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

[ETipp]

If you are sitting in a good spot, it would be handy to pre plot some trees within your field of fire. And if/when they come into it, you wouldn't have to move much to take a shot. They don't weigh more than a good pocket knife, and are easy to carry in a belt pouch or strap around your neck.

I concur.

Mine is scheduled for delivery tomorrow so I hope to get the time to tinker with it. It will be nice to range actual target yardage instead of trying to step it off on uneven ground. Then the target shooting distance will be absolute. Once that is achieved, then maximum shot distance can be established.

Thanks again for the information.

 

[ETipp]

Wowser!

Some of the trees here became wooly over night. Some actually have small, green leaves on them. Forecast calling for 82 and sunny today.

It’s happening fast this year, fellas. I hope it’s not too fast. Certainly hoping that the oaks and hickory trees will not get burned this spring.

 

[FlaminCrow]

That is strange and worrisome. The mesquite and pecans haven’t even budded here in C Texas. Good sign of a freeze to come. Maybe it just won’t push East.

 

[ETipp]

That is strange and worrisome. The mesquite and pecans haven’t even budded here in C Texas. Good sign of a freeze to come. Maybe it just won’t push East.

Time will tell I reckon.

The one good thing I’ve found over the years is, whenever the nut crop trees get burned and the mast is scattered and few and far between in the fall, if I walked enough to locate a few trees does have nuts on them, it’s party time.

 

[FlaminCrow]

Definitely a good thing for hunting. Down here, oaks are ripe before pecans so the oaks are jumping then they move to pecans. I’ve never seen them on mesquite. Deer and livestock both love them, never understood why the squirrels didn’t get on them. Earlier food source than the oaks. Quick meals, not sure how they would store.

 

[ETipp]

Okay, I’m facing a conundrum here trying to figure this out. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Searching for a method to keep those vermin coons out of my squirrel feeders. I’ve done Google searches and YouTube searches but I am not coming up with viable answers.

I fully realize there are coon baffles for posts. However, nowhere has it stated that squirrels can get past them. Most information is related to bird feeders and ways to keep both coons and squirrels out.

Jim K has suggested hanging squirrel feeders from perhaps a small diameter dog chain or rope from an overhanging limb. I would think that would work for here at the house. However, I also have a couple of other locations I’d like to put out squirrel feeders. Not to hunt over them, rather to see how many squirrels are in certain small areas, as well as perhaps keep squirrels interested in those areas.

Let’s hear it, fellas.

 

[ETipp]

Here is some good information on this subject.

 

[FlaminCrow]

If it’s a location where you can set a post, use the coon baffle but locate the post where squirrels can jump over to them. Thats been our best answer.
I haven’t tried the dog chain method, no experience there. Have hung deer feeders with cable and no coon sign on the tops but there have been squirrel tracks. I’ve assumed they jump over to it.

 

[ETipp]

If it’s a location where you can set a post, use the coon baffle but locate the post where squirrels can jump over to them. Thats been our best answer.
I haven’t tried the dog chain method, no experience there. Have hung deer feeders with cable and no coon sign on the tops but there have been squirrel tracks. I’ve assumed they jump over to it.

That has been my plan. Install the squirrel feeder post a couple of feet from a tree so the squirrels can jump across to the feeder. However, I do not know how far a coon can jump across.

I did find where they contend squirrels can learn to get around coon baffles but I’m not interested in that. I want to ascertain squirrels have easy access to the feeders.

I’m sure the rope method would work fine for in the woods away from the top of this mountain, but the problem up here is the very strong wind gusts. I have a bird feeder hanging and the wind causes it to get the snot beat out of it at times. Sometimes I will pull it over and tie it off against the tree during those high wind conditions.

 

[FlaminCrow]

I’ve never actually seen a coon jump. I assume they can but years of hunting them, they only cross trees when they reach the other limbs. I have seen them do spread eagle simulated jump on a hound, but that was really an elegant fall,

 

[FlaminCrow]

You could probably run a 1/4” cable from a tree to the post and the squirrels will navigate it, coons won’t.

 

[ETipp]

I’ve never actually seen a coon jump. I assume they can but years of hunting them, they only cross trees when they reach the other limbs. I have seen them do spread eagle simulated jump on a hound, but that was really an elegant fall,

That’s actually what I was referring to….spanning the gap. I would think 4-5 feet would be sufficient

 

[ETipp]

You could probably run a 1/4” cable from a tree to the post and the squirrels will navigate it, coons won’t.

I’m thinking what I might do for here at my own place is use about a 5/16” or 3/8” rope for testing purposes. If that proves to be okay, that would make more sense for in the woods. My thinking is, by throwing the rope over a lower tree limb, leave the rope long, then all I have to do to refill the feeder is untie the rope and lower it, refill the feeder, raise the feeder back up and tie it off.


What say you?

 

[FlaminCrow]

I’m thinking what I might do for here at my own place is use about a 5/16” or 3/8” rope for testing purposes. If that proves to be okay, that would make more sense for in the woods. My thinking is, by throwing the rope over a lower tree limb, leave the rope long, then all I have to do to refill the feeder is untie the rope and lower it, refill the feeder, raise the feeder back up and tie it off.


What say you?

I’d say that would work. Im sure you’re smarter than I, but be sure to tie the rope high enough for deer to travel underneath, and don’t leave too much hanging. That’s a serious rodeo, make a buck upset.

 

[ETipp]

I’d say that would work. Im sure you’re smarter than I, but be sure to tie the rope high enough for deer to travel underneath, and don’t leave too much hanging. That’s a serious rodeo, make a buck upset.

Indeed. Thus my statement of leaving the rope long and then lower it to refill the feeder. I think this will work. The only possible trouble might be strong winds slamming the feeder against the tree. Hopefully I’ll be able to tie a weight to the end of the rope so I can throw it over a limb far enough from the tree that won’t be an issue.

We get some very strong wind gusts up here. 40 MPH + is not uncommon.

I believe it’s time to build 2-3 squirrel feeders with hinged tops.

 

[FlaminCrow]

Indeed. Thus my statement of leaving the rope long and then lower it to refill the feeder. I think this will work. The only possible trouble might be strong winds slamming the feeder against the tree. Hopefully I’ll be able to tie a weight to the end of the rope so I can throw it over a limb far enough from the tree that won’t be an issue.

We get some very strong wind gusts up here. 40 MPH + is not uncommon.

I believe it’s time to build 2-3 squirrel feeders with hinged tops.

I understand the winds. They never stop on top of the mountain.
The tail of the rope also above deer reach. I had one tied off high but tail laid against the tree to the ground, somehow a buck wrapped his antlers in it and was stuck. Most fun I’ve had at sun up, even topped hunting.

 

[longcruise]

Let’s hear it, fellas

Conibear!! But that's just me and my final solution attitude!

However, I do not know how far a coon can jump across.

This is really not relevant to your problem or situation, but.... I picked up a video on my backyard trail cam of a raccoon jumping out of a tree from about ten feet up. The landing zone was beyond the cam field of view so I don't know how that went . Neither can I figure out why it was jumping. It was at night so it could have been an owl attack.

 

[FlaminCrow]

Conibear!! But that's just me and my final solution attitude!

This is really not relevant to your problem or situation, but.... I picked up a video on my backyard trail cam of a raccoon jumping out of a tree from about ten feet up. The landing zone was beyond the cam field of view so I don't know how that went . Neither can I figure out why it was jumping. It was at night so it could have been an owl attack.

Probably saw a porcupine and figured it was his best chance.