squirrel hunting

[rae-dean]

i posted before and asked about what gun i could possibly buy to squirrel hunt.i got one and it is a dandy.it is nothing big or fancy but i can kill squirrels to eat and also make hubby a hat.i am learning to shoot and reading on how to skin them and tan the hide to make a hat.my gun is a crossman 760.i know but at least i wont kill anyone while i am learning to aim.i have shot it three times and got two things i aimed at.
we hung it above the cabin door for fun...but i now have to figure out to make sure i do not shoot a squirrel that is enviromentally protected.i did not know this was possible.a protected squirrel.well thats my next project.to study .it seems like from what i see..the really cute ones seem to be protected.

[shooter mcgavin]

Get either a 22 cal rifle or a .410 bore shotgun

[rae-dean]

dear Shooter.i have one but not til i practice shooting first.do not want to kill anyone.thanks.rae-dean

[rice paddy daddy]

Wildlife laws vary from state to state. Here in Florida fox squirrels are a protected specie; grey squirrels may be taken, but only during the specified season.
Check your state laws to avoid trouble.

[Teg]

Wildlife laws vary from state to state. Here in Florida fox squirrels are a protected specie; grey squirrels may be taken, but only during the specified season.
Check your state laws to avoid trouble.

That's also been my experience, it's usually Fox Squirrels and the Flying ones that are protected (never seen one of those outside the Discovery Channel or a Bullwinkle cartoon though :) ).

[docsoos]

Learn well, rae-dean, and be safe....THEN get ya a .22 or .410! MUCH cleaner and easier kills on small game!

Here's a video on skinning a squirrel you may find interesting:

http://members.localnet.com/~nickdd/Mr.SQUACKS_0001.wmv

DocSoos

[Poonie]

i posted before and asked about what gun i could possibly buy to squirrel hunt.i got one and it is a dandy.it is nothing big or fancy but i can kill squirrels to eat and also make hubby a hat.i am learning to shoot and reading on how to skin them and tan the hide to make a hat.my gun is a crossman 760.i know but at least i wont kill anyone while i am learning to aim.i have shot it three times and got two things i aimed at.
we hung it above the cabin door for fun...but i now have to figure out to make sure i do not shoot a squirrel that is enviromentally protected.i did not know this was possible.a protected squirrel.well thats my next project.to study .it seems like from what i see..the really cute ones seem to be protected.

Get yourself a .22, or a .17HMR. A pellet gun is not accurate enough, nor has sufficient power to humanely kill a squirrel at anything but the shortest distances. Nor is it legal anywhere that I know of to use as a hunting weapon.

[randallhilton]

Get yourself a .22, or a .17HMR. A pellet gun is not accurate enough, nor has sufficient power to humanely kill a squirrel at anything but the shortest distances. Nor is it legal anywhere that I know of to use as a hunting weapon.

In my personal experience, my .177 cal drops squirrels with one shot. In my area, I can get within 15 - 20 yards and the break barrel Gamo rifle I have can easily achieve 1/2" groups at that distance so if I miss, it's my fault. Since this gun shoots at nearly 1,000 fps, the critter doesn't know he's been shot at till it's too late to flinch.

I have found my cleanest kills are when I go for heart/lung shots rather than head shots.

The quietness of the pellet rifle doesn't scare off the next squirrel quite as bad as a rifle or shotgun would.

Edit to add: I have found that rounded pellets are more accurate and have better kill ratios than the conical, pointy ones do. That may be due to my gun and my abilities or something but it's a big difference. Practice with a few different styles of pellet and you'll quickly find which one works best for you.

[Teg]

The new air rifles like the Gamo are very nice, I wouldn't go squirrel hunting with an old "Red Rider", but the new stuff is pretty nice for small game, when used properly.

[grumble]

The little pump-up is marginal for squirrels with BBs, more than adequate with pellets.

I couldn't count the number of squirrels I've killed with a little BB gun. And they are plenty accurate.

A 22 LR requires a lot of consideration of what's behind whatever you shoot at, to prevent putting holes in things you don't want to put holes in. A BB gun or pellet gun requires some caution too, but not to the same extent.

Rae, I'd say continue on with what you're doing, if you want to step up to more gun after you're familiar with your Crossman, go for it!

[jim]

In my personal experience, my .177 cal drops squirrels with one shot. In my area, I can get within 15 - 20 yards and the break barrel Gamo rifle I have can easily achieve 1/2" groups at that distance so if I miss, it's my fault. Since this gun shoots at nearly 1,000 fps, the critter doesn't know he's been shot at till it's too late to flinch.

I have found my cleanest kills are when I go for heart/lung shots rather than head shots.

