Advice for a REAL rookie

[LeatherneckPA]

This is embarassing :-[ While I grew up in upstate NY, my dad was a refugee from Jersey City. His idea of hunting was four guys in a car parked in the landfill waiting to hear rats crawling on the car, then everybody jumps out and starts blasting them. Obviously he never ate them.

So here I am 49 years old, and I have never been squirrel hunting. I have a wonderful old Mossberg Model 42B 22LR with a new scope on it. This thing drives tacks at 50 yards. I live in the hardwoods of Pennsylvania and there are squirrels pretty much everywhere.

So how do I start putting some of these in the freezer?

Can it really be as simple as taking a walk in the woods, sitting quietly and waiting for them to come out of hiding?

[DM]

Buy a hunting license, find a legal spot to hunt, and yes it can be just as easy as sitting "quietly" in a hardwood forest, and waiting for them to come out...

You will learn as you go, and have a LOT of fun along the way!!!

DM

[RangerRick]

You may have to take a hunter safety course so check your reg closely. When you make your trip to the woods bring a book to read and maybe a folding stool while your hunting. They both help with patience.

Rick

[AlchemyAcres]

No doubt, it's as easy as just setting quietly.

For more fun and excitement I use a call....the "Mr. Squirrel" call is my favorite!

http://www.louisianasportsman.com/details.php?id=305

~Martin :)

[Penny_Plinker]

Sorry, i know there's no such thing as a stupid question, but gee whiz.... If you live in the hardwoods of PA and there's squirrels everywhere, and you have a gun that will drive tacks, then nobody should have to tell you what to do. Aim for the head. At the most you could need help skinning. I'm not going to even wish you good luck. With the conditions you describe you won't need it.

Penny

[WileyCoyote]

Ya'll never heard the joke (I think it's a joke, could be true) about the fella in SD who went to his DNR and wanted a killin license? They said that they only gave out huntin licenses, but he said he didn't need a huntin license - he knew where they were, he just wanted a license to kill 'em!

Seems like you might need a killin license, since you already know where they are. I 'd look up on how to butcher them, if you're not sure or are nervous about slicing into a dead furry animal for the first time. (Don't laugh, guys - some people are.) I don't recommend ever using shot on something that small as it is too hard to scrape outta their little bodies. (which is why I don't hunt 'little' birds.) Also, I cut up my squirrel - after butchering, they look too much like little human embryos in the frying pan for my taste. Puts guests off.

Also, sometimes when you shoot something that small, you do not actually hit it - you hit the tree next to it and it stuns him. So make sure he's dead when you pick him up - they will bite. (We call it 'barking' a squirrel.) Always carry a very sharp hunting knife with you for emergencies like that.

Make sure you are not shooting toward any houses or roads when you shoot - it makes people nervous. Also, if you are hunting your own land, that's great - but make sure you know the laws about gunfire in your area, and make sure that really fat squirrel isn't on your neighbor's property. People tend to get upset when you try to have a "running lease" on their property without their permission.

[ChoochCharlie]

Good for you. Never too late to start hunting.
I'm taking my brother-in-law for his first time next week, he's 40.

And shame on the guys not giving respectful answers here. I understand that it is sometimes better to ask permission than forgiveness and hunting is one of those things. This should be a safe place for those questions.

I too am in PA. You DO need to take the safety coarse for your hunting license in PA. Though one can buy a license with your photo ID at most WalMarts with no questions asked. The coarse is worth it, though it is not very exciting at some clubs. When I took it 20 years ago it was fun at the Delaware County Field and Stream club. It is free to all.

[Penny_Plinker]

And shame on the guys not giving respectful answers here.

Which guys didn't give respectful answers?

Penny

[scoutinlife]

Leatherneck you have a great rifle little rifle consider using 22 shorts as well nice and quiet one of my favorite rounds to use on gray squirells fox squirrels alot tuffer to kill find a good food source hickory or walnut trees the squirells will be there.

Nothin like squirrell gravy and biscuts ;D ;D ;D

Good luck in your hunts.....

[swampyankee]

Embryos? I'll never look at a squirrel the same way again. lmao Squirrel hunting is alot of fun leatherneck, I'm sure after the first time you'll be hooked. Even more fun if you go with someone and stalk them. When you see one spot you and run to the other side of a tree, one of you hold still and the other goes around the tree. When the little bugger runs to your side of the tree, take the shot. I find it works well for hunting and cements friendships.

[jim]

When you've killed and cleaned them, soak in salt water over night, squeeze out the blood and water then chicken fry. Use a 1/4 cup of whiskey during the last 15 mins, cooking while covered. Then finish off to a golden brown. Biscuits n gravey go great with that meal. As Rev. JD Hooker say; "A meal too good for a king because he didn't do the work himself!"

