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All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: ray1377 on January 17, 2025, 10:44:09 PM
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Case in point. Back in the day, when I was younger you could stalk through the woods and ease up on squirrels and get close enough to shoot them with an airgun. Then later on in my hunting I realized that when you were up in a tree stand that the squirrels practically paid you no mind at all and went around underneath you without a care in the world. Hence the reason I started carrying carbine airguns with me while I deer hunt. Because everybody knows when you only have a deer rifle with you that your gonna see tons of squirrels and when you have an airgun your gonna see tons of deer. It's murphys nature law I guess. Well I had something happen to me the past 3 times I've been "squirrel" hunting. I was in the tree stand and any squirrels I saw were well out of airgun range and never came close enough for me to take a shot. Another thing, I was hunting late this afternoon and about an hour before dark I heard a squirrel in the leaves about 50 yards in front of me. I looked and saw him moving across the ground toward me. I reached for my Prod and I guess he saw me move and froze behind a tree. I looked through the scope and and I promise I'm not making this up. He was peeking around the tree looking at me. I'm in full camo head to toe plus a camo face covering. He watched me for like 20 seconds and then turned and went flying back up in the woods directly away from me. Crazy thing is these woods haven't been hunted in like 15 years. Back in the day, squirrels would climb the nearest tree and either hide from you or bark at you. Nowadays they all do the same thing, run like their tails are on fire. Way to fast get a shot at with an airgun, or a shotgun either for that matter. I could understand this behavior if this place had been over hunted weekend after weekend. But this puzzles me as to how or why these squirrels seem so dang wary and ready to run. Even stranger is about two months ago when I hunted deer in this stand I remember counting 6 squirrels at one time without moving me head, just looking forward I could see that many moving around below me at once. They didn't seem to mind me being in the tree stand then so I wonder what happened?
Thx
Ray
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I don't know if you are hunting public or private land or when your squirrel season opens. Around here the squirrels on public land are pretty warry and the ones on private land are getting that way by this time of winter. The leaves are off the trees and that naturally makes them more cautious plus the ones that are still alive have all been shot at. I was getting two or three an outing at the beginning of winter now I'm lucky to see one. Midwinter hunting for small game is always slow here. I depend on bait stations on my permission this time of year.
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I don't know if you are hunting public or private land or when your squirrel season opens. Around here the squirrels on public land are pretty warry and the ones on private land are getting that way by this time of winter. The leaves are off the trees and that naturally makes them more cautious plus the ones that are still alive have all been shot at. I was getting two or three an outing at the beginning of winter now I'm lucky to see one. Midwinter hunting for small game is always slow here. I depend on bait stations on my permission this time of year.
Private land, not public. I understand totally about the beginning of season vs. the end. I'm like you now, used to see a bunch, now lucky to see one. May be doing better if I switch to rabbit hunting :)
Thx
Ray
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I think the difference is that when deer hunting you sat motionless. When you reached for your gun your arm mightve looked like a hawk or owl stretching a wing. They're used to seeing predator birds in trees. Treat them like hunting deer, it might help.
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I think it depends on what kind of day the squirrels are having ???
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Take a bird feeder with you to the woods... I can't keep them off mine, always several at a time ;D
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Out West ... Around here we need to Cull out the invasive Red / Fox squirrels as they push out our native Greys.
While The Greys are indifferent and run around on the ground, chase one another round & round, up & down the trees while your watching and well within shooting distances .. The Red / Fox squirrels
will have no part of it and hide or run soon as they spot you ... well 75% of the time at least
Shooting these little buggers is a game of AMBUSH or dumb luck on there part stopping and tail flicking about to dart off again. Getting one is VERY rewarding ;D
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Take a bird feeder with you to the woods... I can't keep them off mine, always several at a time ;D
Don't think I haven't thought about that. But baiting in our state illegal. So there's that :(
I've always wondered what it must be like to live in the UK where you can hunt squirrels year round over bait :), must be nice!
I'm about to agree with James, must be the squirrels just having a weird day I guess.
Scott, back in the day there were tons of "fox" squirrels around our parts mixed in with the greys. I can't tell you the last time I saw a big red fox squirrel.
I think one of the problems I'm having is now that I'm an old man, I long for how it was when I was a kid and it just ain't so. Oh well, adapt and overcome.
