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Squirrel hunting probably my favorite
- Thread starter WojtekWeaponry
- Start date
We hunt squirrel alot. If the lakes don't freeze up enough for ice fishing new years weekend we hit the woods for squirrel. Funny thing is my brother and son said they'd rather be ice fishing cuz I have a freezer full of venison sausage and I always cook sausage sandwiches with peppers and onions while we're ice fishing......I said ok......nothing stopping me from packing a grill and tailgating in the wma parking lot! So that's the plan.
Excellent!
kerryman71
NES Member
Hoping to get out a couple more times before I go for meniscus surgery on 5 January. If the recovery goes well I may even be able to get out again before the end of February.
KBCraig
NES Member
NH Senate Bill 548 (2024) will remove gray squirrels from the list of game animals. That would mean no season, no limit... same as every other rodent in the state except for beavers (furbearer rules).
tuna
NES Member
They may as well - does anyone really take any small game hunting serious? Small game is just target shooting and a way to show you're an a-hole for most people.
I find it funny how everyone is concerned with ethics when it comes to deer - but will think nothing of just taking pot shots at squirrels or even grouse with a .308. I'll take a squirrel hunt any day over a deer hunt - especially since gray squirrel are rarer than hen's teeth in North NH. All I can get are piney tasting reds.
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Squirrel hunting is going the way of deer hunting. I see more in urban areas and close to my house than I see in the deep woods.
When I hunting urban CT I could fill a wheelbarrow with them, in a few hours if I wanted to shoot them with a bow, back home in deep woods MA, I'd be lucky to see two on an 8 hour hunt.
Gonna be glorious. Greys and Woodchucks in a day would be a banger.
I take it seriously. It should be taken more seriously than it is and I encourage new hunters to cut their teeth on small game or vermin hunting before going out for deer. It is so enjoyable.
kerryman71
NES Member
After my last time out a couple weeks ago I told my son I'm just going to start carrying my .22 rifle in the truck all the time (I'm not really going to do that), because when I pull up and park there they are. Get into the woods and it's another story, unless it's deer archery season; then they're all over the place!
fencer
NES Member
They are vermin, and should be exterminated. But I just can't bring myself to eat them.
Don't get me wrong, I have had them in a stew, and it was "fine", but the only reason I am eating tree rat is if I was starving and had no choice.
I know that a good recipe makes all the difference, and it's still probably healthier than a Big Mac, but I just can't.
If you enjoy it, all the power to you. You are doing the world a service and filling your belly. Solid win.
I honestly carry my rifle and a suppressor pretty much everywhere I go now, it’s a riot.
kerryman71
NES Member
When my son was about 13 or 14 years old he told me he wanted to try some, but I had to let him know it was squirrel before he ate it. One night I made fried squirrel over biscuits and gravy. He sat down with it on his plate, literally gagged before even eating any, then devoured it.
Afterwards I told him anyone who says it doesn't taste like chicken is full of shit! He said it actually tasted better.
Nh opens Sunday for squirrel. Getting my gear ready now. I know filson went woke the last few years but this is an old pair from when they made clothes for men not metro sexual loggers.
I do like waxed canvas chaps for any woods work even squirrel hunting.
I do like waxed canvas chaps for any woods work even squirrel hunting.
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tuna
NES Member
Looking forward to this year as well. Won't be able to get out this week, but soon enough.
Have a friend that is supposedly overrun with deer and wants me and my son to hunt her property. This should be a good excuse to bump around the woods scouting for "sign" while checking the treetops.
Have a friend that is supposedly overrun with deer and wants me and my son to hunt her property. This should be a good excuse to bump around the woods scouting for "sign" while checking the treetops.
HorizontalHunter
NES Member
Good luck
Thanks.
I'm a lucky man. My son is 22and fully on his own (bought a house and moved out) and still wants to hunt squirrel with his old man on opening day. I don't think I can ask for more than that.
HorizontalHunter
NES Member
He was raised well.
There is nothing like hunting with your dad. I only had the opportunity to hunt with my dad a few times and I cherish those memories and think of them often.
I am lucky that he is still with us at 85 but his health prevents rambling in the woods.
Bob
I read a short story in a collection of hunting stories a few years back about this subject. A 3 generation duck hunting trip......the grandfather was along in years and the story tells of the trip and the grandfather was having a tough day getting around......the father could see the old man struggling to keep up but he seemed to enjoy watching his grandson get a couple ducks in the bag. The walk back to the truck was real hard on the old man......when they'd dropped the grandfather off at his house the father had to help him up the stairs. Father and son got in the truck to head home and the grandson says hold on wait grandad forgot his shotgun and went to grab it and take it to him......father touched his son on the shoulder and said "son leave the shotgun".
Tear jerker ending. You get the drift I'm sure.
HorizontalHunter
NES Member
I read a short story in a collection of hunting stories a few years back about this subject. A 3 generation duck hunting trip......the grandfather was along in years and the story tells of the trip and the grandfather was having a tough day getting around......the father could see the old man struggling to keep up but he seemed to enjoy watching his grandson get a couple ducks in the bag. The walk back to the truck was real hard on the old man......when they'd dropped the grandfather off at his house the father had to help him up the stairs. Father and son got in the truck to head home and the grandson says hold on wait grandad forgot his shotgun and went to grab it and take it to him......father touched his son on the shoulder and said "son leave the shotgun".
Tear jerker ending. You get the drift I'm sure.
Spot on.
That red was not on purpose. He was black lit by the sun so I saw outline of squirrel and dropped him.
So 5 Grey's plus a red. Will hit the woods tomorrow morning again. Gonna buy the ingredients for onion gravy and biscuits today.
Met a local trapper out on the trail this morning real interesting guy. We chatted for a bit. He says bobcats are plentiful he had ton release 4 of them last season......but in the infinite wisdom of of the state bobcat still closed. He was out getting a head start on coyote bait that's what he uses the squirrels for. Always cool to meet interesting guys out here.
So 5 Grey's plus a red. Will hit the woods tomorrow morning again. Gonna buy the ingredients for onion gravy and biscuits today.
Met a local trapper out on the trail this morning real interesting guy. We chatted for a bit. He says bobcats are plentiful he had ton release 4 of them last season......but in the infinite wisdom of of the state bobcat still closed. He was out getting a head start on coyote bait that's what he uses the squirrels for. Always cool to meet interesting guys out here.
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HorizontalHunter
NES Member
Looks like a great day.
The state is always slow to react and when it does it usually over reacts.
Good news for anyone getting out to the woods early......way fewer skeeters than last year. Ffs last September was brutal......wasn't even worth going. Sun and mom mornings I didn't even need repellant it was actually enjoyable.
Took my new henry 22 lever to the range to see what I trust it for as far as squirrel. 25 yards dead on poi.....50 yards hits a scooch high using cci standard. I think I'm gonna challenge myself this weekend and take it out for a walk. Fill it with 14 and head out. If I can't get 5 with 14 rounds I shoikd quit anyway lol.
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