Author Topic: SQUIRREL HUNTERS.....THE TREE KIND! (Read 42902 times)

ba_50 · « **Reply #150 on:** September 01, 2007, 06:25:21 AM »

8/18/07

It looked like rain when I left for our Illinois timber. Nice cool morning for a change. Got off to a slow start so I made a move. Stalked in close to one and waited. He wouldn't show so I got my squirrel distress call out and whistled 5x. He didn't show but another one did. I could see his tail at about 40 yards. His head was on the other side of the limb in the shadow. I centered the 12x crosshairs just below his eye and squeezed one off from my 452 American. One down. I moved about 80 yards and noticed 2 more. Got on the call and they started barking. Made a head shot on one. I couldn't see the other, so I squealed again. He moved enough for another head shot. That's 3. These two were this years crop. Moved 40 yards towards another barker and took him. It was starting to sprinkle and I headed for a grove of walnut trees. I noticed one in the tops but then it started pouring. I unloaded the rifle, got a light plastic case from my pouch and slipped the rifle in. I've been hunting squirrels for over 45 years and still get excited going after bushytails.

On another hunt I took 3 squirrels on a warm morning. I got one of those Thermocells and it works great if the wind isn't blowing and I'm sitting there waiting.

This morning I tried calling in a coyote because my neighbor lost a calf the day before, but nothing came in.

After that I went across the road for squirrels. I saw 3. I spent and hour trying to get a shot at 1 but he wouldn't give me a safe one. After about 45 minutes, another one showed up in a walnut tree and I made the usual head shot with the 452. The other one got away. The third one didn't take long. A great morning to be in the timber.

SQUACKS · « **Reply #151 on:** September 02, 2007, 10:32:22 AM »

Ba-50:

what part of Illinois do you hail from? sounds like you have been enjoying yourself for sure. a cool sept. morning in the timber is one of the things i crave as well. we had one this morning over around savana.

i got to hunt over there the past 2 mornings and it was my first hunts of the year. there are just heaps of mast up this way this year and the squirrels don't have to move much to find a tree full of hickory nuts.

i used 2 different rifles, one each morning and took five both times. i was a little shaky at first but got ironed out pretty quick. guess the excitement was more than i could bear! lol!

the woodlot i hunt over there has a make up unlike any other woods i ever hunted in. it is probably 70% scaly bark hickory, 25% black walnut and 5% any other kind of tree.

i hunt timber in wisconsin that has a 70% make up of walnut, 15% oak, Very few pignut and the rest is mixed stuff.

hope to hear reports from you often as it's rare to hear from many fellow illinois squirrel hunters.!

luck!

ba_50 · « **Reply #152 on:** September 02, 2007, 02:24:09 PM »

Squacks,

I'm in Stark County IL, about 30 miles north of Peoria. There is lots of mast here too. Lots of big acorns.

I read most of your posts and it sounds like you have been at it a long time. I tried your skinning methods and it must take practice to get good at it. Yesterday I took two squirrels into somebody who can't hunt them anymore and he was tickled to get them.

I'll be glad when the first frost hits. It's really hunting season from then on.

SQUACKS · « **Reply #153 on:** September 02, 2007, 03:50:17 PM »

ba-50:

i hope you have noticed the shawnee squirrel hunt that is going to take place in an couple of weeks. if you have never been down there, you owe it to yourself to try it just once. it is a mighty fine piece of timber and the company is pretty outstanding as well.

you didn't happen to work for the cat co. did you?

luck!

Sarge · « **Reply #154 on:** September 03, 2007, 05:18:09 AM »

ba 50,
I agree with Squacks. You should definitely try to get down to that shawnee hunt. It's a great time and a challenging squirrel hunt.

ba_50 · « **Reply #155 on:** September 03, 2007, 09:21:46 AM »

Squacks,

I never worked for Cat. Been through that area lots of times. Lots of beautiful timber. I might have a job interview here in the next two weeks.

