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

[Trigger]

I grew up hunting squirrels with dogs. We never formally "trained" them at all and always had a freezer of squirrels.

We almost always had terriers, who are natural rodent busters. Sometimes we had terriers mixed with other good hunting breeds like fox hounds.

What was rare was having one that not only used scent to find game, but also sight once they treed a squirrel. A number of our dogs were great at treeing and letting us know what tree the squirrel went up, but if the squirrel changed trees, the dogs didn't always follow. Net...wasted time looking in the wrong tree! Many times, we'd see the squirrel take off across the tops from a distance, so knew they had changed trees. We did have dogs that were naturally good at both scent and sight.

While I won't hunt my GSD, due to the danger to her of running the woods where other hunters might be, she is VERY good as a sight dog on squirrels and will follow them through trees. So many breeds can be naturally good without training.

My Golden (who I hope to see again some day on the other side) was a fantastic natural as well. Many times she would have multiples in a huge tree. I'd shoot the first one I saw when I got to the tree, but she seemed to have them counted and would persist until I found and shot them all. In the below pic I had already shot two out of a huge towering oak. She's telling me there were more, but I'll be darned if I could find anymore in it. It was probably flattened out way up high on top of a big enough branch with no way to see it. I finally just left and had to call her away. I don't want to know what she was probably thinking of me!

View attachment 369699

That's All music. Very good writing.

Yes I feel the same with birds dogs and I see it with beagles..

I belive in the hunting breed blood line.. I'd want to get one breeding the dog for it. Not bred to be a pet.

I pay more to get the paper basically.

Don't ask how much my dog cost. But she is worth every penny.

I noticed training that it was more me learning the new dog style. It comes natural for them.. the more they work the better they get. most my training is obedience the rest goes easy.

I can train a birds dog with a dozen birds there ready to go start off slow one on one hunts away from the crowd.

The dog on introducing these things give you it undivided attention at that moment. Like what's that you just put smell in there face or just the sight of it for the first time you see it in them.

My dog Mr. Ringo. He swallowed his first Qual when he caught it. I pulled the bird out by its feet. the little pup swallowed that thing.

Be fun.. trap a few squirrels and train a dog. The training is allot of fun...

Sorry for the 12 edits trying to keep it one post.

I been watching the hunt styles of the dogs. I don't know exactly what dog. I liked the Walker coon i saw a video squirrels hunt with one. just because I want to sit back and when he got one out there. It's a good howling. I like to hear them. I liked the Walker.

I guess there's a difference.. I had a Walker hound. There bigger. I guess it's saying I want a treeing Walker that's smaller..

The list goes on with those dogs.

I saw German Shepard could even be used.
I wouldn't mind a Belgian Malinuar squirrels dog. That's has to be good. Might not need a gun.

 

[Trigger]

Treeing coon and birds dog mixed. They say are getting me closer.
Looks like if I want a dog breed for it though..

It's a few that were mentioned... mountain cur etc.. more natural for them.

I'm still searching dogs though.

I'm sure I'd be shocking a coon hound for a few weeks to get it to stop chasing everything. Or being chewed on by a Malinuar. There not bred for it.

 

[Trigger]

I guess what I'd need to know if I do get into it..

It's papers. Bloodline. Who's breeding these dogs for it.

Just an example
https://www.wyomountaincurs.com/puppies-for-sale/

https://www.walnutridgemountaincurs.com/the-dogs-of-walnut-ridge

They don't look like hunting breeders really somtimes.

I'm just picky about it.

 

[Trigger]

OK I'm finding them now.. it's not easy sorry.

https://www.squirreldogdynasty.com/

Sorry about the dogs and all the barking. I did ask before about them?

 

[Trigger]

You know there's a list I got.

Dogs
Training.
Trapping for food or training a dog. Reasons why trapping them.
A club or organization.

Book making a book or log about hunting to reference.

I'll beat the dead horse dead. I don't think some of you are friendly. Just saying.

