Shot size fer squrrils...?

[Rebel]

Thanks for the info. I was wondering because in the pic the barrel looks pretty long. Thought it might be in the 32" range. Looks good.

 

[appaloosabob]

Hey slowpokebr549
Well that sure looks like dinner to me. Makes me want to get some of my own for myself. I have some more chores but maybe this afternoon I can get out a little. Boy they are some nice red's. :applause:

Take care
Bob O.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Right thats it I,m going to get my gun ready I,ve had enough, can,t stand it any longer. I,m gonner smoke me some English greys tomorrow. Every oak is bound to have one :grin: :thumbsup:

 

[Dave K]

Windwalker, I think the name "red squirrel" may be different things, in different parts of the country. In Ohio,at least my area of it, those squirrels pictured would be called "fox squirrels". We call red squirrels, those little fellars that are about 1/2 the size of a fox squirrel. Some places there are called "red", "piney" or "red jimmy", to just name a few of the names I have heard here in Ohio.

 

[Runner]

Here in Mo, you are often lower on the hillside shooting high in 60 foot oaks and such. When the leaves are on, the 5's work a lot better for the quick shooting high in the trees. I have killed a whole bunch with sixes also!
Dad has an old Savage 410 22 break open. With sixes it is ok. With fives, you better pull off that rabbit a little at 30 yards if you have time! I guess my preference for fives has a lot of reasons.
Number 5 steel works well for rabbit but is iffy on squirrels.

 

[Bearbait2]

Mr. Dave K,
Thank you for sharing your insight. Do seem to recall muzzleloader hunting Fox Squirrels (BIG Squirrel) down in Florida. I recollect they were a darker color (black phase perhaps?) although that was 24 or 25 years ago. But heck, these days I have a hard time remembering what I had for breakfast!
Best Wishes

 

[slowpokebr549]

Yep, those are fox squirrels all right. I far and away prefer greys for eating. If a fox is very old at all they are tough and stringy. They are also a whole lot harder to kill with a scatter gun. I have an old .32 cva that serves the purpose better but that picture was taken in the fall and the squirrels were running on the ground. My dog and scattergun needed a workout.

 

[guncobbler]

Gotta love a Jack Russell the hunts squirrels. I miss mine. GC

 

[justtim]

If I'm using the 20 or 12 ga full choked guns I have I use #4s, and in the cylinder bore guns (28,12,&12) I use 6s due to the 4s getting too open a pattern in cyl bore. If you are in a woods full of grays, the 6s in about any choke or lack of will work fine. They are some what more "fragile" than a fox squirrel. Now a fox squirrel is a mighty tough game critter. I have seen one run off with a complete arrow sticking out of him (didn't run far but did run).
Around here, when they are cutting the hickory if I am standing right under the tree, it's a 30yd shot to the top. Best left for a choked gun or rifle.

 

[Runner]

Squirrels are just plain tough! If deer took as much killing as squirrels do, we would all be using bigger guns!
My boots were muddy and wet. I did not want to wear them, but I wanted to go squirrel hunting. Dad's new dress boots with the fancy stitching and all were sitting right there. I shot a grey out and went over to step on his head. The little bugger wrapped around Dad's boot and bit all the way thru the boot out near the toe. Luckily, the teeth went between my toes. I wiped them off and put them back where I found them and never said a word until much later. They sat there for a couple of years. Turned out they hurt his feet and he never found out until I told him!

 

[justtim]

If memory serves me right, I posted a recipe on the recipe forum for squirrel pie. Great way to use them tough old fox squirrels. Around here the fox squirrels go into pie and the grays get fried and I make gravy from the grease. I suspect that about an hour in a Dutch Oven would be good for fox squirrels too. Give 'em a good browning, then cover with mushroom gravy, 'bout an hour at 350degrees.(should be about 33 briquets-23 on the lid and the rest under the oven).
Got me a Jack R /Beagle pup I'm starting to train. Can't wait for the leaves to fall.

 

[slowpokebr549]

Coyotes got my squirrel dog Maxine this spring. Im gonna miss her this fall.

 

[Hoyt]

I use no. 5's.

 

[slowpokebr549]

And those greys will be better eatin.

 

[Runner]

If you ever get or build a solar oven, your squirrel cooking habits will change. A little salt and pepper and you will think you are eating the juiciest roast pork you ever ate.

 

[slowpokebr549]

Old reds are the reason god made crock pots and dumplings. Greys are for frying.

 

[Hoyt]

I remember as a kid my grandfolks called the grey squirrels cat squirrels. Many did back then in that area. I guess it's because they kinda sound like a cat meowing when the squirrels get really excited and bark so much then will make that little high pitch meow type sound. Only reason I could think of.