Thx
Ray
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Take a bird feeder with you to the woods... I can't keep them off mine, always several at a time ;D
Don't think I haven't thought about that. But baiting in our state illegal. So there's that :(
I've always wondered what it must be like to live in the UK where you can hunt squirrels year round over bait :), must be nice!
I'm about to agree with James, must be the squirrels just having a weird day I guess.
Scott, back in the day there were tons of "fox" squirrels around our parts mixed in with the greys. I can't tell you the last time I saw a big red fox squirrel.
I think one of the problems I'm having is now that I'm an old man, I long for how it was when I was a kid and it just ain't so. Oh well, adapt and overcome.
Thx
Ray
Same here ... in my youth the Bull Frogs were in dang near every pond or backwater, Pheasants galore down in the valley, Mourning doves that clouded the sky in late summer.
The Herons & Egrets bounced back from DDT spraying decades previous & the FROGS never stood a chance upon there return in mass !!
The Pheasants got hunted out where clubs established seasonal areas .. now most are farm raised & planted for the hunters.
The Doves .. no idea, but there is a fraction of them around any more making hunting them a waste of time & effort.
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+1 for the good ole days!!!
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Here the Grays are only in "town". ::)
Out here in the stix there are Reds and Fox.
Fox and Grays have a season... but you can shoot Reds all year long. Lil Boogers are horrible!
I have given Fox squirrels a pass for a couple years because they were so rare... but now they are back in droves!
All Red's must be eliminated upon sight.
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Down here the urban areas are over populated with squirrels. Tallahassee is a city of trees and as a kid I was encouraged to shoot squirrels year round by my horticulturist grandfather. It helped that he was the head of the Florida Department of Agriculture's legal division. I would sit in his huge formal garden with the Crosman 1400 he bought me and some days I would bag as many as three squirrels. Not bad for a kid using iron sights and the awful Crosman pellets of those days. Whatcha call a "target rich environment". We had a similar situation on the family farm in Alabama. Quail abounded and we were allowed to hunt them year round.
I left this part of Florida in 1984 and did not return for over 35 years. There's less game, less fish and more people than when I left. >:(
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Like you whenever I'm sitting in a tree stand deer hunting I routinely have squirrels all around me, some so close I've actually moved on purpose in order scare them away cause I thought they were going to come climbing up my tree and I didn't feel like having a "face to face" experience. However when I go back to the same locations with one of my air rifles to target the squirrels they suddenly become super wary and even though I'm in full camo and sitting motionless on the ground or on my tree seat they spot my 9 out of 10 times and immediately start running at top speed and are gone in a flash. Very frustrating to say the least. I've thought several times of bringing my tree stand with me and hunting the nutters from it but I really enjoy being able to move through the woods when I'm hunting squirrels so I've never dragged the climber with me. Before the season closes I may try the tree stand squirrel approach at least once and see what happens. I can't legally bring an air rifle with me when I'm deer hunting because in NY an air rifle is legally classified as a "firearm" when you are hunting small game with it and the bowhunting regulations clearly state that you cannot posses any firearms while you are bow hunting.
Jeff
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I carry a cheap folding camp stool from a big box store. It has a shoulder strap. If I startle one squirrel into running away there usually are more that froze at my approach. I’ll walk to a likely spot and sit. Usually within two to five minutes any squirrels that froze when I appeared will start to move to better concealed positions. That’s when I’ll get a shot. Then sit patiently for up to twenty minutes in that spot. If I don’t move I’ll sometimes get a more wary squirrel to reveal itself. After twenty minutes without seeing or hearing squirrels I’ll move on to another likely spot.
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Here the Grays are only in "town". ::)
Out here in the stix there are Reds and Fox.
Fox and Grays have a season... but you can shoot Reds all year long. Lil Boogers are horrible!
I have given Fox squirrels a pass for a couple years because they were so rare... but now they are back in droves!
All Red's must be eliminated upon sight.
Yes sir, reds must be shot on sight. They will run all the other outa town and then move into your garage.
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I carry a cheap folding camp stool from a big box store. It has a shoulder strap. If I startle one squirrel into running away there usually are more that froze at my approach. I’ll walk to a likely spot and sit. Usually within two to five minutes any squirrels that froze when I appeared will start to move to better concealed positions. That’s when I’ll get a shot. Then sit patiently for up to twenty minutes in that spot. If I don’t move I’ll sometimes get a more wary squirrel to reveal itself. After twenty minutes without seeing or hearing squirrels I’ll move on to another likely spot.
