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The gauge or a .22 for squirrel

dalton916 said:
And now I’m going squirrel hunting for a couple of hours, I’ll report back later.
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Go kill a couple, brother.
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Alright, now that that knucklehead is outta hear, we can talk turkey.

@Vtbow, I would say that your situation is quite different from most people's. I have no problem saying that given your background you can do way more with a rifle than I can. You'd be a killer during the late season in the open riverbottoms down here. I agree that it's a personal choice to a large extent, and definitely a bit situational. There are a few situations where I'll grab a rifle instead of a shotty. Open woods and spooky, late season squirrels; orchards; or situations where it's good to leave a lower footprint. I'd love to suppress my 452 one day.

Also, a good two-man team with one guy carrying a rifle and another carrying a shotty is a beautiful thing. We can coexist! Without fail though, the shotgunner usually takes the lion's share of the shots.

Glad this thread got started. It beats the heck outta sone of the nonsense that's been floating around.
 
I wouln't say I can do more with a rifle than you can, I'd say I can do more with a rifle than I can with a shotgun!

I agree with you, I"m sure I would be taking a lot more shots with a shotgun--but I"d be spending a lotta brass, and crazy enough around here .410 and 20 are more expensive than 12! Open woods is mostly where I am too, oaks and maples. No offense, but Im not workign too hard for squirrels :) If I"m in the brush or thick stuff, I"m looking down for rabbits!

I have both a nef single shot and winchester model 70 take down with several differnt gauge barrels. They're not great for going for a walk in the woods as well, and take down quick if I want to just throw it in a pack.

I can defintely see a rifle and shotgun team taggin out pretty quick!
 
Yeah, smaller gauges are more expensive everywhere. 20s are a nice middle ground, but they're still procier than 12s. Supply and demand.

But, given the relatively low cost of squirrel hunting compared to other pursuits of a sylvan nature, I don't agree with the cost thing. Kinda like drinking Rocking Horse because you can't afford Yeungling. .22 rounds are cheaper, but shotgun shells are hardly expensive.
 
Nutterbuster said:
Yeah, smaller gauges are more expensive everywhere. 20s are a nice middle ground, but they're still procier than 12s. Supply and demand.

But, given the relatively low cost of squirrel hunting compared to other pursuits of a sylvan nature, I don't agree with the cost thing. Kinda like drinking Rocking Horse because you can't afford Yeungling. .22 rounds are cheaper, but shotgun shells are hardly expensive.
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uh...Yeungling is the best "cheap" beer ever produced....unfortunately not availabe her in VT. I do drink PBR because I cant afford to drink Longtrail all the time... :)

I guess I'm afraid I'd unload like I do duck hunting.. Bang, 1$, Bang Bang $2 more....RELOAD...BANG BANG BANG...RELOAD.. BANG $4...dang, should have gotten a take out roasted duck at the chinese place...
 
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Vtbow said:
uh...Yeungling is the best "cheap" beer ever produced....unfortunately not availabe her in VT. I do drink PBR because I cant afford to drink Longtrail all the time... :)

I guess I'm afraid I'd unload like I do duck hunting.. Bang, 1$, Bang Bang $2 more...BANG BANG BANG BANG $4...dang, should have gotten a take out roasted duck at the chinese place...
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Ha! I remember going to Louisiana to open a store and being asked at the corner gas station by the hotel what "yanglin" was. I knew I was in a low-brow place.

I do most of my squirrel hunting with a single shot or the Citori. I'm trying to find an old Stephens. They actually had a rear notch you could settle a bead in, and a European style "hogback" stock. True squirrel guns.

I kinda shoot squirrel shottys like a rifle I guess. One shot usually does the trick. You don't wanna try to bust them when they're corkscrewing up a trunk or bouncing on limbs. Can't lead them like a bird. It's not a blastin' affair at all.

Usually....
 
Zero squirrels in the hour I was able to sneak away. There’s not even any out in town. I thought they might be busy ahead of this front coming thru, but they must have taken take of that this morning.
 
This is good. Started with the shotgun and then the .22. If bunnies are around I'm taking the shotgun for both. This year though I'm pulling a spot and stalk on the chicken of the woods with my Tarus Judge. This will be interesting.
 
No need to shoot them, they’ll pull right off the tree. Won’t even make an effort to run from ya....

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.22 or pellet gun for me. On the public ground I have been hunting this year there are a ton of black squirrels. I was going to bust out the old shotgun and have one mounted next to a black squirrel that my dad killed. Shotgun is necessary to do this as a 22 will blow their head just about smooth off. Just having a real problem toting in steel shot to kill a squirrel.
 
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