Bob

SQUACKS · « **Reply #156 on:** September 03, 2007, 09:43:51 AM »

ba-50:

good luck with that job interview!

i have been looking for a job all my life where i could find somebody to pay me to hunt squirrels but it aint panned out yet. lol!

Sarge and i will will hoist one for you when we are there. hope you plan to make it there one year.

Sarge, we don't have long now!

Dee · « **Reply #157 on:** September 03, 2007, 12:12:41 PM »

I still haven't had time to read all the posts and cannot figure out where shawnee is.

SQUACKS · « **Reply #158 on:** September 03, 2007, 03:43:09 PM »

Dee:

the shawnee hunt is just west of Anna/Jonesboro on the very southern tip of Illinois. just do a mapquest to either Anna or Wolf Lake Illinois. that will get you close.

luck!

SQUACKS · « **Reply #159 on:** September 03, 2007, 03:46:33 PM »

Dee: in case you did not see it, there is a post on this small game forum specifically about the shawnee hunt. it has info and directions.

luck!

Dee · « **Reply #160 on:** September 03, 2007, 03:55:31 PM »

OOOOOOOK. I was hopin it was closer. Thanks,

SQUACKS · « **Reply #161 on:** September 08, 2007, 07:43:47 AM »

howdy all:

this coming sat. is the official start date of the annual invitational Shawnee squirrel hunt. i think this will be the 6th one.

there will be some serious squirrel hunters that will show up down there by tues.

i have reports that there is a good squirrel population and just spotty mast. that usually translates into easier to find squirrels. if you find trees with mast you usually find most of the squirrels anywhere close around it. under such conditions they can be concentrated in a small area or to a specific type of tree.

there looks to be a pretty good group of folks who are going to show up.

i can't wait to get there!

luck!

SQUACKS · « **Reply #162 on:** October 03, 2007, 12:55:57 PM »

Howdy all:

there was a lot more mast in the shawnee forest than i thought possible. there are quite a lot of hickory and walnuts. there are enough of a variety of acorns as well. i never saw a fresh beechnut.

unfortunately, there were nowhere as many squirrels as there were last year even though there were plenty of them at the end of last years season. we had a tough time getting them.

we did take enough to make a pot of squirrel chili that fed a lot of folks.

there were a few female squirrels taken that had just weened off a litter of young. no young squirrels were brought in to camp which means that they are still in the den someplace and a fresh crop of squirrels are forthcoming!

i ran into the same thing up in wisconsin this past weekend. mostly old squirrels and not as many of them as i expected to see. it was a mighty windy day i hunted though and did not help.

my hunting partner and i took 6 all together with our .17 hmr's and it sure beat staying home mowing grass! lol!

luck!

Sarge · « **Reply #163 on:** October 05, 2007, 04:53:00 AM »

Well, at least you got a few Squacks. There's lots of mast in KS too and there seems to be a good crop of squirrels. I went a couple of days ago and didn't have any trouble getting a limit in short order.

DaveH · « **Reply #164 on:** November 03, 2007, 08:28:58 AM »

Man I'm glad to see somebody is seeing some squirrels We sure aren't here in the east. Some of the places I've hunting that had running water last year are totally dried up this year. The mast crop is not very good very small acorns and very few squirrels. But I have seen more rabbits this year then I can remember ever seeing. And the dove hunting is awsome this year.

SQUACKS · « **Reply #165 on:** February 16, 2008, 08:07:31 AM »

Howdy all!

This squirrel season was fairly lackluster. The Shawnee hunt back in September was fun but the squacks were none too plentiful. We did get enough for a large pot of chili that fed all the folks.

Shawnee is like that. one year squirrels are so thick you can't believe it and the next year they are just not there at all. the last 2 times when they were so scarce in the fall, a large number showed up about January. That would seem to indicate there were a lot of squirrels born really late.

I did get a few squirrels up in the northwest corner of Illinois. i hunt a fair sized woodlot up there and there always seems to be squirrels. it's only in those large expanses of timber that i have run into years where squirrels were really scarce.

i did manage to take a few squirrels with every squirrel rifle i own. i also "barked" my first squirrel ever with my .32 cal. caplock penns. rifle. After hunting squirrels for 47 years, firsts are really hard to come by! lol!

