Squirrels. Do you hunt them?

[Gutpile]

I grew up in Spokane and had never even heard of people hunting squirrels till I joined the service back in the 80's. Some southern boy came to the motor pool with about five of them and was bragging up a storm. I almost got in a fight since I had to poke a little fun at him. Little did I know squirrel hunting is HUGE in certain areas of the country. So the question is, do any of you shoot these things? I don't remember seeing them listed anywhere in the regs, but figure some of you may like the little rats.

[boneaddict]

most of them its illegal, except for a couple ground ones.

[saylean]

In the south I know they hunt em...round hear...I just giggle as they cackle at me...

Last year I had vengence on 1 of em though...lil bastage was chirping at me for like an hour as I sat waitn for an elk...

I hear a painful SQEECK!...and a hawk buzzes me, catching the little guy...

got what he deserved!

[Gutpile]

I hear a painful SQEECK!...and a hawk buzzes me, catching the little guy...

got what he deserved!

I hate those things making all that racket.

Ever see the funniest home video clip where the kids were playing with the pet rat and the hawk snatched it up right in front of them? That was hilarious.

[billythekidrock]

most of them its illegal, except for a couple ground ones.

Yep!

[Ray]

Shooting Squirrels (hardly hunting) is fantastic. What a blast. Out in Montana we put a hurtin on them all day long this spring. Never get so much real shooting in a day than that. Targets often do not sit still for long and are small.

[Bscman]

most of them its illegal, except for a couple ground ones.

Yup, the majority are illegal to take in Washington.
All native squirrels, chipmunks, etc. are protected.  Only Eastern Gray Squirrels (a non-native species very similar to our protected Western Gray squirrels) are lawful to hunt....the problem is being able to positively distinguish them from those that are protected.

The long and short?
Better just to leave 'em alone.

[jackelope]

we used to hunt grey squirrels in new york...they were not too bad to eat, either, as long as you kill them with a 22 or a pellet gun...shotgun did too much damage.

[MountainWalk]

i grew up in arkansas cutting my hunting  teeth on squirrels.. make no mistake, it takes no small modicum of skill to be a consistent squirrel killer with a 22.. they are quite sneaky and are not at all tame like the ones up here.. not trusting at all....sneaky buggers.. its pretty hard to get your limit of 8 by yourself with a 22.. some of the red and fox squirrels get to be fairly large, 3 lbs.. fine fine eating. good teaching for a youngster.. woodsmanship.. stillhunting and stalking skills and patience.. its too bad more youngsters dont hunt them first off.. they are imo, missing out.. too bad they go straight to deer...

[Machias]

I grew up hunting squirrels in the Ozarks of Missouri.  I miss it ALOT.  A scoped .22 when the leaves are on, man I'm telling you it is a absolute blast.  Grey Squirrels were the early risers, Fox squirrels tended to sleep in.  You have not died and gone to heaven till you have eaten squirrel dipped in a bater and fried.  (Hardly Hunting) I would have to respectfully disagree with you, granted they are not on par with some old cagy whitetail buck, but they can be quite elusive.  I used to walk into an area and sit down, wait about 10 to 15 minutes and then give soft turkey yelps.  The squirrels would go back to their business and pretty soon your trying to get the crosshairs on them little heads.  It's a super way to get kids hooked on hunting.  I firmly believe that is one thing missing from the great west is good small game hunting, squirrels and cottontails, best medicine for stoking the hunting desires!

[ICEMAN]

Hey Machias, that sounds really fun. growing up out here, we have missed out on that fun...just chipmunks....a few squirrels out where I grew up..never ate one...

At age 13, I was blasting chipmunks and whatever with my cousins around WhiteSalmon at deer camp one year. Cutting their tails off... A gamie stops at camp to check tags, and tells me that I shouldnt be shooting chipmunks.... I say, "I am not shooting chipmunks..."  He reaches forward and pulls a bunch of tails that are sticking out of my shirt pocket! Busted! No ticket, but I about peed my pants!

[Ray]

(Hardly Hunting) I would have to respectfully disagree with you, granted they are not on par with some old cagy whitetail buck, but they can be quite elusive.

I guess it depends on what Squirrels you are shooting and I was referencing my experiences more than anything else. I didn't find any of the hundreds we laid to rest this spring elusive one bit. Nor any other ones I have taken in previous years. Until they got shot at. At any rate I did find it fun. The ones I always see in the forest around my parts bark at you while they run up and down tree limbs and sound off pretty good. Not very elusive either.

[Machias]

  Try a fox or grey squirrel in the hardwoods in the midwest and the south.  More fun then you'd imagine!  I wouldn't consider shooting these pesky little reds hunting either.

[Ray]

I'd love to 

[Machias]

A photo from my early days, man did Missouri have some big fox squirrels!!