Squirrel hunting without killing a mama?

[CHenry]

How did you care for your orphaned squirrels?

I’m pretty sure I became a squirrel dad this morning. I found him and sat him back under his tree yesterday morning. This morning I was out with the kids and could hear a squirrel screaming bloody murder so I went and found him before a cat got him. He looks dehydrated and gaunt. I gave him some nuts and granola and water and he ate and drank. He’s just chilling in his Amazon box for now. I think hes 10ish weeks old?View attachment 503182

I hear they make a great pet when caught young like this. I'd love to have a pet squirrel

 

[tynyphil]

That's probably the top of the airgun game...very costly, I'm staying humble for now so I can be closer to what I used when I was a kid. It is amazing what you can do with a sub 100 dollar gun. HOWEVER, when I think of airforce, I think of big bore and hog hunting so that's a whole different area of airguns I have never explored.



A lot depends on intent and budget. A lot of the issues with 22 can be overcome with a more expensive rifle...A lot of the issues around 22 are using the same power plant as 177. On a lower-end gun, some people would rather have the accuracy that comes with the faster, flatter 177. But if you have a high-end gun that has plenty of power for the 22, then the 22 can better overcome the complaints and shoot flatter.

Otherwise, if not getting something like a Benjamin Armada PCP rifle in 22, you can just keep your shots closer out of a lower-powered 22 gun.

ORRRR, you can just use heavies in the 177 and have the best of both worlds to some degree. You need 5-6ft/lbs (at range) for a clean kill on a squirrel from my research. A 10.5gr 177 pellet out of a decent powered rifle can make up for a lot.

But CHenry is correct about 22 having more "thud". As long as shots are close, or you have a higher-powered gun to push the 22. You just don't want something pushing a 22 that can't penetrate well at range. I'd take a 177 over 22 for a longer shot out of the SAME power plant; especially a 177 w/ the right weight pellet.

I picked up a Beeman R9 177 cal. It’s not cheap but worth every penny. I use the heavier pellets and can count on head shots out to about 40yds. I got it to more or less quietly keep the squirrel population down in my pecan trees.

 

[THE JOKER]

No crazy expensive camo is required for any game. A plad shirt breaks up your body outline and animals are all color blind lol. A call is required but its an art to use one I have learned. We hunted with a friend who was a master with a call box. He called em in right to us and as long as you dont move, they wont see ya.

Birds have color vision superior to ours

 

[CHenry]

Birds have color vision superior to ours

Oh, well, I dont hunt birds anymore and when I did, we had a bird dog so camo didnt matter.

 

[ronny]

Yes the season dates protect against this however, I did shoot a pregnant one once. Felt bad gutting that and finding 5 fetuses inside. Thats the only time it ever happend and dad and I hunted squirrel many years when I was younger. I loved eating them but hated skinning them. I'd rather take a butt woopin than skin a squirrel.

Ha! Me, too! I’ve been known to pass up good shots ‘cause I was afraid I might hit that sucker and have to clean it.
My Grandpa had a special nail hammered in a big old Blackjack tree down by the barn for cleaning squirrels. He could clean a couple squirrels while I was looking for my nail.
God, thank you for this great life you’ve given me!

 

[tynyphil]

this thread has rekindled my desire to decrease the squirrel population here. I have 4 mature pecan trees that I have yet ever gotten a pecan off of. They get them every year. I'm looking at a lot of paper shells hanging on the tree now knowing if I do nothing I'll probably not get any again this year. I just set some traps near the tree and pulled out the pellet gun......so it begins.

 

[ronny]

I’d be thinking fried squirrel and pecan pie. 😋

 

[Oklahomabassin]

Do you feed baby squirrels almond milk?

 

[AER244]

Do you feed baby squirrels almond milk?

No, you savage! They get really expensive puppy formula.

 

[TedKennedy]

No, you savage! They get really expensive puppy formula.

Y'all don't know anything about baby squirrels. They get hickory milk.