Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!zazen!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!erb1!osnome!hunting From: ftpam1@acad3.alaska.edu (MUNTS PHILLIP A) Newsgroups: rec.hunting Subject: Re: Looking for Squirrel HUNTING info Message-ID: <384@erb1.engr.wisc.edu> Date: 17 Mar 91 14:16:25 GMT References: <376@erb1.engr.wisc.edu> Sender: news@erb1.engr.wisc.edu Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks Lines: 41 Approved: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu From: ftpam1@acad3.alaska.edu (MUNTS PHILLIP A) In article <376@erb1.engr.wisc.edu>, dambrose@dri.com (David Ambrose) writes... > All this talk of squirrel cooking prompts me to ask; What about >squirrel hunting? > > My daughter would like me to take her squirrel hunting. Lovely idea >to me except that I've never been squirrel hunting. There is a huntable are >nearby which has plenty of tree squirrels so that's not a problem. > > Any recommendations with regard to gun choice? I have a .22 rifle and a >16ga shotgun as well as numerous handguns. I'd preferr to use the .22, but >would the shotwork better? I would recommend a scoped 22 rifle, at least at first. A red squirrel is a pretty tiny target and you will need all the help you can get. Last fall my hunting partner used a scoped 22 rifle and took his with monotonous regularity: 1 shot, 1 squirrel. With an open sighted revolver, I only did about 60 percent. Fortunately, squirrels will often give you a second shot. I have mounted an Aimpoint (nonmagnifying red dot scope) on a target pistol for future forays and practiced with same this winter. Unfortunately, it has been subzero this spring break and I haven't had a chance to get out with it. > If I do use the .22, does a .22 short have enough oomph to cleanly >kill the squirrel yet not so much distance that I'm raining down on folks 2 22 shorts should do fine. My partner also used a 5 mm air rifle part of the time; it had plenty of power but insufficient sights. (He wants to put a scope on it, too.) Note that if you have a semiautomatic 22 rifle you probably won't be able to use shorts except perhaps by single loading. If you are patient, you can usually shoot into the trunk of the tree and stop your bullets there. Another strategy is to only shoot squirrels on the ground; you will get far fewer opportunities this way (not necessarily a bad thing.) Philip Munts N7AHL NRA Extremist, etc. University of Alaska, Fairbanks