There is a spring hunt in the planning for western Missouri and i may make it there again this year. I did not kill but one squirrel over there last spring but i sure had a good time.

hope you all winter well and wish all good luck in the 2008 season!

luck!

SQUACKS · « **Reply #166 on:** June 11, 2008, 03:33:53 PM »

There is a squirrel hunt this weekend over south of Kansas City Mo. Some of my Shawnee friends are there for the 2nd squirrel hunt that has been held there.

i wish them lots of luck and i would be there with them ceptin the date fell on a trip that i have planned for a couple of years. shucks!

the report is that there are loads of squirrels there this year and i hope to see some group pictures of some good hunts.

i sure will miss hunting and musicin with them.

maybe i can talk Sarge into posting some pictures if he brings back any!

luck!

reb henderson · « **Reply #167 on:** June 18, 2008, 07:38:08 AM »

Squacks I just discovered this site. Glad to see the Squirrel hunters thread here. Hope you are doin fine.
Take care
Reb

SQUACKS · « **Reply #168 on:** August 28, 2008, 03:51:48 PM »

hey Reb!

I hang here from time to time to check on posts to this thread. THere are a few squirrel hunters that drop in once in a spell.

i am on my way out to western illinois for a weekend squirrel hunt in order to be ready for the Shawnee hunt that happens in a few weeks.

squirrels will be cutting shagbark hickory for sure as there seems to be quite a few this year. walnuts and acorns are spotty around where i live and there are few oak trees where we hunt out there as they were timbered out many years ago.

Squirrels may or may not be cutting walnuts this early. depends on the available mast crop and each individual tree.

to all you hunters, i extend you my best wishes for this season. Be safe and take a youngster along if you find any that are interested. they are all that ensures the future of hunting!

luck!

DaveH · « **Reply #169 on:** September 30, 2008, 10:19:34 AM »

Well last year I lost my hunting buddy as my daughter got married then pregnant, but this year her husband took his hunter safety course and passed it with flying colors. We both got home in time last evening to go out in the woods for about an hour before sunset. We hunted a ridge full of oak and hickory,we weren't in the woods 15 minutes and John spotted a squirrel going up a tree near the trail we were on. Course he goes toward the tree and I back off the trail knowing the squirrel was going to circle around the tree to avoid him. Bang first squirrel of the season. Then I looked up and saw another squirrel high tailing it out of the tree I had just killed the one in bang the second of the season dropped. We slowly walked, looked and listened. Five minutes later I notice the leaves moving high in an old oak tree I pointed it out to john and this time I moved down the trail to the other side of the tree. Bang opps missed bang again and the squirrel fell to earth this was John (Son In-laws) First squirrel he had ever killed. You would have thought he just killed a world record deer. Of course I had to rib him a little that I killed two squirrels with two shots and he killed one squirrel with two shots but he counter with well it took both of your squirrels to equal size of my one squirrel.

FourBee · « **Reply #170 on:** January 05, 2009, 12:01:33 PM »

Began hunting Fox Squirrel in the early 60's. Here in SE Okla., on my land only the Fox Squirrel hang around the creeks where there's plenty of food. But, early in December of 08 I spied what I thought was a Gray Squirrel one morning while treking through the woods. Had to make sure that's what I'd seen, so made plans to try and find one a few days later.

Sure enough, after a long wait one morning watching many Fox Squirrel run and sun in the tall Pecan trees, out comes this little critter sailing from tree to tree. With my BRNO 2-E bolt action .22 rifle, 24" bbl, and Winchester Variable Scope, I was able to take him at some 40+ yards. I hope to see more next season....... To me the Gray Squirrel has a better flavor.

