anybody around peterborough ever go out and do this? i've been out a couple of times but all i ever see are the red ones and chipmunks. i don't know if anybody has a spot and wouldn't mind somebody tagging along or if a first timer wanted to team up
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anybody around peterborough ever go out and do this? i've been out a couple of times but all i ever see are the red ones and chipmunks. i don't know if anybody has a spot and wouldn't mind somebody tagging along or if a first timer wanted to team up
I'm in the same boat, tons in the city, as soon as I get to the forest I'm lucky to see a glimpse of one. Tons of chipmunks and pines tho. Struggle continues. I found a beauty tract the other day, saw a buck, doe, tons of turkeys, hundred squirrels on the way. Upon arrival, tract was closed for logging and the search continues! The only option I know for sure is some private land that will require some good ol' fashioned door knocking.
I bought a squirrel call that definitely elicited some responses. But it wasn't until I sat down and waited it out that I saw anything, especially with the current amount of greenery.
Maybe I'll get lucky during my upcoming moose and deer hunts, but usually just pines up there too.
Good luck!
maple woodlots tend to see them alot.
Sitting and being quiet is the way to do it. Setup and sit quietly like your deer hunting, and if there are any around they will start moving. If it is safe to do so, a 22 is better then a shotgun. You have to think of where your bullet will go after the squirrel. Tree trunks that are wide make a safe backstop, so a squirrel in the middle(ish) of a wide trunk is a safer shot.
i know the feeling.Quote:
Originally Posted by kooka
any specific reason? i would have thought they'd be more around oaks or walnut. the place i've been going has a ton of maples but not much activity unless i'm drawing too much attention from the little buggers.Quote:
Originally Posted by punkrockerpj
any real idea of how long it would take for them to poke their heads out? not saying i don't have the time to sit and waitQuote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
Yup they like maple keysQuote:
Originally Posted by punkrockerpj
If they have not been hunted much maybe 5 minutes, but count on 20 to 30 minutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by ben1983
You can always scout out a few good spots ahead of time. Also some peanut butter spread on the center of a big tree trunk attracts them and gives you safe shots.
Don't sit too close. I like 50 yards and head shots. If you can hit a 3/4" circle at 50 yards you'll bag squirrels. Shooting sticks and a chair/seat will make the waits comfortable. Also don't jump up and run over to pickup a squirrel every time you get one. The others will have heard the shot, but if there is no movement they will start moving quicker.
I use my 950 FPS pellet rifle scoped up to 100ft + or - I feel safer about shot travel & quiet.
An excellent setup. Is your Rifle a Springer or a PCP? Shooting a Spring/Piston Air Rifle takes Practice, because of the double recoil.Quote:
Originally Posted by rossh
look for bunch of leaves in a maple. You found a nest pump couple shell into it just before dark 2-3 squirrels will fall
This time of year, any standing corn fields, with hardwoods close by.
sounds like a gambling game to me! pump a shell blindly and hope for the best, and every once in a while WIN BIG!!!! :PQuote:
Originally Posted by js4fn
i got out around 7 this morning and did some walking. i ended up sitting down about 30 feet away from a big ol' maple tree and a squirrel came bounding up a fallen rail fence. pretty sure i got him in the face with the first shot because he tried to hop off but was having a hard time by the looks of it and he ended up going about ten feet up a tree. apparently squirrels are pretty tough because i had shot him 3 times by the looks of it. i had panicked a little when i saw him take off from the first shot but i didn't see the missing eyeball until after he fell out of the tree. i'm guessing i could have just waited it out but i'd rather not lose him in a tree
Crossman Nitro Piston .22Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
Got 2 squirrels with it today head shots 33 yds
When squirrels are chewing your sap lines yupQuote:
Originally Posted by punkrockerpj
Gravity is your friend.. if they go up. They most time come down, just not gracefully.Quote:
Originally Posted by ben1983
first squirrel I shot at was on top of a sap line. hit the sapline and he just about crapped his pants. sheepishly I apologized to the landowner and offered to make amends...Quote:
Originally Posted by js4fn
it's kind of a satisfying thud. a few more and i can make a nice stewQuote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
Takes less fox and grey squirrels to make stew, then the red ones. Out west you can shoot all the red squirrels you want but it takes a pile to make a meal for one person. Try feeding five or six guys..:whacked:Quote:
Originally Posted by ben1983
I hope you're joking. That's the dumbest and most unethical thing I've read. So if they don't fall out you've killed a "few" squirrels that will rot in the nest, nice. TCQuote:
Originally Posted by js4fn
Don’t worry the nest will be emptyQuote:
Originally Posted by trky chsr
When squirrels attack sap line and you have half dozen trees or more draining on the ground vacuum is broken you lob enough ammo up there not one bit of nest is left
Remember squirrels are just rats with a fuzzy tail
Never shoot into a squirrel nest, respect the animal.
