Hunting Squirrel and Furbearer Methods?

[TheNewGuy]

Guys and gals hunting and trapping in St. Mary's county what methods do you use?

Are 22lr and 17hmr ok for these as well or is their a firearm/caliber restriction?

The DNR seasonal calendar provided little info in the way of restrictions.


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[K31]

Unless you are going to wait until they're scurrying along the ground, most shots you're going to have at squirrels are in tree branches. So even if it's okay, it's better to use a shotgun than a rifle.

 

[shooter56]

Take a look into air guns. I can take squirrels up to 40 yards with my .22 caliber (pellets) spring piston break barrel air rifle. In Maryland, you can hunt squirrel, rabbit, fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk, coyote, Quail, Ruffed Grouse, Pheasant, Crow, Nutria, Woodchuck, Fisher and even Deer with air guns. For deer, you must use at least .40 caliber with at least 400ftlb muzzle energy. There is a huge community of air gunners and hunting with air guns is becoming very popular in the U.S. The guns are very quiet as compared to firearms and with the lower powered ones you can be far less concerned with where you are shooting. Of course, you must still shoot safely but the lightweight pellets lose velocity and power fairly quickly. For example, a typical .22LR rifle has around 100ftlbs of muzzle energy where my .22 pellet rifle with a 14.2 grain pellet has about 16ftlbs. Still plenty enough to humanely kill small animals. Took this one recently at 22 yards.

 

[Texas]

I love me some squirrel dumplings!

 

[Melnic]

private or public land.
If you are on private, squirrels mess with deer corn. Right before sunset.
Those tree rats can be immortal if you don't get a headshot. They can go down, but not out for the count.

 

[TheNewGuy]

Elms Wildlife managment area is almost in my back yard so i will start there.
I will now have to do research on high powered air rifles

Also found out that I had to take a course or test out for a trapper permit since i didnt trap before 2007.


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[TheNewGuy]

I have only ever hunted deer and have never got excited about small game. Thanks to the show Meat Eater I'm now obsessed with any game.


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[TheNewGuy]

private or public land.
If you are on private, squirrels mess with deer corn. Right before sunset.
Those tree rats can be immortal if you don't get a headshot. They can go down, but not out for the count.

Immortal Tree Rats! Lol


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[bhtr]

Immortal Tree Rats! Lol

It's definitely a thing. lol. Tough animals.
Six for 6 with the bow and bludgeon point this year. Three one day. First was at 29 yards. Squirrel gravy and biscuits. Yum.

 

[Texas]

Anyone wanna share their squirrel recipes? I have two days during the week I get to cook.

 

[Melnic]

This slows them down but I had to get out of my tree stand to stop it from getting away with my bolt and end it.
It was trying to pop the lid off my feeder. Hour later a young buck showed up.

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[TheNewGuy]

This slows them down but I had to get out of my tree stand to stop it from getting away with my bolt and end it.
It was trying to pop the lid off my feeder. Hour later a young buck showed up.

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Squirrel kabob anyone?


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[TheNewGuy]

Take a look into air guns. I can take squirrels up to 40 yards with my .22 caliber (pellets) spring piston break barrel air rifle. In Maryland, you can hunt squirrel, rabbit, fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk, coyote, Quail, Ruffed Grouse, Pheasant, Crow, Nutria, Woodchuck, Fisher and even Deer with air guns. For deer, you must use at least .40 caliber with at least 400ftlb muzzle energy. There is a huge community of air gunners and hunting with air guns is becoming very popular in the U.S. The guns are very quiet as compared to firearms and with the lower powered ones you can be far less concerned with where you are shooting. Of course, you must still shoot safely but the lightweight pellets lose velocity and power fairly quickly. For example, a typical .22LR rifle has around 100ftlbs of muzzle energy where my .22 pellet rifle with a 14.2 grain pellet has about 16ftlbs. Still plenty enough to humanely kill small animals. Took this one recently at 22 yards.

Looking at a Benjamin Marauder now. They seem to be a nicer air soft rifle to hunt with based on forums.


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[shooter56]

These are not airsoft guns. The Marauder is a very nice gun but it's a pcp type. Pre-charged pneumatic and requires an external air source to charge them. A special hand pump can be used but is a lot of work. The most common way is to use a scuba tank or other approved tank that you can get charged at a scuba shop for a fee. A typical home compressor will not work. A pcp is a step up from spring or gas piston, pump action and co2 air guns.

 

[Mightydog]

Take a look into air guns. I can take squirrels up to 40 yards with my .22 caliber (pellets) spring piston break barrel air rifle. In Maryland, you can hunt squirrel, rabbit, fox, raccoon, opossum, skunk, coyote, Quail, Ruffed Grouse, Pheasant, Crow, Nutria, Woodchuck, Fisher and even Deer with air guns. For deer, you must use at least .40 caliber with at least 400ftlb muzzle energy. There is a huge community of air gunners and hunting with air guns is becoming very popular in the U.S. The guns are very quiet as compared to firearms and with the lower powered ones you can be far less concerned with where you are shooting. Of course, you must still shoot safely but the lightweight pellets lose velocity and power fairly quickly. For example, a typical .22LR rifle has around 100ftlbs of muzzle energy where my .22 pellet rifle with a 14.2 grain pellet has about 16ftlbs. Still plenty enough to humanely kill small animals. Took this one recently at 22 yards.

Nice setup. What maker for rifle and scope? Can I ask what cost for what you have shown (not including squirrel)?

 

[shooter56]

The gun is an RWS Diana 34, runs about $300 and the scope is a Leapers UTG 3-9X40 1" Hunter, AO, 36-color Mil-dot, runs about $100 The scope mount was $15 and the scope rings were $47. The scope comes with rings but spring piston guns are hard on scopes due to forward recoil and the stock rings were not doing a good enough job of preventing the scope from creaping.