 

[snakebit]

Thanks Tom.
I just want to say this was/is a blanket statement. Not directed at any one individual. We know who's who in the zoo. I don't care how long a post is but to continually beat a dead Horse one post after another is a bit much.
I feel we've all learned from this thread, if'n it's dead subject or just a personal thing stop blasting this thread or any other thread. Different subjects here and there are cool acutely, it gets my mind thinking. But same stuff worded differently one after another ️

I agree with Fred. We had/have a great thread. To me, the air just feels different in here these days. I think it's fair to say we've all strayed off topic at some point. Some time it just feels like a bunch of good ol boys shootin the $h!t, and it's easy to stray off topic. We've talked about all kinds of things, fishing, deer hunting, family stuff, life experiences, so on. None of us probably like to be told to "shut up", so we all could do a better job of policing ourselves. As this is a "Traditional Muzzleloading" forum. Good thread to bounce ideas, share Technics, strategies, experiences, and hopefully a few laughs.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

I grew up hunting squirrels with dogs. We never formally "trained" them at all and always had a freezer of squirrels.

We almost always had terriers, who are natural rodent busters. Sometimes we had terriers mixed with other good hunting breeds like fox hounds.

What was rare was having one that not only used scent to find game, but also sight once they treed a squirrel. A number of our dogs were great at treeing and letting us know what tree the squirrel went up, but if the squirrel changed trees, the dogs didn't always follow. Net...wasted time looking in the wrong tree! Many times, we'd see the squirrel take off across the tops from a distance, so knew they had changed trees. We did have dogs that were naturally good at both scent and sight.

While I won't hunt my GSD, due to the danger to her of running the woods where other hunters might be, she is VERY good as a sight dog on squirrels and will follow them through trees. So many breeds can be naturally good without training.

My Golden (who I hope to see again some day on the other side) was a fantastic natural as well. Many times she would have multiples in a huge tree. I'd shoot the first one I saw when I got to the tree, but she seemed to have them counted and would persist until I found and shot them all. In the below pic I had already shot two out of a huge towering oak. She's telling me there were more, but I'll be darned if I could find anymore in it. It was probably flattened out way up high on top of a big enough branch with no way to see it. I finally just left and had to call her away. I don't want to know what she was probably thinking of me!

View attachment 369699

Beautiful picture thanks for posting it.
I've had the thing happen with Henry, shoo him away only find out there was another squirrel up in the tree.

 

[Trigger]

What's is..

A percussion smoothbore for this. In a small cal round ball.

Do they exist?
Do you need the rifled barrel?

I don't want a traditions Anything. Sorry.

I don't buy many guns. So if I get one.

I don't have a flintlock so it is an option to consider because it's an option. I'm also thinking I wouldn't mind leaning how to use one of those. If I'm not buying allot of guns I might try to kill both problems at ounce. Flintlock new thing squirrel hunt new thing has to be a good thing.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Trigger, flintlocks and squirrel hunting are good things for sure. If you're serious about both here is some options.
Kibler Colonial comes in .50. .54, and .58 caliber. All calibers come in Smoothbore and rifled. A .50 Smoothbore might suite you.
He also offers the Fowler, now these come in 20ga and 16ga. Not a small bore but an option. You could also buy yourself a .32, or a .36 caliber flintlock and send it to Bobby Hoyt and he bore it out to a .410 Smoothbore.
I know you stated that yeah won't buy a Traditions anything, but I have to say their Crockett rifles are a great little gun. Plenty of folks on this thread can verify this. I spoke to Bobby Hoyt and said he can bore it out to a .410 Smoothbore. The Crockett is percussion though.

Food for thought.

 

[Trigger]

Trigger, flintlocks and squirrel hunting are good things for sure. If you're serious about both here is some options.
Kibler Colonial comes in .50. .54, and .58 caliber.

That's was thinking. It's probably a Kibler.

Thank you.

I don't look at them. I figure to much$$ But I'm not buying many guns so..

It's good for deer too. I need a classic deer gun. Mine is MM

So that's 3 things in one going for it if it covers some deer.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

That's was thinking. It's probably a Kibler.

Thank you.