In years past I've done that very same tactic. With good results I might add. But it just seems this year the squirrels are all on edge 100% of the time. Back when they were rutting you might could get a shot because their minds were preoccupied with other things if you catch my drift. But not now at this particular time of year, they are just strange.
Thx
Ray
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A couple of years ago, the squirrels' population crashed in my hunting area. (Reason unknown.) For about six week, I hunted without seeing a single squirrel. It took a two years for the population to recover. This time of year [around the end of December and beginning of January], there is usually a slowdown in squirrel activity around here. YMMV Activity usually picks up again as the weather starts warming with as the end of winter nears.
Hang in there and hunt.
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I see a lot of nests in the trees but no activity lately... even the Dawg is perplexed.
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Ray it is hard to say what's up with the squirrels there. My first thought was a predator bird or birds perhaps. I hate to say it but those little tree rats are smarter than we think lol. Anyways I was just thinking the other day how the wild life has some what petered out around here too. Fishing same.
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Google "Great squirrel migration". I ain't kidding. :o
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Not much has changed where I live.
I see squirrels out in the woods all the time, even in really cold temps.
There are even more in the neighborhood where I live.
I had 6 in my yard today and it was -8 F and -22 f wind chill.
I have a Flying Squirrel that raids my suit feeder at night too.
Those Flying Squirrels can move really fast, almost a blur at times.
Best Wishes - Tom
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"Great squirrel migration". But where do they go?
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"Great squirrel migration". But where do they go?
Good question.
Thx
Ray
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Not about squirrels, but a friend who is a single mom with three kids in Alaska just put three deer in her freezer. Maybe the frontier has moved up there.
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Sounds a lot like a few years back on our place. The bobcats must had a population explosion. Not just squirrels but deer and turkey...
every critter in the woods was on edge. Even the cattle were nervous. Killed 6 bobcats in less than two years. By the 3rd year things were pretty much normal again
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I can walk the path in our woods in jeans and sweatshirt and see a ton of squirrels. Camo up and carry an air rifle and there are none to be found. I've even tried walking in jeans and a sweatshirt while carrying a rifle, still nothing.
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I decided not to go out in 19 degree weather after work. Here in the urban fringe of metro Atlanta the little nutters are all over my office and the older neighborhoods that still have hardwood trees. Sitting within 10' of you on your side of a tree. Been tempted to carry a slingshot or pocket of rocks if I thought I could skin one before any cityslickers noticed.
My experience on stand has been same, carry a PB or crossbow and see tons of squirrels. Last year this time I was carrying the Notos and getting sightings on public land at 50 yards and very skittish. Saddle hunting I get sightings at 40 yards but none have sat still (in cross hairs) long enough for a 35gr Condor inserted headache pill.
I even took my sister on a nature hike on my favorite public land permission and said I feel naked without an AG, etc. we sat still by the lake about 20 minutes and I told her squirrels would come. Sure enough at 20 minutes I heard them crushing leaves, but at 30 minutes an 8 point walked towards me within 20 yards, then around the edge of a low lying area I've sat stand several times towards a doe waiting to greet him......go figure
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I decided not to go out in 19 degree weather after work. Here in the urban fringe of metro Atlanta the little nutters are all over my office and the older neighborhoods that still have hardwood trees. Sitting within 10' of you on your side of a tree. Been tempted to carry a slingshot or pocket of rocks if I thought I could skin one before any cityslickers noticed.
My experience on stand has been same, carry a PB or crossbow and see tons of squirrels. Last year this time I was carrying the Notos and getting sightings on public land at 50 yards and very skittish. Saddle hunting I get sightings at 40 yards but none have sat still (in cross hairs) long enough for a 35gr Condor inserted headache pill.
I even took my sister on a nature hike on my favorite public land permission and said I feel naked without an AG, etc. we sat still by the lake about 20 minutes and I told her squirrels would come. Sure enough at 20 minutes I heard them crushing leaves, but at 30 minutes an 8 point walked towards me within 20 yards, then around the edge of a low lying area I've sat stand several times towards a doe waiting to greet him......go figure
Charles, I'm convinced that "Murphy's Law" was conceived in the hunting woods by a wise old hunter :)
Thx
Ray
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I decided not to go out in 19 degree weather after work. Here in the urban fringe of metro Atlanta the little nutters are all over my office and the older neighborhoods that still have hardwood trees. Sitting within 10' of you on your side of a tree. Been tempted to carry a slingshot or pocket of rocks if I thought I could skin one before any cityslickers noticed.
