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#4 high brass is my choice. 1 1/4 ounce through a full choke. Squirrels may be small but their skin is tough.Not sure when I’ll get out but I’m pretty excited for squirrel. One thing I learned last year: don’t under estimate them. Like others have said they can be tough to find, but squirrel themselves are tough critters. I didn’t have great results with the #6 steel shot 12ga loads I used on pheasant so I’m packing #4 lead this year. Had one particularly inhumane kill last year that prompted me to make this change.
When they are in the canopy and too far for a shot you can move in closer just have to go slow and quiet. If they see you sometimes they go around the back side of the trunk of the tree or behind a large branch and sit still. If your hunting with a partner.....have one guy go around the back side while you point the shotgun up where you last saw it.....the squirrel will either come around to your side and you can get a shot or your partner will get a shot if he stays put. If your alone.......pick up a stick and throw it toward the back side of the tree......when it hits the ground sometimes that will make him move and you can get a shot. Taken many squirrels with that trick.Well, in the 9 hours I spent on Monday stalking and sitting for them I saw a few but they are keen to stay in the upper canopy when they sense you’re near. They are pretty tough to narrow down.
Are the only WMA lands on the state map? Not seeing anything in zone 7. Everything pretty far from me. Thought I was zone 9 I was mistaken.
Not sure when I’ll get out but I’m pretty excited for squirrel. One thing I learned last year: don’t under estimate them. Like others have said they can be tough to find, but squirrel themselves are tough critters. I didn’t have great results with the #6 steel shot 12ga loads I used on pheasant so I’m packing #4 lead this year. Had one particularly inhumane kill last year that prompted me to make this change.
re: pellet gun
If the bore is rifled, it's considered a rifle.
I’d picked steel at first because I didn’t love the idea of lead in my food.Is there a reason you are using steel shot on squirrels and pheasant?
I have always used lead. It pattens better and kills better.
Bob
Yes........but..... it isn’t a firearm.
The case law is clearer than the MGL.
Bob
Yes, but this is with regard to hunting (CMR) not MGL. I have a species/implement spreadsheet from MA DFW, which mentions the rifle issues with regard to airguns. "If it has a rifled bore..." Same issue with using a muzzle loader, they defer to the bore being the determining factor if it's a rifle or not. I posted it here a while back, but I believe someone else posted a more recent copy.
Wow at least he called you back with an answer.I spoke with an EPO today. He researched and called me back twice. My break barrel pellet gun has a rifled bore. And is considered a rifle so I can not use it in zone 11 for hunting. I have to use my shotgun. He originally thought I was talking Zones 1-9. And said it couldn’t be used because they want to make sure you kill your target. That didn’t make much sense to me. You can wound an animal with anything if your shot is off. But anyway. I can’t use it for hunting in my zone.
Is there any regulation on needing a plug in your shotgun. Looking on what has been linked here and just not sure. Passed my hunter Ed course last year. Want to stay legal and not run amuck of a law. How about amount of 22 rounds you can have in your rifle, ie a marlin tube fed holding 18 ok? A 10 round 1022 mag ok? Anyone know if dean pond area in zone 9 can be hunted. Last I was there signs said it was permitted but doesn’t show up on the state map. Trying to get some squirrels in zone 9 zone 8 border area. Don’t have private property unfortunately. Trying to find somewhere near Hampden Wilbraham monson area
Are the only WMA lands on the state map? Not seeing anything in zone 7. Everything pretty far from me. Thought I was zone 9 I was mistaken.
Have not been out yet.So no tree rats for anyone yet? I’ve only been out once so far but tomorrow I’ll do a sit and stalk.
Saturday was a wash with the rain, huh?Have not been out yet.
No. Boy turned 18. Celebrated by taking him for a tattoo lol....that's what he wanted. He's a good kid......straight a student ranked #7 out of 450 students academically. 3 sport athlete. I actually am proud of the dude!Saturday was a wash with the rain, huh?
Squirrel and gravy, squirrel pot pie, or fried squirrel?Not ashamed to say it but this was my first ever kill shot on a legally hunted animal. Sure, as a kid I’ve killed my fair share of small game for fun until I wisened up and my conscience took ownership.
It was a humbling experience even for such a small creature. I’m thankful for the chance to catch, cook, and eat this.
I spent all day in the woods today hunting squirrels, scouting, and setting up game cameras. I only left the woods once to pick up my Browning Gold Deer Hunter 12ga from Pullman Arms.
I was just walking back to my cuv on a login road in Dcr land east of 190 and Lo! A fatty squirrel popped ahead on the edge of the forest to rest on a log watching me from 40-50 yards. I pulled up he Ruger 10/22 with the red dot and mini mag CCI and put one right behind the upper shoulders clean through part of the spine as well. Death was about 30 secs.
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Not ashamed to say it but this was my first ever kill shot on a legally hunted animal. Sure, as a kid I’ve killed my fair share of small game for fun until I wisened up and my conscience took ownership.
It was a humbling experience even for such a small creature. I’m thankful for the chance to catch, cook, and eat this.
I spent all day in the woods today hunting squirrels, scouting, and setting up game cameras. I only left the woods once to pick up my Browning Gold Deer Hunter 12ga from Pullman Arms.
I was just walking back to my cuv on a login road in Dcr land east of 190 and Lo! A fatty squirrel popped ahead on the edge of the forest to rest on a log watching me from 40-50 yards. I pulled up he Ruger 10/22 with the red dot and mini mag CCI and put one right behind the upper shoulders clean through part of the spine as well. Death was about 30 secs.
View attachment 303457
So, I looked up Saint Hubertus. Saint of metal workers, opticians, hunters, and mathematicians. Also looks like the Jaegermeister label.
Yes. Jeagaemeiater means hunt master in German.So, I looked up Saint Hubertus. Saint of metal workers, opticians, hunters, and mathematicians. Also looks like the Jaegermeister label.