.22lr squirrel hunting near Howard county

lazarus · Nov 30, 2015

I've searched and I haven't seen much for this. Where the heck in central Maryland can I go squirrel hunting with a .22lr? It looks like the closest places from western Howard county I can go are Frederick city watershed and Cunningham falls. Everything else public lands on Montgomery, Carroll and Howard appear to be shotgun only.

I picked up a mossberg 702 and should have a 4x32 scope for it in the next couple of days. I was going to go deer hunting Saturday with my ML, but I may have broken my toe, or if not jammed it really bad last night. I can hobble a few hundred yards, but dragging a deer or hiking a couple of miles is out. Maybe if it was only a bad jam/bruising it'll be better by Saturday, but I am not holiday my breath (I hope it is by next Saturday!!!)

I could take my new 12ga out that I also just got, but I'd really like to try the .22lr. I got the .22lr for squirrel, rabbit and plinking. I got the 12ga for goose, turkey and trap. Also no #6 or 7. All I've got is #7.5 trap shells (yeah I could get some #6, but I am cheap and lazy). I was kind of hoping Saturday morning I could drive up to happ-baker, dial in the rifle/sight and then go somewhere semi-nearby for some squirrel hunting.

K31 · Nov 30, 2015

lazarus said:
I've searched and I haven't seen much for this. Where the heck in central Maryland can I go squirrel hunting with a .22lr? It looks like the closest places from western Howard county I can go are Frederick city watershed and Cunningham falls. Everything else public lands on Montgomery, Carroll and Howard appear to be shotgun only.

Sounds about right.

akalma · Nov 30, 2015

I believe you can use .22lr for squirrel hunting in any MD county, the restriction is for deer hunting only.

From http://www.eregulations.com/maryland/hunting/firearm-regulations/

Breech-loading rifles are those that are not loaded from the muzzle and include, but are not limited to, break action, bolt action, pump action, lever action, falling block, and semi-automatic rifles. Breech-loading rifles may be used to hunt in all counties EXCEPT THEY MAY NOT BE USED TO HUNT DEER in [list of the counties]

I saw people hunting squirrels with .22lr in Patuxent river park in MoCo part.

DoormanTNT · Nov 30, 2015

I asked the same question direct to DNR.

.22 is legal STATEWIDE......

"Shotgun only" counties only apply to deer.

Melnic · Nov 30, 2015

When I called to get my reservation at Hugg Thomas last year they said no to 22lr

That also limits your shots.

lazarus · Nov 30, 2015

But a lot of the public lands specifically say archery, archery and ML or archery, ML and shotgun only. They don't quibble on what you are using it for.

SRD · Nov 30, 2015

DoormanTNT said:
I asked the same question direct to DNR.

.22 is legal STATEWIDE......

"Shotgun only" counties only apply to deer.

^^ I'd go with this,it's in writing.

Melnic said:
When I called to get my reservation at Hugg Thomas last year they said no to 22lr

That also limits your shots.

Not directed at you Melnic,but if it's not in print in the Guide then I'm not taking the word of someone over the phone.

BigDaddy · Nov 30, 2015

If you get any, watch this http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/bushy-tailed-rodents-the-main-course-at-ark-cooking-contest/

justsand · Nov 30, 2015

akalma said:
I believe you can use .22lr for squirrel hunting in any MD county, the restriction is for deer hunting only.

From http://www.eregulations.com/maryland/hunting/firearm-regulations/

I saw people hunting squirrels with .22lr in Patuxent river park in MoCo part.

correct

Budmag · Nov 30, 2015

Patuxent Refuge in Laurel allows small game with .22cal but not sure if rimfire or centerfire but it should be one of the two, it does have a prequalifier for bow and shotgun and not sure if that included the .22 cal coz they said I'm good to go after passing the bow qualifier. You have to pass one or the other to be a member and you have to be a member in order to hunt there

lazarus · Nov 30, 2015

SRD said:
^^ I'd go with this,it's in writing.

Not directed at you Melnic,but if it's not in print in the Guide then I'm not taking the word of someone over the phone.

It says it specifically on the website as well as posted signage in the parking area at Hugg that no rifles or pistols.

Unless a .22lr isn't considered a rifle, it isn't legal on a lot of public land. It calls out in a lot of places things like archery only, or archery, shooting and ML. I really doubt their intent is you can hunt anything except deer with a rifle by that.

Melnic · Nov 30, 2015

SRD said:
^^ I'd go with this,it's in writing. Not directed at you Melnic,but if it's not in print in the Guide then I'm not taking the word of someone over the phone.

The guide won't state the restrictions of a DNR controlled property. You can hunt squirrel on private land in Howard with a 22 but Hugg is DNR controlled

FFMike · Nov 30, 2015

Melnic said:
The guide won't state the restrictions of a DNR controlled property. You can hunt squirrel on private land in Howard with a 22 but Hugg is DNR controlled

Hugg is like that due to proximity to housing.
Or at least that is what a DNR cop (friend) told me a year or so ago.

DanJo · Dec 1, 2015

I'm in western Howard County and my teenage sons squirrel hunt in the woods behind our house with Gammo .177's which are super accurate and quiet. 25 yard head shots are not a problem. They've gotten 8 to 10 so far this year including two really nice black squirrels. There's no shortage of squirrels since they repopulate faster than you can shoot them. I don't bother with squirrels myself since there's so little meat on them. Even the fat looking ones are mostly fur. My sons wait until they have five or six in the freezer and then grill them up with their friends. Using a .22lr makes a lot more noise which makes it more difficult to find places to hunt.

TheRevolution · Dec 3, 2015

lazarus said:
It says it specifically on the website as well as posted signage in the parking area at Hugg that no rifles or pistols.

Unless a .22lr isn't considered a rifle, it isn't legal on a lot of public land. It calls out in a lot of places things like archery only, or archery, shooting and ML. I really doubt their intent is you can hunt anything except deer with a rifle by that.

The way I understand it is that you can use a rifle to hunt, provided it is not for deer, anywhere in Maryland, unless otherwise specifically stated. An example of this would be some public lands that state "shotgun only" or "bow only". I also don't think there is any rule limiting it to .22 caliber either.

lazarus · Dec 5, 2015

Problem is all Howard and Montgomery public lands I've checked have all specifically state either bow only, how and ML or bow, ML and shotgun only. Carroll too, except I think Hanover on the state line allows rifles, but Hanover is further from me than Cunningham or Frederick watershed.

.22lr squirrel hunting near Howard county

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