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

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Well fellas, now down to about 18 days remaining until spring squirrel season here. Now before you say it, Fred, no I am not counting. Definitely not counting.

Ok, Ed. You're not counting, maybe marking days off the your calendar?
But like ya said "Who's Counting?"

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

We don't have a spring season down here: [from LINK]

View attachment 315698

When do the rattlers and copperheads come out up there? Walking around in the timber in warm weather down here looking up and not paying attention to where you're stepping can get you into trouble.

I deal with that same situation down here....
I haven't seen coppheads here, Eastern Diamondbacks, Cottonmouths, Pygmy Rattlers, and Coral snakes. I do wear knee high snakeboots for some protection, but a big Diamond Back could still get me. They can strike their prey from 2/3s of body length away.
A 6 footer can get you from 4 feet away. I'm still going hunting through.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Any caliber is ok in the Heart Of Dixie: [from LINK}


"...(7) OTHER GAME BIRDS OR ANIMALS:
...(b) Muzzleloaders and black powder handguns of any caliber..."

Same here in Florida no caliber restrictions.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

View attachment 315703

I felt kinda bad about posting a picture of a " Demon Squirrel" and causing some of our members to sleepless nights, but this a Nightmarish photograph!!
But it's not a Flying Monkey....

 

[yellowhammer]

I deal with that same situation down here....
I haven't seen coppheads here, Eastern Diamondbacks, Cottonmouths, Pygmy Rattlers, and Coral snakes. I do wear knee high snakeboots for some protection, but a big Diamond Back could still get me. They can strike their prey from 2/3s of body length away.
A 6 footer can get you from 4 feet away. I'm still going hunting through.

I used to live in Seminole County FL; understand completely.

 

[flatcreek]

I understand caliber restrictions on large game, being no smaller then, but not no larger than for small game I don't. What are these officials thinking?

 

[snakebit]

Well fellas, now down to about 18 days remaining until spring squirrel season here. Now before you say it, Fred, no I am not counting. Definitely not counting.

Nope. Not counting at all. Ed is just very "calendar aware".

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Nope. Not counting at all. Ed is just very "calendar aware".

You see it too!!!

 

[snakebit]

I deal with that same situation down here....
I haven't seen coppheads here, Eastern Diamondbacks, Cottonmouths, Pygmy Rattlers, and Coral snakes. I do wear knee high snakeboots for some protection, but a big Diamond Back could still get me. They can strike their prey from 2/3s of body length away.
A 6 footer can get you from 4 feet away. I'm still going hunting through.

I'm no fan of snakes either Fred, as my handle implies. But I don't let them stop me from going either. I do have a healthy respect for them. If I came across one eating a squirrel, I think I'd be like "he's busy, not going to bother me".

 

[snakebit]

You see it too!!!

Yessir I do. I'm happy for Ed. He worked his way back to doing something he enjoys.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

I understand caliber restrictions on large game, being no smaller then, but not no larger than for small game I don't. What are these officials thinking?

It's safety. Larger caliber = more mass = more energy= more distance...

Up to a few years ago ya could hunting turkey with any firearm on public lands, now no shot bigger than #2s. If ya saw some of these cats that hunt public lands..... I can understand. Private lands any thing goes.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Yessir I do. I'm happy for Ed. He worked his way back to doing something he enjoys.

Absolutely!!

 

[Mike in FL]

The inherent accuracy of a .40 barell makes a dandy squirrel gun. Plus it carries a little father than a .36.

 

[ETipp]

We don't have a spring season down here: [from LINK]

View attachment 315698

When do the rattlers and copperheads come out up there? Walking around in the timber in warm weather down here looking up and not paying attention to where you're stepping can get you into trouble.

Copperheads are already out. A friend killed one last week while he was running a weedeater at one of my happy hunting grounds.

 

[Brokennock]

Id like to collect some data on this game.

For the traditional ML squirrel hunters out there, what is your preferred method of hunting.

Spot and stalk?

Sit and hunt?

Still hunt?

Hunt with squirrel dogs?

Just walk through the woods?


Also, what is your preferred type of traditional ML for squirrel hunting?

Well,,,,, kind of a combination of some of those. My distance vision isn't too great, but my peripheral vision is good and I pick up even small movement easily. I tend to sit places with white oaks or hickory, or other places I've seen squirrel activity on the past. If not siting still its a combination of modified still hunting, and hear and stalk rather than spot and stalk. I move slowly until I see or hear squirrel activity, even if it is the squirrel barking at me. Then I stalk the sound. When real close, or if I've spotted my game, I stop and stay still until a shot is presented.

 

[Brokennock]

That's good to know about the squirrel population there. It is strong here in KY as well.

Still nibbling at the book my friend. Enjoying it very much, but so little time to read.

 

[ETipp]

I felt kinda bad about posting a picture of a " Demon Squirrel" and causing some of our members to sleepless nights, but this a Nightmarish photograph!!
But it's not a Flying Monkey....

Anything than those terrifying flying monkeys.

 

[ETipp]

Well,,,,, kind of a combination of some of those. My distance vision isn't too great, but my peripheral vision is good and I pick up even small movement easily. I tend to sit places with white oaks or hickory, or other places I've seen squirrel activity on the past. If not siting still its a combination of modified still hunting, and hear and stalk rather than spot and stalk. I move slowly until I see or hear squirrel activity, even if it is the squirrel barking at me. Then I stalk the sound. When real close, or if I've spotted my game, I stop and stay still until a shot is presented.

Good method!

It sounds as if you and I have somewhat similar vision. Distant vision not the greatest but I do pick up on most any movement easily. In all honesty, I believe it is a learned process. After I got back into heavily hunting squirrels I noticed this had increased after a while. I did not pick up on slight movement in the woods/mountains while big game hunting near as much as I do now that I have seriously taken up squirrel hunting again. Then again, I never was so focused on movement up in the trees at the same time either.

Fortunately, I’ve always had good peripheral vision but I have noticed this more lately. It’s almost as if I’m looking in two different directions at the same time, albeit neither of it is as clear and crisp as it should be.

This is a bit off topic but it is much the same, in terms of a learning process. I flew jumpers off and on for over 20 years. Flown many new jumpers. At first I couldn’t understand how a jump master could see everything the student did as he/she exited the airplane. It happens real fast. After a couple of years when I felt more comfortable watching students exit while doing my jump pilot thing at the same time, I slowly began to acquire an eye for it. After 3 years or so I too, could pick up on most everything the students did in that short 3 seconds or so. From their overall body position, to the position of their arms, legs, head position, movements of the hands and feet, often even their facial expressions.

Sounds strange I know, but it’s true. It was a learned process that took time.

Not to say I was, or am great at any of it. Just something else very unique that was learned in life. It all begins with desire and the overall results are often determined on how much one cares to put into something.

 

[Kansas Jake]

ETipp, I think that is true with many things as we become more familiar or adept with it. Things become second nature so to speak.

 

[ETipp]

ETipp, I think that is true with many things as we become more familiar or adept with it. Things become second nature so to speak.

Yes sir. That’s one way to put it for sure. It’s up to us as to how much we apply ourselves to things. Repetitive things are more easily learned, however.

Peripheral vision and ability to pick up on short, quick movements is not as repetitive. Things can be different every time. Considering this, I find it very interesting that eyesight can learn and manifest itself within us to the point that the mind can acknowledge it and process everything rather quickly.

All of it takes time and desire.

Either way, with the overall decline in my old eyes, I’ll gladly accept all the help I can get. Lord knows I can use it.