Author Topic: Aggghh! Somebody help me!!! (Read 902 times)

Squirrelsaurus Rex · « **on:** May 18, 2004, 07:55:43 AM »

Choosing a scope can be a pain in the butt. I have a Marlin 880SQ that's currently set up with a Bushnell Sportsman 3-9x32AO. It's a decent scope, but I want to upgrade (besides, the scope's gloss finish doesn't match the matte black rifle). I'll be moving to Washington in the near future, and I plan to do lots of squirrel hunting. I'm anticipating thick forest areas (lots of shade), overcast skies, wet weather. I don't need real high magnification, but I want more brightness and clarity. I'm considering a Bushnell with the Rainguard coating (for obvious reasons). I like the Elite 4200 1.5-6x36. The relatively lower range of magnification and the medium size objective give it a large exit pupil, even with the power cranked up, for a brighter picture. My questions:

1. Would this make a good squirrel scope for the Pacific Northwest (I've never hunted there before).

2. It's not parallax-adjustable. Not being designed as a rimfire scope, I assume the parallax is set at 100 yards. If I use this scope on a .22 for squirrels at 20-60 yards, will parallax be a problem?

3. I'm currently using the rings that came with the rifle (they're actually better than the rings that came with the Sportsman scope). Can you recommend some better quality rings? I like the sturdiness of BKL rings, but I don't want the scope to sit high if it's not necessary. What is the groove on Marlins, 3/8"? 11mm?

Most places list the scope at $380, but SWFA sells it for $295, which is within my price limit ($300).

shoot'n hogs · « **Reply #1 on:** May 18, 2004, 10:21:47 AM »

3/8" is the groove on the Marlins

jgalar · « **Reply #2 on:** May 19, 2004, 02:32:22 AM »

How about the Nikon Prostaff 2x7 shotgun scope. The parallax is set for 75yds.

MH WASH · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2004, 07:19:42 AM »

What kind of squirrel hunting do you plan on doing? It is illegel to hunt tree squirrels here in Washington, and most ground squirrels are protected. I hope I'm not bursting any bubbles just wanted you to be prepared.Try wdfw.wa.gov/ although I have looked a few times I cant find any info on varmints.

Squirrelsaurus Rex · « **Reply #4 on:** May 19, 2004, 08:04:20 AM »

Quote from: MH WASH

It is illegel to hunt tree squirrels here in Washington

That's not what the DFW told me when I emailed them (I couldn't find any info on small game hunting on their website, so I asked them). A friend of mine also asked them about squirrel hunting, and he got the same reply, so it must be the standard reply they send to everyone that asks about it:

"There is no formal definition of "varmint" in Washington. Unclassified animals can be taken year-round with legal methods by persons with a hunting license. Because the list would be fairly long and cumbersome, there is no list of unclassified species (thus the name). The eastern gray squirrel is unclassified, but there are some species of squirrels that are protected. Therefore, hunters must be aware of species that are protected in one way or another (game animals, sensitive, threatened, endangered, etc.). Lists of candidate, sensitive, threatened, and endangered species are located on the agency web site at http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/wlm/diversty/soc/concern.htm A list of protected wildlife is located in the big game hunting pamphlet.

Regulations regarding unclassified species are somewhat difficult to bring together because of the way WA laws are based and written. Essentially, WA laws and rules are based on the premise that if something is not prohibited, then it is legal. For example, there is a prohibition against using a crossbow to hunt any wildlife so that is not lawful for unclassified wildlife. However, the prohibition on hunting at night (outside of official hunting hours) only applies to game species, so unclassified wildlife species can be hunted at night under some conditions - there are restrictions on hunting wildlife at night during Sep-Nov or when an area is open to hunting deer or elk with a centerfire rifle.

In general, unclassified wildlife can be taken year-round with lawful methods and a valid license. It is probably a good idea to check with the local agent in the area you plan to hunt to make sure your planned activity is okay.

Most of the general regulations are contained within the big game and small game pamphlets. If you want to look into specifics, the statutes (RCW - Revised Code of Washington) and rules (WAC - Washington Administrative Code) are accessible on-line through Access Washington at http://access.wa.gov/government/awlaws.asp .

Most wildlife statutes are found in RCW Title 77. Most rules regarding wildlife and hunting are in WAC Title 232.

As for obtaining a Washington hunting license, if you were born after January 1, 1972, you must show proof of completing a hunter safety course.

I hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely,
Customer Service
Wildlife Program"

Although their reply is a bit vague because some of the rules are a bit vague, it seems obvious from this reply that unless something is specifically stated as being illegal or protected, then it's legal. And it says the Eastern Gray is unclassified, which makes it legal all year. Unless I'm interpreting their reply wrong...?

I'd like to call a few sport/gun shops in WA to ask them, but I live a few states away, so I wouldn't know who to call. Maybe you could do me a huge favor and call a few to ask what's allowed? Or maybe provide me with the phone numbers of a few places so I can call them? I'm finding Washington to be a rather confusing state when it comes to hunting.

