Going to Virginia for a week to hunt...

[klikboom]

Well I know that Virginia isn't the quintessential out of state hunt for us western wa'-ers, but I was invited by a friend to go stay for a week with his hunting group and tags are only $150 for 6deer tags, bear, and turkey so I figured I'd jump on it as it will be a good time with some nice folks and at least I won't have to wait until next year to hunt again. We'll be hunting on public land there, Fairystones Farms WMA. Any eastcoast hunters on this forums with tips on how to hunt over there?

As I understand it is fairly mature hardwoods, and they have some clear cut areas they plant for extra browse. Leaves will be off the trees, and supposedly the rut should be brewing at about the time I'm there in December.

I've never hunted on anything but western Wa slopes and couple hills just over the pass.

[Wacenturion]

You will enjoy it....definite difference compared to the west, but those hardwoods have their own beauty.  If squirrel season is open (may be closed)...try it...great sport and great eating.

[klikboom]

Yes, squirrel season is open, i guess I will find if one of the guy has a .22 or something? Or do you just aim for the heads I didn't know they were good eating, I will definitely be on the lookout.

[Wacenturion]

I always used shotgun...much easier.  Check regs.  Eastern Greys and Fox squirrels are very good.  One tip though....after skinning and quartering squirrels, boil them for about 15 minutes, then put on barbecue or rack in over with barbecue sauce or other on them.  Meat will fall off the bone.  If you don't boil them, and you get adult older squirrels they may not be as tender.  Remember they climb trees for a living.......tough muscles. 

I'm sure the locals will also fill you in.....but make sure you set some time apart to squirrel hunt.  You won't regret it.  It's like big game hunting of the small game world, if that makes sense.

[bamalefty]

I want to add to the squirrel hunting topic.  I grew up in Alabama chasing bushy tails.  We always used 22 rifles with scopes.  We would always either use head shots or right behind the shoulders.  But we would only eat the legs.  Start with the squirrel belly down on a table.  Pinch some hair on their backs, make a cut, and then pull the hide in opposite directions using both hands.  It will come right off easily.  Then we would just cut the legs off, soak them in some milk and egg, then batter them with flour salt pepper, etc and fry them.  Great eating but you better kill alot of them

With a .22 you just have to deal with one bullet and it always passes through.  With a shotgun you have to pick out all the pellets.

[klikboom]

LOL, squirrel hunting sounds awesome, an added bonus! I can imagine squirrel legs aren't the most filling of entrees.

[crabcreekhunter]

Im from moses lake but am going to school in virginia... the leaves are coming off the trees pretty rapidly now and its getting colder now... Havent done any hunting out here but its definately different than the high cascades or the desert of washington.. more similar to the west side of the state but not as much undergrowth... good luck and it should be fun.

[klikboom]

Sweet, thanks for the tips guys. Squirrel is open until Jan, and in the Fairystone area, so hopefully I will pop a couple. Is there any particular technique or just walk through woods and shoot said squirrel when you see it (climbing a tree)?

I think I would prefer a .22 over a shotgun. I have to say i have no idea where the shotgun pellets go, i would greatly prefer to aim a rifle. My last grouse expedition was ridiculous (first time hunting with a shotgun) i swear those birds had force fields around them, I could've hit them with a rock easier then with my 12 gauge!

[merlo105]

Hunting them bushy *censored*s is a blast, Deer ever got slow on me I would smoke them little chits the rest of the time... There are so many deer around there, There aint a real tactic you need, Find a spot in the woods anywhere and I mean anywhere you will see deer... I was just down that way last year I was Hunting W.VA then hoped over to VA on some old ground we use to hunt... Still the same deer everywhere...