon Doc) he is a fine duck dog.
I love huntin tree rats!!! Them hex heads have been really good for me or whatever broad head is on my string when the deer aren't walkin. I have learned to keep an eye on my quiver so I don't run out before deer30.... :knothead:
Got a question, do the Little tree Rats Run so far that you Need a String Attached to Retrieve the Little Boogers? Or is that Just an Option? I noticed some seem to skedaddle and some just waller around where they were stuck. Never hunted Squirrel with the Bow before, so this is a Helpful Thread!! Good Job Rob!!
They can be awful tough. Bows that are 50# or less can be a problem unless a really good hit is involved.
When I used to shoot 60# plus bows a hit,on the shoulder did them in.
I like the hex heads and also have a collection of MA-3 broadheads with the nose ground off.
Just have not had enought targets the last couple of years.
When I'm in a stand(deer hunting) I don't usually have a problem with them getting away using a broadhead or field tip. This time of year at ground level is when it gets tricky.
At first light you will get some close ground shots as they wake up and get down to check things out. I usually try to make those count(old Zwickeys) becuase who knows what will happen after that. After that first hour or so shots depend on how much you want to lose an arrow. This time of year they will be cutting up high and the woods start to heat up anyway. Flu Flu's and small game heads are fun at this time but squirrels are jumpy and tough. Its not so bad later in the season when ground shots are common.
I wish arrows grew on trees. :D
Rob
for me its rubber blunts over a steel blunt or the "hammer" blunt.
I shoot a relatively heavy bow compared to most of the guys on here, but that rubber blunt really knocks em silly. IT also takes grouse out for the count. They don't penetrate either, so I wont be losing an arrow in one. On top of that, if you ever happened to miss (none of us do that) the rubber blunts don't bury into trees 30 feet in the air or break arrows as easily on rocks.
We usually turn to squirrels later on in the season after the deer disappear.
(http://i1242.photobucket.com/albums/gg532/bodietrickfer/IMG_20111216_151320.jpg)
Season comes in September 1st for us Ohio folks. Can't wait!
(http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa421/Claym12/533d5da6.jpg)
Squirrel is my favorite critter to hunt. I'm addicted. I'll hunt squirrels when there are mature bucks around... when I'm out of state hunting... when I'm on vacation up at camp during the peak of the whitetail rut... don't care. Can't help myself.
I'd LOVE for our season to come in earlier. It doesn't come in until mid-October. I need to write to the game commission.
I use osage selfbows in the 60 pound range with hickory arrows fronted with Magnus Small Game heads... basically a metal blunt with a Magnus bleeder blade inserted. They kill squirrels proper-like, don't bury under the leaves like a field point, and often bounce off of a straight-on tree trunk shot.
The result of a morning hunt over in Ohio.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Jeff_Durnell/Rose_Lioness/Squirrels.jpg)
This will be my second year hunting with trad gear. Didn't get a shot at a deer or hog last year. I may just have to give this a try. I watched dozens of squirrels from my stand last year but they were in the top of a white oak next to me and I didn't have any flu flu's and didn't want to loose an arrow.
Anybody tried the g5 small game heads?
Yep went out the other day, missed two, but that was bout all I seen with the heat, got a late start. Did see 6 does and one buck in velvet and a flock of turkeys. I usually use this time to check out plots of food on public areas.
I LOVE hunting squirrels!!!! Here are a few from over the years:
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/hunting/001.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/hunting/002.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/Harvests/Picture066.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/Harvests/P1190008.jpg)
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/ad2877/Harvests/004.jpg)
I haven't squirrel hunted with a bow in years, but will be giving a try this year. Tasty little critters!
A quiver full of two fletch for squirrel and other small game for this year.
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e369/STRINGSTRETCHER/twofletch007.jpg)
Love those 2 fletch Stringstretcher. Looks like they save money and space.