MH WASH · « **Reply #5 on:** May 19, 2004, 08:57:57 AM »

Rex, I stand corrected, thanks. The reply they sent me was even more vague than the one you received.Where are you planning to move to here in Washington? Honestly I cant give you any help, no one seems to know any difference between any squirrels tree or ground. Over here on the East side we don't ever talk about tree squirrel hunting. I cant say I have ever saw any eastern tree Squirrels.

Squirrelsaurus Rex · « **Reply #6 on:** May 19, 2004, 09:50:05 AM »

UPDATE:

I just called the WA DFW. I talked to a couple of people, one will call me back later (I hope) with an answer. The other dug out a pamphlet called "Tree Squirrels: Living in Washington" (or something like that, I forget the title exactly). The following information was read to me over the phone directly out of the pamphlet:

"Most species of squirrels in Washington are protected or endangered, so hunting them is prohibited. Exception: The Eastern Gray and the Eastern Fox are unclassified, so they may be hunted year 'round, no permit required."

But you really have to know your species, because the Western Gray is one of the one's that's prohibited. They're sending me a copy of the pamphlet so I can read it for myself.

They also told me they never get questions about hunting squirrels in Washington, but they couldn't say why. So that makes me wonder... Is the whole state so wet that no one ever bothers to hunt squirrels there? Or does everyone that likes to hunt squirrels just go out and do it and not care what the rules say?

The second possibility seems likely, because they told me that not many of the rules are broken down very specific, so a lot of it is left up to figuring out for yourself what's legal and what's not. But I'd think that would get a lot of people in trouble, so maybe most people figure that with the wet weather and the general rule about most species being protected, they just don't bother...? Maybe that's why I'm having such a hard time getting advice from anyone in WA. I've asked for advice on several forums about which species are legal and when the season is, but I can't get any replies. I guess squirrel hunting just isn't something that hunters do there.

We're going somewhere in the western part, not sure exactly where yet. My wife is from Pyuallup. She has family in Everett and that area, but we'd like to live in the mountains. Still trying to figure it out.

MH WASH · « **Reply #7 on:** May 19, 2004, 10:39:19 AM »

I think most people just don't bother. I think the main reason is there are just not enough of the right squirrels. I live over on the dry half, and the only talk of squirrels is the ground type. Most of the trees in Washington are evergreens, and this might have something to do with the lack of hunting.
I wish I could be more help, but I know almost nothing about squirrel hunting, and about as much of the western side of the state.

Jason · « **Reply #8 on:** May 19, 2004, 11:12:54 AM »

I moved up here to WWW (wet western WA) from Alabama about six years ago. I really loved squirrel hunting when I was growing up, so I thought it would be fun to do here. At least the first ten people that I asked about it said that squirrel hunting was illegal altogether. Most of the rest that I asked about thought the same, but a few knew that it wasn't. None of them knew where a population of eastern gray or fox squirrels was that would make it worthwhile to hunt them, though. If you find any info out, let me know. I'd sure love to go chase some bushytails around, even if just for old time's sake.

22Silhouette · « **Reply #9 on:** May 20, 2004, 02:00:27 PM »

Squirrelsaurus Rex,

I would not recommend a scope that is set for 100yards. It could be a real problem on 25-50 yard shots with focus and paralax.

PS(long time no see)

Squirrelsaurus Rex · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2004, 09:21:18 AM »

22Silhouette,
It's been a while! Where've ya been?

22Silhouette · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2004, 12:00:42 PM »

Nowhere special, just have not been on-line since a little before the Marlin-Talk broke down. I was working hard on a high-power silhouette rifle, mostly in the custom stock, but I am going to sell it and stick with the Smallbore Rifle. I would really love the extra challange of ther high-power in Reloading plus shooting out to 500 meters on the rams but I just realized I am not going to want to dedicate that much time to the sport. I have too many things I have been putting off and it would give me an excuse to put them off again. (work around the house stuff).

S.S. · « **Reply #12 on:** May 21, 2004, 12:49:40 PM »

I couldn't imagine anywhere that is not over run with Eastern Gray's
I live in Georgia, and I hate the little Devils. They are everywhere!!!
They knaw holes into everything, climb powerpoles and short the transformers (not sure how but I have found the little suckers toasted at the bottom of the pole) Commit Suicide by jumping in front of the cars on the roads. I love to shoot them, but
Unfortunatly they taste pretty nasty to me
or I would have a freezer full of them!!!

Squirrelsaurus Rex · « **Reply #13 on:** May 24, 2004, 07:17:50 AM »

I found out that ABO does custom work on scopes. More info:

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=34235

Zachary · « **Reply #14 on:** May 24, 2004, 08:06:11 AM »

I am similarly thinking about a good scope. For your purposes, I would look at the Elite 3200 4x-12x-40mm AO. It's matte, and it's parallaxed to 10 yards - which you need for shots under 50 yards.

I have the opposite problem, in that I need a scope with a gloss finish. I am looking at the Leupold Compact 3x-9x-33mm AO GLOSS and the Bushnell Trophy (which does not have rainguard) in 4x-12-40mm AO. The Leupold is lighter and more compact, but the Trophy has bigger optics. I'm getting my scope from one of our sponsors - www.theopticzone.com (I'm also the moderator on the optics forum), and I have bought many scopes from there. Talk to Jon and I'm sure that he'll take care of you - make sure to tell him that you're a member on this site!

Zachary