That is absolutely disgusting!
Red ones are fur bearers in Ontario, cannot be legally hunted.Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
They are fur bearers out west as well, just so many of them...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
So is shooting animals to Peta, but we would love to hear from you why it would be " Absolutely Disgusting ".Quote:
Originally Posted by Mount Sweetness
Do you find using bait, running dogs, or OTHER types of Hunting or Fishing Disgusting?
That does not mean that you can hunt them, protection of property is one thing but you would still be allowing a fur to spoil, even for a tree rat.Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
My guess is that some have ethics that differ to yours, they would class shooting squirrels in nests a no. no. same as shooting bears in their dens .Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
There would also be instances where shots into a nest would instantly kill a squirrel and it would not fall out , a total waste.
It is legal to hunt and eat them out west. So that means that YES you can hunt them legally in the circumstances I was talking about in my post.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
As for red squirrels being a tree rat, more like a tree mouse. :joker:
The difference is, shooting bears in their den is illegal in this province. Shooting tree rats in a nest is not.Quote:
Originally Posted by jaycee
Not a big nest buster myself. That is shotgun stuff.Quote:
Originally Posted by jaycee
You at least have a point and can make an argument about game being killed and not recovered. Which is far beyond sweetness and his "Absolutley Disgusting " statement. But on the other hand, there is the possibility that game can be lost with just about every form of hunting.
Yes , we all know shooting bears in dens is illegal, it's stated in black and white in the regs.:rolleye:Quote:
Originally Posted by canadaman30
It was just used as a comparison, shooting something while it is comfortably sleeping in it's den, or ground swatting grouse, which many are totally against.
That would be my main concern, not necessarily the actual shooting at the nest. TCQuote:
Originally Posted by jaycee
seems to me like shooting a nest without knowing whether or not there was anything in it and the possibility of not being able to retrieve your animal would defeat the purpose of hunting altogether. is there really nobody in or around peterborough on here that hunts squirrels and other small game?
it's more fun to blast them when you can see them anyways. was real tempted to yesterday when i got skunked for ducks. 4 or 5 big fat ones just hanging around.
They taste better than many wild ducks, better than rabbit in most cases.Quote:
Originally Posted by punkrockerpj
Agree Fox
there's quite a few videos on youtube about "squirrel wings". ive yet to chicken fry a squirrel. might be an order at some point this season.
the stew i made wasn't too bad. fried is definitely next on the list though.Quote:
Originally Posted by punkrockerpj
i was deer hunting monday. i lit up a smokin bacon bear stick for s and giggles. the amount of squirrels that came in to check it out was insane. try that one out ben.
I hunt squirrels exclusively anymore, using quality air rifles. Some good advice here. Yes, wait at least 20 minutes sitting still to let things settle. Listen for them making nut cutting sounds. A raspy grinding sound in the tree tops. If nothing, they may not be there. They like woods bordering farmland. They do like various nuts but I watch them go back/forth into corn fields and retrieve sections of cobs. Their teeth even get stained bright orange eating so much of it. Theyre an "edge animal". Watch for their movement. Theyll go back and forth from a food source to their tree nest. If that movement pattern is farther away than your effective shooting distace, they can be stalked. I do it successfully, its rewarding. Keep a tree between you, only move or advance when they arent looking etc. The nice thing is you dont have to camo up and do scent control etc, like with deer. But I have more success with a face net and gloves. It's about movement and my shiny face and hands are pretty flashy uncovered.
I've tried pan fried, bbq but they were tough and dry.