Good luck
jim

[MadTripper]

So here I am 49 years old, and I have never been squirrel hunting. I have a wonderful old Mossberg Model 42B 22LR with a new scope on it. This thing drives tacks at 50 yards. I live in the hardwoods of Pennsylvania and there are squirrels pretty much everywhere.

Have you not hunted just squirrels or not hunted at all? You mentioned that the rifle drives tacks so you must be familiar with it, not to mention given your screen name, you are a Marine so you are intimately famliar with handling firearms.

So, if you haven't taken a hunters safety course, find one and get the basics. It will be a lot of redundancy during the firearm safety portion but still worth your time.

Squirrel hunting is probably my favorite although I haven't gone in quite a few years. The fall weather is beautiful and you don't have to contend with other hunters being in the woods. I'm sure you can find a place local to you to go out and snag a few. I find sitting by a beech tree works best for me. If you don't find a place near by, give me a yell as I'm only about an hour or so away and I'd be more than happy to spend an afternoon in the woods. You'd have to put up with a Navy Vet but I'm sure we'd be alright ;)

Tripper

[LeatherneckPA]

Have you not hunted just squirrels or not hunted at all? *You mentioned that the rifle drives tacks so you must be familiar with it, not to mention given your screen name, you are a Marine so you are intimately famliar with handling firearms....hunters safety course....If you don't find a place near by, give me a yell as I'm only about an hour or so away and I'd be more than happy to spend an afternoon in the woods. *You'd have to put up with a Navy Vet but I'm sure we'd be alright ;) -Tripper

I had a Hunter's Safety course when I was 14. Dad took my cousin and I hunting for rabbits on our farm. I managed to wing one as it was running for cover. It got into the stone wall and then just started to cry. My Dad made me take that darned wall apart until I caught that rabbit and put it out of it's misery. Then I had to put that darned wall back together. The next week, and every week thereafter until I left home, I would go to the sand pit and shoot two boxes of .22 with this very rifle. I got good enough to become a sniper in the Corps.

I have never actually hunted squirrel. We used to shoot them around the house because Dad said they were getting in the attic and nesting in the isulation. But the dogs learned fast that crack meant there was fresh meat on the ground.

I've been deer hunting, completely unsuccessfully, a total of 7 days in the woods. How bad is it? Well, I've actually seen a grand total of eight deer, only one a buck. But never even gotten to take a shot.

Like I said, a complete rookie. Squirrel comes back in here in PA on 12/10, but my first day off will be 12/11. I'm hoping to make the most of it.

Tripper I might just do that sometime just for the heck of it. I think I'd like to meet both you and AlchemyAcres sometime, folks of like mind. while I bust on the Navy more than any others, I have a feeling of comraderie for all veterans that civilians will never know.

[Penny_Plinker]

The squirrel cried???? Your posts doesn't sound like someone who made sniper in the corps or you'd know how to hunt the squirrels. *If squirrels are all around and you're a qualified sniper with a tack driving rifle, you don't need any advice. *It would be a simple thing to apply all you learned in sniper school to something as dumb as squirrels. * It would come natural to a sniper. I don't see why these guys are wasting time on you. *My last comment to a fake.

[DM]

The squirrel cried???? Your posts doesn't sound like someone who made sniper in the corps or you'd know how to hunt the squirrels. *If squirrels are all around and you're a qualified sniper with a tack driving rifle, you don't need any advice. *It would be a simple thing to apply all you learned in sniper school to something as dumb as squirrels. * It would come natural to a sniper. I don't see why these guys are wasting time on you. *My last comment to a fake.

Actually, here's what he said...

Dad took my cousin and I hunting for rabbits on our farm. I managed to wing one as it was running for cover. It got into the stone wall and then just started to cry.

Ever hear a hurt rabbit before??

DM

[LeatherneckPA]

The squirrel cried???? Your posts doesn't sound like someone who made sniper in the corps or you'd know how to hunt the squirrels.... *I don't see why these guys are wasting time on you. *My last comment to a fake.Penny PlinkerNo, the RABBIT started crying, and if you had ever seriously wounded one you'd never forget the sound. *Purely pitiful.

People are easy to hunt. *I know their ways. *Not having had the benefit of a knowledgeable mentor I am not so familiar with the ways of wildlife.

I am sorry to have wasted so much of your time. I am sure you are very busy judging others of whom you know only 16 posts.

To every one else, thanks for your patience. *I'll let you know how things go on the 11th.

[MadTripper]

Sounds like a plan. I have access to about 50 acres right by my house. We own 24.5 and my brother-in-law owns the neighboring 22 or so. I also have access to my Grandparents farm which is about 80 acres. That is where I learned to squirrel hunt, and deer, and rabbits....

As far as Navy/Marine Corps relations go, I was on an LSD and we carried approximately 550 Marines. I spent 6 months with them in Europe and our boat received commendation for the relationship we had. I was a gunners mate and a search and rescue swimmer so I had a little closer relationship than most working in the armory and the magazines.