5 more days to wait here. :banghead:
Rob
Anyone had a chance to hunt any tree rats??? Just hoping to see some pics and hear some stories....
Our season starts Sept 1. I hope to be out and try for a few.
I really like chasing them critters also. I have to drop them when deer season opens, 'cept for the unsuspecting tree rat that hangs around my treestand tempting me just a bit too much...
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/hunting%20stuff/DSC00195.jpg)
God Bless,
Nathan
By the way guys, some of them might charge you if you don't put a good kill shot on them. You have to take precautions when hunting the "brown death" Here is a pic of one of the dangerous ones. Just so as you will know what to look for.
(http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab80/jnferguson/hunting%20stuff/GetAttachmen1t.jpg)
God Bless,
Nathan
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/017.jpg)
*These didn't have an S on their chest.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/015.jpg)
*Neither did these :) My favorite squirrel partner and I hope to get out there for the first time sometime this week after school. This was our lasting outing in Late January.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/013.jpg)
This thread is getting me stirred for squirrels. I think I will take my boys out Friday morning.
God Bless,
Nathan
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1000581.jpg)
I got a little time to hunt this morning.
The woods are definatly in their summer colors.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1000587.jpg)
Plenty of squirrel activity before the wind picked up.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1000572.jpg)
Had a few shots early but the squirrels won today.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1000588.jpg)
Did some scouting and checked out one of my favorite deer spots.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1000584.jpg)
After that I couldn't help but to stump shoot the rest of the morning.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1000589.jpg)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1000593.jpg)
well i got 14 days or sumthing like that till i can get out slinging squirrels
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/P1000574.jpg)
I did learn that the chartruese/goose flu flu's I had made up are hard to see fired into the morning air. These are better but I think I'm completly joining Team Pink next year.
Lazy Man's Squirrel Pie
This recipe is pretty `loose'. I usually start by slow cooking 3 small or 2 large squirrels (or 1 rabbit) in a crock-pot on low heat for 8 or 9 hours (until the meat falls off the bones). Before cooking though, I slice an onion and layer the bottom of the crock-pot with the slices. Then I put the squirrels on top of the onions and add enough water to cover everything, and I mix in a packet of dry onion soup mix. When the squirrels are cooked I allow them to cool in the pot, and then I carefully bone them and collect all the shredded meat in a large bowl (I don't use the onion slices in the pies; I just use them to help flavor the meat and to keep the meat off the bottom of the pot). I add a can of mixed vegetables, such as Veg-All, to the meat, and then I add chicken gravy and mix it all together. I buy a large jar of gravy and mix in enough to have a fairly wet mixture.
After initially mixing up the meat, vegetables, and gravy, I sprinkle some salt and pepper on the top of the mix, as well as some of my 'secret' ingredient, thyme. Again, this recipe is loose with no exact measurements, but don't overdo the thyme or it will be too strong. However, just a little makes the pies savory and a little different from the norm, and I believe that's what makes them so good. After adding the seasoning, mix well before adding to pies/pasties.
For the crusts I always buy refrigerated, unroll-and-fill-type pie crust dough, and the type of pies I make depends on my whim and/or the occasion. I have pot-pie size pie pans that I sometimes use, but often I'll make mini pies for large get-togethers using cup cake pans. Either way, I unroll the 9" pie crust dough (they usually come 2 per box, and I buy a couple boxes) and I cut circles large enough to layer the bottom of the pans. Then I fill them with the meat/vegetable/gravy mixture, and I cover them with appropriate size circles of dough. I roll over the edges and crimp with a fork. Then I make slices or poke holes in the top of each pie to vent them, and I bake them according to the instructions on the pie crust box, basically watching them until they are golden brown. Other times I'll use the full 9" pie crusts to make pasties, filling half of them and folding over the other halves and sealing the edges, again venting the top before baking. No matter what form they take, they taste the same. I will also, on occasion, brush the tops of the pies/pasties with a mixture of whisked egg whites and a little water before baking to make them shiny.
