2024/2025 Squirrel Hunting Thread...........

ScottK said:

Thank you again gentleman!

At this point I think I've settled on a matching pair of Crockett's. They seem like the ideal rifle for this endeavor. It's also much easier for me if I can match the rifles. My son and I do this with both our modern and traditional hunting rifles. I have us set up so however we hunt, we are always both using the same powders, loads, cartridges, mags, etc. Less chance for mix-ups and keeps things simple.

I would be happy to get TOTW part numbers for the nipples. ramrods and those fiber optic sights you mentioned Snakebit. I'm not quite 60 yet but getting there quicker than I want to, so some easier to se sights like a good idea...

Ed- No worries on pushing the Crockett. I value the advice here because its coming from fellow passionate outdoorsmen who use the products, and nobody here is making money based on what they recommend.

It means a lot to me that you are all taking the time to share your knowledge....

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snakebit said:

Dangit all! Ed's putting out bounties

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Splitear said:

A beautiful morning for a squirrel hunt here in Upstate New York. I couldn’t get out for the season opener yesterday, but this morning didn’t disappoint. Lots of squirrels, lots of action. I took the old 44” 20 gauge English Smoothbore that I bought off of @rusticbob last summer. I had never shot it before this morning, and it performed without issue. Left with a couple squirrels, missed a few who were way up in the tree. Really a fantastic morning.

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Gum Slough Muzzleloader said:

When the wife and go hunting on WMAs
It seemed like the other hunters would follow our flagging tape, I believe they were to scared the make their own trail.
So one year we took orange, red, yellow, and pink tape with us we flagged the entrance to our trail that we made with all colors and multiple sopts on our way in. It worked. They thought there was multiple hunters going down the same trail.

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ETipp said:

Amazing what some people will do. That was a good plan that worked.

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snakebit said:

Public land hunting sucks. Went to my tree stand one time, there was a fella sitting in it. Kindly told him he was in my stand, he told me "I was here first". For a second I thought he was joking. He wasn't. Almost got physical. I wound up just taking it down and not hunting there anymore. That's just one story.

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ETipp said:

Just another reason why I love squirrel hunting. No one else out there. Deer hunting has gotten to be flat out dangerous at times. I want to be anywhere other hunters ain’t.

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Gum Slough Muzzleloader said:

ScootK, I loved your original post. As I read I felt it inside. The fact that you and your son are sharing these times together, memories in the making.

As far the Crockett Rifle ETipp and Snakebit have filled you in. I too was wanting to take that step towards hunting with small caliber PRBs.

I was saving up to buy a .32 caliber SMR. After talking to ETipp about the Crockett Rifle I bought one. I'm glad I did. They Are great little guns. You and your son bose will be happy Is wisdom plus you'll have a blast Shooting them.

Take Care Stay Safe

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ScottK said:

Thank you. My kids are everything to me. I spend as much time as possible with them and my beautiful wife, and am hoping they carry the memories forward to thier families someday.

Looking at the budget, I think I can swing one next week for us to start hunting with asap. Then another before the kids Christmas break. We are both excited to get started….

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snakebit said:

Public land hunting sucks. Went to my tree stand one time, there was a fella sitting in it. Kindly told him he was in my stand, he told me "I was here first". For a second I thought he was joking. He wasn't. Almost got physical. I wound up just taking it down and not hunting there anymore. That's just one story.

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ETipp said:

Squirrel activity report from KY.

Despite many hickory trees loaded with hickory nuts, I’ve been seeing a few squirrels eating white oak and burr oak acorns. That surprised me some. Yesterday afternoon there was a new squirrel in my front yard chowing down on burr oak acorns. Today I saw a squirrel in the road picking up white oak acorns.

So, for whatever reason, squirrels are now switching over to acorns in some areas. However, the squirrels down in the woods below my house are still tearing up the hickory trees. I’m watching a couple of squirrels at this moment up in a couple of hickory’s.

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ScottK said:

Thank you. My kids are everything to me. I spend as much time as possible with them and my beautiful wife, and am hoping they carry the memories forward to thier families someday.

Looking at the budget, I think I can swing one next week for us to start hunting with asap. Then another before the kids Christmas break. We are both excited to get started….

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longcruise said:

Those disputes are prehandled in Colorado. Here's the regulation for state Parks and Wildlife owned land.

I don't particularly agree with this but OTOH, I don't use tree stands or blinds that would be left while I'm not using it.

Does not appy on federal public lands.


"Only portable blinds and tree stands for big-game hunting can be erected on CPW land, and no more than 30 days prior to the season during which they will be used. No nails can be driven into trees. Man-made materials for blinds or stands must be removed within 10 days after the season they are used in ends. The owner’s CID number and dates of use must be visible on outside of portable blinds or underside of tree stands. Placement of blinds or stands does not reserve them for personal use: They may be used on first-come, first-served basis."

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longcruise said:

Those disputes are prehandled in Colorado. Here's the regulation for state Parks and Wildlife owned land.

I don't particularly agree with this but OTOH, I don't use tree stands or blinds that would be left while I'm not using it.

Does not appy on federal public lands.


"Only portable blinds and tree stands for big-game hunting can be erected on CPW land, and no more than 30 days prior to the season during which they will be used. No nails can be driven into trees. Man-made materials for blinds or stands must be removed within 10 days after the season they are used in ends. The owner’s CID number and dates of use must be visible on outside of portable blinds or underside of tree stands. Placement of blinds or stands does not reserve them for personal use: They may be used on first-come, first-served basis."

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Gum Slough Muzzleloader said:

I haven't saw any squirrels eat acorns, but I've found a good amount of cleaned out hulls. Seen them up in the tops of the oaks.

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snakebit said:

Some similarities here. Unwritten rule, not your stand, use it, owner shows up haul alpha Sierra Sierra. I pretty much only use my climber these days, unless I'm hunting way out back of beyond.

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snakebit said:

Some similarities here. Unwritten rule, not your stand, use it, owner shows up haul alpha Sierra Sierra. I pretty much only use my climber these days, unless I'm hunting way out back of beyond.

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ETipp said:

Same here. Unless on private land, I only use my climber and then pull it from the tree when I come down, then bury it in the leaves next to a log. Come back the next morning before daylight, dig out stand, hook around tree, climb back up for another hunt.

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