My experience on stand has been same, carry a PB or crossbow and see tons of squirrels. Last year this time I was carrying the Notos and getting sightings on public land at 50 yards and very skittish. Saddle hunting I get sightings at 40 yards but none have sat still (in cross hairs) long enough for a 35gr Condor inserted headache pill.
I even took my sister on a nature hike on my favorite public land permission and said I feel naked without an AG, etc. we sat still by the lake about 20 minutes and I told her squirrels would come. Sure enough at 20 minutes I heard them crushing leaves, but at 30 minutes an 8 point walked towards me within 20 yards, then around the edge of a low lying area I've sat stand several times towards a doe waiting to greet him......go figure
Charles, I'm convinced that "Murphy's Law" was conceived in the hunting woods by a wise old hunter :)
Thx
Ray
ROFL 2 tru
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We have noticed similar situations on public ground we hunt. We have changed our tactics such that we no longer move supper slow, and we don’t bother sitting and waiting at all. We move quick trying to spot them at distance and stalk close for a shot. Early season that means listening for cuttings and moving in. It’s not uncommon for those in my group to walk up to 8 miles in a morning. But. We usually fill the limit! 5 per hunt. Guess you could say we are having to walk a lot to find the dumb ones. lol.
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Not about squirrels, but a friend who is a single mom with three kids in Alaska just put three deer in her freezer. Maybe the frontier has moved up there.
My daughter and I put three bucks in the freezer on opening weekend this year. A family friend has a great place out in Missouri for deer. Between all the family and friends who hunt it we probably harvest ten per year.
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We have noticed similar situations on public ground we hunt. We have changed our tactics such that we no longer move supper slow, and we don’t bother sitting and waiting at all. We move quick trying to spot them at distance and stalk close for a shot. Early season that means listening for cuttings and moving in. It’s not uncommon for those in my group to walk up to 8 miles in a morning. But. We usually fill the limit! 5 per hunt. Guess you could say we are having to walk a lot to find the dumb ones. lol.
Going to try that this fall.
Many thanks!
I got three shots at 35+ yards and two more sightings I couldn't get on fast enough...nothing in the bag.
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We have noticed similar situations on public ground we hunt. We have changed our tactics such that we no longer move supper slow, and we don’t bother sitting and waiting at all. We move quick trying to spot them at distance and stalk close for a shot. Early season that means listening for cuttings and moving in. It’s not uncommon for those in my group to walk up to 8 miles in a morning. But. We usually fill the limit! 5 per hunt. Guess you could say we are having to walk a lot to find the dumb ones. lol.
Sounds like a proven new tactic. I'll give that a try maybe before our season closes here.
Thx
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We have noticed similar situations on public ground we hunt. We have changed our tactics such that we no longer move supper slow, and we don’t bother sitting and waiting at all. We move quick trying to spot them at distance and stalk close for a shot. Early season that means listening for cuttings and moving in. It’s not uncommon for those in my group to walk up to 8 miles in a morning. But. We usually fill the limit! 5 per hunt. Guess you could say we are having to walk a lot to find the dumb ones. lol.
This is the technique I use now when hunting with a dog. Belle ranges out ten to fifteen yards in front of me. The squirrels often spot her and freeze but they keep their attention on her. I can usually stalk to a good shooting position while the squirrel worries about the dog.
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Anything to distract the squirrel: On my Permission #2, the owner has cattle. And those cattle love to follow me while I move. :-\ When I stop, they will often gather around me. As I start moving again, some will be ahead of me. A couple of times, those ahead of me distracted a squirrel and allowed me to get a kill.
I call them 'squirrel cows' [like squirrel dogs].
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Anything to distract the squirrel: On my Permission #2, the owner has cattle. And those cattle love to follow me while I move. :-\ When I stop, they will often gather around me. As I start moving again, some will be ahead of me. A couple of times, those ahead of me distracted a squirrel and allowed me to get a kill.
I call them 'squirrel cows' [like squirrel dogs].
Those cows might be useful while hunting other types of game but I don't see it becoming a really popular technique.
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HAHAHA !!
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Anything to distract the squirrel: On my Permission #2, the owner has cattle. And those cattle love to follow me while I move. :-\ When I stop, they will often gather around me. As I start moving again, some will be ahead of me. A couple of times, those ahead of me distracted a squirrel and allowed me to get a kill.
I call them 'squirrel cows' [like squirrel dogs].
;D ;D ;D