SQUACKS · « **Reply #171 on:** January 11, 2009, 10:16:37 AM »

FourBee:

it's fairly rare to hear from squirrels hunters that come from your state.

i have hunted places that had no gray squirrels and only fox. i have also hunted places exactly the other way round.

some places have a pretty even mix of both.

like you, i prefer to eat gray squirrels. they are also much easier to skin and except for very young fox squirrels, as a rule, much more tender.

i have heard good things about that rifle you own. they are shooters for sure.

good to hear from you!

luck!

FourBee · « **Reply #172 on:** January 11, 2009, 03:06:59 PM »

Quote by: SQUACKS it's fairly rare to hear from squirrels hunters that come from your state.

I'm right at the extreme eastern side of OK next to the Arkansas mountain ranges. Mostly Fox Squirrel here, but elsewhere its mainly Grays. Not many years back, Friends of mine would go up in the national forest area south of Heavner, OK., when the grays were migrating. They get'm by the toesacks full, literally.

catfishfiend · « **Reply #173 on:** January 14, 2009, 05:44:36 PM »

i hunt along the little river in sw arkansas. 8 hour drive, but it's worth it! shot some coons to try and eat, didn't like em for nothing! i usually shoot my 870 with a mod choke shooting light #6 loads.

catfishfiend · « **Reply #174 on:** January 14, 2009, 05:48:25 PM »

here's some more from our october trip. this year we're going opening day for 12 days. should be fun. we hunt pinoaks and hickories mostly, with okay success. i haven't hunted tree rats in 12 years till this hunt. now it's going to be every year!

catfishfiend · « **Reply #175 on:** January 15, 2009, 08:00:00 AM »

here's the types of areas i hunt-

SQUACKS · « **Reply #176 on:** January 28, 2009, 04:20:20 PM »

Howdy all!

it's great to see a few new folks adding to this thread.

i am on my way out this weekend for what will more than likely be the last squirrel hunt of the 2008 season.

after this one, the next will probably happen in western Mo. in June.

I hope you all had a good season and many enjoyable days in the timber!

luck!

SQUACKS · « **Reply #177 on:** June 02, 2009, 12:51:28 PM »

howdy all!

on my way down to the mo. squirrel hunt next week. I wanted to say that anybody who had made plans to go should check out the new hunt location over at rimfirecentral. it just changed in the past few days.

i have a new rifle to try out and can't wait to get there. it's a win. 52 repro. and it seems to shoot pretty decent!

luck

SQUACKS · « **Reply #178 on:** June 21, 2009, 04:34:42 PM »

howdy all!

the mo. spring hunt was a great time and there were plenty of squirrels.

a bunch of nice folks showed up and we fried squirels a couple of times. it was pretty hot in the afternoons but the squirrels moved well before dark making it possible to catch up with a few.

we took 60+ squirrels altogether in 3 days of hunting and all with rimfire rifles.

here is a link to a few pictures of the hunt.

luck!

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=257356&page=15

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #179 on:** June 22, 2009, 03:55:18 AM »

Squacks, I just looked over this information on squirrel hunting.

Haven't hunted squirrels, the tree kind, for quite a few years. When I first retired, 10 years ago, did some squirrel hunting in W. VA. At that time it was pretty good, but now the timber has been cut, and the mts. cut up with subdivisons for crooks from Washington, D.C. to have summer homes. Sad. I hunted squirrel quite a bit when I was a kid in Pa.with my 39a, but moved to Wy. years ago. We only have a few red squirrels. So I have been out of touch with squirrel hunting til I retired. I was very interested in the stories presented here. I travel to see my relatives in the east every so often. Sept. and Oct. are the premium big game mths. here, but I noticed you guys do some squirrel hunting in Aug. and in May and June. We come home from Miss. in late May. Looks like I drove though some nice squirrel hunting as they have spring seasons. We went via Ark. and Okla. then north to Ks. When you guys hunt in the spring, arent the ticks and other bugs pretty bad??? How about snakes.

??
Saw your 17hmr, nice. Did you restock it yourself. Had one but sold it due to the heavy winds here in the west. My last squirrels were shot with a 521T Remingon, and my Browning .22 Hornet. It was a real squirrel killer.