We like to wet cook them. Easy to throw them in a slow cooker with a can of cream of mushroom or celery soup and forget them for a few hours. The meat will be falling off bone and take on the taste of the soup. Theres no wild taste to squirrel. When you cut them up they dont stink as rabbit does either. I can forget about rabbit if theres squirrels around.
I'm nowhere near you're area but I do hope you get off to a good start somewhere and enjoy the woods in the process.
I hunt mine in a mixed forest of maple, oak, hemlock, fir, etc. I am close enough to my tree stand in this forest, that I will put bait such as cheap bird seed down, every day for a week. I frequently sit in my tree stand and I will shoot 2 - 4 then retrieve them. They don't appear to fear danger from above as if they see me walking in the forest. My favourite way of preparing them is to cook 2 at a time in a stew.
I have never hunted or eaten squirrel. But after watching Steven Rinella do it....they look delicious!
Is there a "best" time of year to hunt squirrel?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxwi8kn8MB0
Not trying to be smart, but you can only hunt them legally during the "open season 'Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Mo
Sept. 15 to Dec. 31
Sept. 25 to Dec. 31 , depending on which Wildlife Management Unit you hunt in.
imo best time to hunt squirrels is before the first snow fall when the leaves aren't rotted. mid november usually, although this year we basically had 2 weeks of fall before hell froze over. when the little buggers run around and you can hear them skitter, if you have a woodlot trained ear you can basically pinpoint where they are when you hear them.
now is a decent time too, depending on where you are, although they tend to hole up alot longer in the trees in this cold.
Tony, do me a favour and post a recipe you used after your successful hunt. love seeing the work pay off. To be honest between the deer and the ducks I hadn't really went bush wacking and kind of wish I had...
Haven't hunted squirrel in a few years, when it was only 2 week season it was always deer hunting. Now it is longer I will go if I have my tags filled, which isn't usually before the end of December. Although the landowner wants them gone, too much damage to his house and shed. I just can't see shooting squirrels in the bush I hunt deer in.
Hi,Quote:
Originally Posted by punkrockerpj
A long time ago (~27 years) I hunted squirrel and prepared them in two ways: first was a stew, which was delicious. Then I tried chicken fried squirrel and it was so tough - I didn't enjoy it at all.
Does anyone know a good trick to tenderize squirrel meat before frying? I'll probably get back to hunting this year or next.
Cheers,
Neil
For frying, I can't help you out but if you want it to be nice and tender without my prep, a crockpot is the answer.....Quote:
Originally Posted by neilselden
Low heat and turn a lot don't cook too long. The low fat content of wild game makes it different.
Most likely said a 100 times already but I learned about squirrels and how to hunt them just a few years ago.
Typically during rabbit hunts I would only see the occasional squirrel (but not legal ones). Then one day a 2 years ago I had set up a bunch of people for deer hunt..and I was only left with hardwood patch which I had zero chance to see a deer..oh well.
I set up my chair, bipod after walking 100 ft in woods. This same area I hunt grouse with good success. I settled in quietly and about 15 minutes after sitting still...the forests came back to life. What I mean by that is, normally I would be trudging through stomping bush for rabbits, or waiting on grouse flush. But, because I was still and making no noise, all the squirrels came back out and went about their business. This same area, I had never seen a black/Grey Fox Squirrel in, and it had a resident population of 5.
So what I learned was spot the nests, stay in hardwood, walk in, sit down and wait for 10-15 minutes, if they are there they will come back out. If nothing after that time, move on to new area. I only use 12 gauge with #4 shot, because bird shot #7.5 peppers them too much at 20-30 yards. I aim at head area so I still have meat.
Old dog can learn new tricks, even by accident.
I find blaze orange is great for attracting squirrels ! Never fails when I'm deer hunting. LoL ! Cheeky buggars get close enough to smack with a stick.
I had a red one sitting a foot above my head last year trying to tell me where to go for about 5 or 10 minutesQuote:
Originally Posted by longpointer
I was talking with a buddy today and he actually asked if I ever Kentucky fried chicken style rabbit? I have not but am going to try it next time I get a rabbit, I suppose it would be good for squirrel to. I have never shot one but maybe give it a try next time the opportunity strikes.
ive never been out for them but they tend to come close to me and yell at me when im still hunting for turkey or deer LOL ive had one attack my boots under my seat once