Squirrel Season, Need a few pointers.. Options

[buck_hunter21]

Howdy all,
I plan on going squirrel hunting this season. I have been before but this will be the first time I actually put time into it. I was just wanting to see what I should do to get set. I will be using a Remington 870 Mag that came with a full choke tube. Do I need to look into getting a different choke tube? Also, what type of ammo do I need to use? Just a few things I had questions about. If there is anything that I missed feel free to let me know what it is.

Thanks guys/gals,

[longspur]

i hunt squirrels with an 870 and use the full choke tube that came in it. try some 6 or 7 1/2 shot. that should bring 'em down for you.

[clarkeman1954]

Your using a 12 ga. right? that may be too much ut it wont matter since squirrels are no big deal. a full choke maybe to tight as well. try a modified or improved cylinder but full will do as well. ammo just use 7 1/2 or 8 shot. you also can use a low power rifle like .22 .204 .223 .22-250 or even a .243 or .17. its not a real big deal and you can slip by with a mistake.

[strutter1234]

a 12 gauge will be fine there tuff skined or use a 22 try for head shots full choke with 6 7 shot low brass i wouldnt use those guns clarkeman said if you were hunting for the meat and i guess it depends on what your area is like thick or open highest caliber i ever used was a 22

[wmramse]

In spring and early fall, a scatter gun is your best bet. With all the leaves still on the trees, it's tough to track them running from limb to limb through a scope, or even with open sights. Once the leaves fall off, hunting them with a .22 will make you a better marksman overall. Personally, I don't care to hunt anything with a shotgun that I plan to eat, because I don't like biting down on steel shot However, I'll use one when my .22 isn't the best option.

A smaller-bore scatter gun will usually server you better (20ga is about perfect), but if a 12 is what you have, use it! #7 shot will do the trick, but I suggest a modified choke. If you're a good shot with a full choke you may actually get too many pellets in them. That's just my personal preference, and a full choke will work fine.

I don't know how the laws are where you are, but here in AR we aren't allowed to hunt any small game with a centerfire rifle - only rimfire. I'd check your regs before using anything else. The .17s are too hot for squirrels IMHO if you plan to eat them, however a head shot doesn't mess up any meat Unless you're one of those weird folks that eat the brains (yes, some people do!)

[deerlover]

When I was growing up, I remember waking up to the alarm and made sure if it wasn't windy out, I was hunting squirrels! I always took my .22 (shells were cheap) and I was a sniper with that thing! I would almost always limit out....and I always cleaned them for my grandma and grandpa.

I wasn't much for obeying limits back then, but I remember coming home one morning with 22 squirrels, my best ever morning and there were squirrels everywhere!

I don't go much anymore...maybe once or twice a year, but I always swear, while I am deer hunting and all those squirrels are running around, that I am going to kill every single one of them the following summer! (never happens )

[varhunter]

It really depends on what your gonna do with them. If you plan to eat them i'd say a .22 to the head. No meat is wasted with that but if you want the pelts for some reason, a small shot will work just fine. And if you don't care and just want to shoot a few of them, possibly for extra practice then use what ever you want to use. It won't matter. I've herd that the squirrel buster will make them chatter like you won't believe. I've never used it but that's what i've herd. any call can help you find them.

[clarkeman1954]

yeah I was just listing some things since most people (assuming) dont eat squirrels. Your best bet is definantly a .22. If you do use a 12 ga. or any shotgun use 7 1/2 shot or 8 shot with a modified choke.

[RAMBO]

i love hunting them in early season with a pump 410. later in the year ill go to 22leveraction.

[nyturkeyduster]

When I was growing up, I remember waking up to the alarm and made sure if it wasn't windy out, I was hunting squirrels! I always took my .22 (shells were cheap) and I was a sniper with that thing! I would almost always limit out....and I always cleaned them for my grandma and grandpa.

I wasn't much for obeying limits back then, but I remember coming home one morning with 22 squirrels, my best ever morning and there were squirrels everywhere!

I don't go much anymore...maybe once or twice a year, but I always swear, while I am deer hunting and all those squirrels are running around, that I am going to kill every single one of them the following summer! (never happens )

Musta been fun carrying out 22 squirrels