They are plentiful, seasons are generally long, and limits are generous. Another advantage is the fact you don't need alot of special equipment. A shotgun or .22 rimfire rifle is more than adequete for these species.
In Minnesota, small game season generally starts in mid-September, and generally runs thru the end of February. Limits for the 1999 season were 7 squirrel (gray or fox) and 10 rabbits (cotton tail, jack rabbit, snow shoe hare) a day, with the possesion limit double that. Red squirrel are un-protected.
I began hunting squirrel when I was 17, and newly equipped with a bolt action 20ga. shotgun. Since I had no mentor to teach me the ropes, my first efforts were met with some frustration, but eventually, that magic day came when I dropped my first squirrel from a tall oak tree. Since then, I have enjoyed many such hunts.
I have shot many squirrel, using a shotgun and a .22. I have found a 1 or 1 1/8 oz of #6 (lead) shot from a shotgun choked modified or full to be potent medicine. The bad side of using a shotgun is the chance of getting pellets (and hair) in the meat.
A scoped .22 rim fire, using solid point bullets, with all shots placed in the head is also very effective. It also makes for (in most cases) a clean kill or a miss. I have tryed .22 hollow points, but found them to tear up the game to badly.
In the early season, when there is alot of leaves in the trees, we generally use shotguns. In the later season, once leaves are down, we swich to .22's - unless there is a chance of other game, such as pheasants, or waterfowl, in which case we use shotguns.
I genrally hunt squirrels by walking quietly thru the woods, scanning the ground and tree-tops for active animals. When I spot one, I carefully stalk it until I can get in position to take a shot. I have also used the "sit and wait" method, but I generally do not have the patience to do this for long.
I most often take rabbits while hunting squirrels.
Did you know that you can hunt squirrel, have a good supper of squirrel, and go fishing too?
CAUTION:
If you hunt squirrels and waterfowl, make sure you carry steel shot only. DO NOT CARRY ANY LEAD SHOT. This is a requirement of Federal waterfowl regulations. Make sure your shotgun/choke combination can handle steel shot. Be sure to check your state and/or Federal regulations regarding the use of shotguns and the hunting of small game, especially if you hunt on public land.A second CAUTION:
Make sure your squirrel or rabbit is dead before you attempt to pick it up. The same year I began hunting them, I shot a fox squirrel, and it fell to the ground. I picked it up, and my "dead" squirrel proceded to do a number on my hand. Those teeth are sharp!I still carry scars from that incident. Should you knock down, but not kill your squirrel/rabbit, there is a simple, humane way of killing the animal. Simply step with your (shoed) foot on the animals chest, pressing down, so that the animal can not breath. It will quickly sufficate.
A simple way to check your squirrel or rabbit or any other game animals state (alive or dead) is to poke the animal in the eye with a stick or twig. If the eye blinks, the animal is alive. Be sure to use caution when approaching all game animals, especially large game, such as deer, or dangerous game like bear.
I want to see some pictures....
Pictures of myself, family members, and friends - by year
1990
I don't have alot of small game hunting pictures. The following picture is of my son Aaron. He was 11 at the time, and was taking firearms safety from yours truely (he and other class members were taking the class I held that fall).We took a Saturday morning, and went to a woods in our area. We saw several squirrel, and Aaron took 2 (gray's) that morning, using that same 20 ga. shotgun I started with.
This picture is of Aaron, the shotgun, and his squirrels once we
returned home. It is somewhat blurred - but it is the only one
I have.
Mepps Spinners
Have you heard of Sheldons Inc., the home of the Mepps Spinner? You can convert your squirrel tails in to cash or fishing lures.Be sure to check your state's local game regulations as some states do not allow the sale of squirrel tails.
Go to Home Page Go to Menu Page
Copyright 1999, 2000 © Jim Laumann.