Enjoy your tasty rodents!
(http://www.sthubertsrangers.org/HH%20RH%20SQUIRREL%2011%20B.jpg)
(http://www.sthubertsrangers.org/IMG_4605.JPG)
(http://www.sthubertsrangers.org/HH%20RH%20SQUIRREL%2011%20C.jpg)
Last year I ground field points into mini-broadheads and they worked great.
Those are nice looking animals. We've only got the little red ones. Tried one once, not much on them to eat.
Looks like a blast.
Sweet bow Hawken1911. May have to try that recipe this year.
Rob
Thanks Rob. It is a Howard Hill 'Robin Hood'...the best shooting longbow I've ever owned.
MISSED two on the opener---one at 8 feet. Me get excited about a little long-tailed rat? Nah.
I think the close ones are even harder to hit sometimes. The gray squirrels we have around here can jump the string with unbelievable speed, especially when they are on the ground. There have been so many times I've seen my arrow sticking in the ground right where I was looking, but the squirrel disappeared before the arrow got there :banghead:
Great Thread
I remember as a young man squirrels were the only thing people talked about hunting.
We sure have forgotten about small game latley.
Keep this post alive and I promise in a couple weeks I'll go after one.
I remember talking to an older gentleman at Christmas that told me stories of how all would get together for squirrel camp.
I think that would be cool.
Lets face it, its sporting, its time in the woods....and you dont need help dragging them out of the woods! :thumbsup:
I love to hunt squirrel. I usally split my hunting time equally between deer and spuirrel. At any time my squirrel hunt may turn to a deer hunt or vise versa.
season is coming quick here in NY
I always liked clearing out as many tree rats as possible before the season started so they would not annoy me while I was waiting for deer.
Standard field point....a bench grinder, pair of needle nosed pliers, and about 10 minutes:
(http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr180/two4hooking/110612005.jpg)
Those look like bad medicine for a squirrel!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
(http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr180/two4hooking/100112009.jpg)
Man! How did I miss this thread? I love to hunt squirrels. Probably my favorite game animal and my fav to just watch while deer hunting. The young ones can do some hilarious things. I not only love to eat them I also put the tails to good use tying flies and spinner tails for fishing. Good luck everybody! If I get any I'll post up some pics.
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/1351814469.jpg)
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/1351814456.jpg)
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/1351814389.jpg)
These were from last year in Oklahoma... Love chasing them! For the most part I just use the broadheads I normally use on deer... But, Judos, Small Game Thumpers, Talons all will do the trick...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/Bowhunter4life/IMAG0049-1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/Bowhunter4life/60Shawnee.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/Bowhunter4life/56KwykStyk1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/Bowhunter4life/MOABSquirrel.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/Bowhunter4life/MorrisonSquirrel2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/Bowhunter4life/KwykStykSquirrel.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/Bowhunter4life/BlackberrySD036.jpg)
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/sf1oak/scan0001.jpg)
I find hunting squirrels to be a real blast. Even while deer hunting, I never find it counter productive to shoot at tree rats.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/Msquirrel.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/2treerats.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/bow/Headshot.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/bow/Headshot2.jpg)
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f196/jjeffer/HMjudos.jpg)
Thinking of going for tree rats. Haven't been seeing any deer this season.
Funny squirrel story happened to me today I was deer hunting with a ghillie suit in a large old deadfall. I see a big fox squirrel coming my way I switched arrows and in the blink of an eye he was right up on the log I was leaning against ran right up the log I swatted him with my nocked arrow he proceeded to tear off up the log nocked my grunt call and doe bleaker on the ground and got tangled up in my day pack. He freed himself and sat there trying to figure out what just happened.
Saw 6 this afternoon and 2 deer.Could not get a shot at either. The squirrels were getting too close and the deer not close enough. But it was fun until the squirrels busted me. Squirrels 6 Duncan 0