Anyway, enough of that. Let me know when you get some time and we can snag some furry rats. I've been wanting to take my .17 out for a while.

Tripper

[Wandrin1]

Hey Leatherneck,
I used to hunt squirrels a LOT...more fun and definitely more productive than deer...course I've hung a few deer up, too.
Two pieces of advice, that I didn't see on other's replies. First, once you find that spot to sit quietly and wait...let several of the bushies get to running and when you do shoot; sit still. They will often come right back out in a few minutes, 10 or less, if you don't get up and go get the one you kilt. I've had 3 or 4 laying at the base of different trees before I stood up. If you get up to retrieve the one you shot, go ahead on home 'cause it'll be awhile b4 they run again.
Second, you can't beat squirrel stew. I'd save them up until I had 9 or 10 and then pressure cook them all at the same time until they fall off the bone. Pull out the carcasses and debone, then put a bunch of veggies and 'taters and make a stew...that way it doesn't matter if every one you shot has a set of **** you'd be proud of yourself, they'll be tender in a stew. Fry up an old male, and you get lots of chewing experience...
Just some thoughts...have fun.

[Mac_Muz]

Yeah I agree a crying rabbit is heart breaking.. I once had a cat that hunted rabbits. Seemed that cat was part retriever as it brought them home.

When you get off huntin squirrels they will know it. They will run around to the back side of a tree where you can't see them..

The way to get them to come around to your side is toss a stick just past the far side.. They will come right back around and you then can drop em...

Shoot just 3 the first time, so you can get accustomed to the rest of the work.

First cut, and just about the only cut I make is across the but end from thigh to thigh. This cut IS ONLY DEEP enough to go thru very thin skin.

Not deep enough to draw blood! Then work around the base of the tail with as little pressure as you can. With a spring loaded clothes pin grasp at the tail base against the tendonds and and slide the whole tail bone out in one feld swoop.

Put the knife away. Peel the hide inside out back up the sqirrel about half way. Then go back to the rea legs and slide them out tight down to the feet. get as close as you can to the feet, and with wire cutting pliers cut the bone. Do the other leg.

Then remove to the shoulders and work out the ft feet the same way.

Then peel to the face which is tuff work and hard for some one unaccustomed, and with a sharp exacto blade cut the tendons to the nose.

Remove the hide from the body, and roll it up just to the tail. Add your choice of tanning solutions to the tail and turn it fur side out with great care.

Gut the body and or just cut off the legs and meat.

This way you get a nice little bag as you have just case skinned one almost already to be a bag, just short of being tanned.

Waste as little of any kill as possible. Washing the skin in hash soap to remove the oils is just about all you need to do on a squirrel. With the hide side out you can "break" the hide over a chair back, or a wooden board with slightly rounded corners..

3 squirrel should make a meal for 1, adding rice and the like it makes a meal for 2.

The bones can be used as well, for making many other things..

What you can't eat will feed other wild life so don't throw it in the trash.

My 2 cents anyway.

[Ironclad]

Mr Mac,
You the Man! You took the time to go into detail for "the rookie". This is what hunting is all about...one man passing down knowledge and experience to the next.
When men like you are gone, the whole tradition of hunting is going to fade away from our Nation's Tradition. (more than it already is?)

[Mitch]

LOL! Well if hunting tradition is your object, try it without a gun! We use to hunt all the time as kids with out a firearm (them bullets cost money back then). We would take a fast old redbone or bluetick, a hunting knife and hit the woods. I can't do that anymore, can't get around well enough. We generally hunted 3 things, rabbits, ground hogs, and squirrels.

Now we would look for black gum trees and other trees that were hollow. If the old hound smelled something at the hole, we would cut a black jack about 7 foot long, strip it and cut a "V" notch in one end. We would poke up the hole listening for the squirrel to start chattering. Then we would twist the stick until we had a good knot in his tail holding him by the hair twisted up in the stick. We would drag him out and as he started to clear the hole, stab him with the hunting knife.

The old dog saved a lot of time poking up empty holes :) Ground hogs were easier as they lived near their holes, and quickly went to ground, but you needed the dog when you draged him out. If you let the dog dig, that old "whistle pig" would cut him up, but if you drug him out, the dog could kill him easily.

Now rabbits were the easiest but you needed a fast dog. Beagles cannot put a rabbit to ground, a fast hound can! We would generally hold the dog when we twisted a rabbit out as stabbing him was easy, and you didn't have to argue with the dog about whose rabbit it was :dirol: This ain't gonna sound good but we would "sling" the guts out of the rabbits for the dog. This is easily done and it kept the dog hunting more rabbits for us.

Soooo, if you can still run like a 13 year old boy, get yourself a good "bluetick" and a sharp knife and hit the woods!

One word of caution!!! A boy I knew twisted up one day and pulled a badger out ROTFLMAO! He and the dog looked like they had spent the day putting collars on bobcats :yes4:

Mitch