The quietness of the pellet rifle doesn't scare off the next squirrel quite as bad as a rifle or shotgun would.

Edit to add: I have found that rounded pellets are more accurate and have better kill ratios than the conical, pointy ones do. That may be due to my gun and my abilities or something but it's a big difference. Practice with a few different styles of pellet and you'll quickly find which one works best for you.

+1.

I've killed more rabbits, squirrels, rats, etc. than I can count with decent pellet guns. No reason not to use one.
jim

[shooter mcgavin]

dear Shooter.i have one but not til i practice shooting first.do not want to kill anyone.thanks.rae-dean

If you are going to hunt, i dont think a crossman 760 is the way to go.
As a hunter, its YOUR responsibility to make a quick,clean, and humane kill.
I had a 760 as a kid and remember some very agonizing deaths for squirrels.
My 10 year old son hunts with a .22 and as long as you know whats behind what you are shooting, you dont need to worry about "killing anyone".

[Poonie]

In my personal experience, my .177 cal drops squirrels with one shot. In my area, I can get within 15 - 20 yards and the break barrel Gamo rifle I have can easily achieve 1/2" groups at that distance so if I miss, it's my fault. Since this gun shoots at nearly 1,000 fps, the critter doesn't know he's been shot at till it's too late to flinch.

I have found my cleanest kills are when I go for heart/lung shots rather than head shots.

The quietness of the pellet rifle doesn't scare off the next squirrel quite as bad as a rifle or shotgun would.

Edit to add: I have found that rounded pellets are more accurate and have better kill ratios than the conical, pointy ones do. That may be due to my gun and my abilities or something but it's a big difference. Practice with a few different styles of pellet and you'll quickly find which one works best for you.

I don't doubt. Those Gamo guns can be very accurate and are very powerful. However, the OP was talking about a crosman 760, which is a whole different animal. I cut my hunting teeth on a 760 and I can attest from experience that they are not in the same league as the higher end guns such as the Gamo. Again though I'll put my money on a .22 or .17HMR over any pellet gun. And again there is the legality issue as well. Most areas do not allow airguns or break action pellet guns as legal hunting implements.

[grumble]

rae-dean" "...i am learning to shoot..."

Keep practicing until you can always hit what you aim at, and understand the distances that the little 600 fps gun will operate at.

If nothing else, at least you'll have a powerful right arm from doing all that pumping! Whip the hubby at arm wrestling a few times, and bend him to your will! <G>

You're doing fine, keep up the good work.

[19D40]

Most areas do not allow airguns or break action pellet guns as legal hunting implements.

What are you basing 'most areas" on? It's perfectly legal in Wisconsin to hunt small game with an air gun, and is only specifically prohibited for deer, and turkey can't be taken with any kind of rifled gun.

I'd recommend an air rifle with a rating of at least 900 fps for squirrels. I've killed literally hundreds of them with a break barrel .177 rifle. Good eatin'!

[blackpowderbill]

NY just passed a new reg to allow air guns. Actually their never was a law so the new reg clarified it was ok to use one.

[Poonie]

What are you basing 'most areas" on? It's perfectly legal in Wisconsin to hunt small game with an air gun, and is only specifically prohibited for deer, and turkey can't be taken with any kind of rifled gun.

I'd recommend an air rifle with a rating of at least 900 fps for squirrels. I've killed literally hundreds of them with a break barrel .177 rifle. Good eatin'!

I guess I should have narrowed my statement down. I do know that Pa and Delaware, and I am pretty sure New Jersey do not allow airguns for hunting.

[papa bear]

i am a proponent for shooting what you are comfortable with, but remember some modern air rifles can be just as deadly as a .22. so don't be complacent thinking that you won't hurt someone if you are shooting that close to people you probably shouldn't shoot. one thing to remember on .22, there are lots of varying loads, shorts, longs and sub-sonic

clean quick kills is the responsibility of hunters, absolutely. that is one reason i like head shots on squirrels. if you hit it is a definite kill. if you miss, then you probably didn't even touch the squirrel, and did no more harm than educating it
you can still do head shots with a shot gun. squirrels will run to the opposite side of the tree, but they will peek around at you. you can shoot then, and the tree or limb will keep the meat safe. i like this because shot can ruin the carcass. i do not recommend a .410 for a beginner. due to the low load and pattern, it takes more skill for a good kill

for skinning,of course there are as many methods as there are hunters. i recommend having a cross board or pole, with two nails (or hooks) for the back legs (some people only use one). cut make a cut from one leg to the other and peel the hide down like a sock. then you slide it over a stretcher to dry