I don't look at them. I figure to much$$ But I'm not buying many guns so..

It's good for deer too. I need a classic deer gun. Mine is MM

So that's 3 things in one going for it if it covers some deer.

I sent this post to soon I had to go back and edit it.

 

[Staredge]

I know you stated that yeah won't buy a Traditions anything, but I have to say their Crockett rifles are a great little gun. Plenty of folks on this thread can verify this. I spoke to Bobby Hoyt and said he can bore it out to a .410 Smoothbore. The Crockett is percussion though.

Food for thought.

The Crockett is a real winner. A flintlock Crockett, though………

 

[Trigger]

I do that all the time.. edit.

I like the Kibler. I watched him on Facebook. I'll save up. That's a good one.
I don't want re-bore.. gunsmith.

The Kibler would be worth more down the road I'm thinking.

Pedersoli? I was thinking there trade gun I think. I'm not sure.

I sent this post to soon I had to go back and edit it.

 

[Trigger]

The place I found a bunch of squirrels to hunt. Has the houses around.
I haven't decided what to use. I'd like to use the percussion Shotgun.

But I can get a few there so with all that shooting..

I might start out with my Air rifle. I've been on a forum for that. Haven't posted but like the forum for some reason.

Sorry about not being 100% traditional.. im working on it.

I noticed a post or two people admit to using somthing else for a some reason or another. I feel it's ok. But that might be just me.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

View attachment 369832The Crockett is a real winner. A flintlock Crockett, though………

That would be sweet. Flinting for Squirrels..

 

[Trigger]

That would be sweet. Flinting for Squirrels..

Let me ask how loud is it with a squirrels load? Just curious because.

My Shotgun is going to be loud.

I can afford the flintlock Crockett. That's an option..
Just thinking I'm not getting in there with one soon.. I use tax return for that stuff. So it's coming up soon.

Sorry to comment though.. with the way its was going for me here. I was think I might change my squirrels hunting to hang out with them instead.. just saying shoot it with that post it there see you guys later.

It's popular here and it's popular on the air gun sight.

I think I saw it popular on one other forum. Not sure where.

I think the club is. Back country hunters and anglers is the closest we have for that.

I think that's all..

Thank you.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Let me ask how loud is it with a squirrels load? Just curious because.

My Shotgun is going to be loud.

I can afford the flintlock Crockett. That's an option..
Just thinking I'm not getting in there with one soon.. I use tax return for that stuff. So it's coming up soon.

Sorry to comment though.. with the way its was going for me here. I was think I might change my squirrels hunting to hang out with them instead..

It's popular here and it's popular on the air gun sight.

I think I saw it popular on one other forum. Not sure where.

I think the club is. Back country hunters and anglers is the closest we have for that.

I think that's all..

Thank you.

It's not bad with 20gr or a little less.

They don't make flintlock Crockett, @Staredge was say A Flintlock Crockett would be nice if there was one.

 

[Trigger]

They don't have it?

But they have some pa flint with modern barrel rifle for Saaa b

It's not bad with 20gr or a little less.

They don't make flintlock Crockett, @Staredge was say A Flintlock Crockett would be nice if there was one.

Traditions I think Make some things I don't care for. It's because of the other guns I don't like makes me not like any of them.

I like the look of the Crockett and all.. I don't like anything else. So I don't like that.

I might re think that on the Crockett..

It's anything modern they do I don't care for I think.. I'll think about it.

 

[Trigger]

Pedersoli Kentucky rifle .32 cal ?

https://www.davidepedersoli.com/en/product/kentucky-rifle-flintlock-model

That or Kibler.

 

[Daytime Smoker]

It’s only a matter of days before hopefully, Ed starts a 2025/2026 squirrel hunting thread. Fingers crossed . What ever has everyone’s knickers in a wad could work itself out by the new year and we can all start fresh. . Personally, I like all the hunting, weather, dog, gun names, types of muzzys we use, how we are all feeling and all that and then some. I’ve learned a lot and contributed some as well. I appreciate what you’ve done Ed…

Thank you,

Anthony