Fox Squirrels?

[Catscratch]

Fox squirrels. Never gave them thought before (considering habitat). Had a bumper crop of fruit this summer, then it all disappeared. Might have been squirrels, I don't know.

Here's the deal... I have more tree rats now than I've ever seen before. They are thick! Wondering if they have a negative affect on the forest? Wondering if they got my fruit? Wondering if I should go nuclear on them? What says the brain trust here?

 

[bigboreblr]

Squirrels do cause problems for orchards. 15-20 years ago, I shot squirrels for a apple orchard. They paid me for each squirrel and let me hunt bg game too.

I only shoot animals if they provide food or are a problem. Might need some trail cameras on the trees next summer.

You have any pictures of the eaten fruit. They usually do not finish them. You could have the squirrel eat a bit and drop them, and other animals picking up the leftovers.

I like them slow cooked, then deboned an put into chili.

 

[Catscratch]

No pics... no left over fruit. Just gone. I wasn't noticing tree rats last summer, but they are sure thick now.

 

[SwampCat]

Squirrels are probably the most difficult to keep off my fruit trees. Good luck

 

[Telemark]

I think squirrel hunting might be my favorite type of hunting. My ideal weapon is a shotgun with a red dot sight and size 5 steel shot. My uncle prefers a super-accurate .22 with subsonics and takes headshots.

I like fox squirrel braised in a white wine sauce, but there are literally unlimited ways to prepare them. It's a very versatile meat. It can be a bummer to pressure your "deer woods", but one proper squirrel hunting day a year shouldn't ruin your deer hunting long-term. If you are worried about pressure, it's probably better to use a .22 with subsonics and preferably a silencer. I think you can get a .22 silencer now for under $180 when the stamp tax is removed at the end of the year.

 

[Bill Loser]

Take a pellet gun along when you deer hunt and shoot them from the stand. Pick up after you get out. I've had deer walk in 5 minutes after shooting one
Made buffalo squirrel once for an appetizer at Christmas, everyone loved it until I told them it was squirrel.

 

[ksJoe]

If the neighbors have any 10 year old boys, gift them pellet guns. Tell them outside of deer season they're welcome to shoot all your squirrels.

 

[Native Hunter]

If you are overrun with them, you could be experiencing a squirrel migration. It is a common thing:

https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/massive-squirrel-migrations-recorded-in-north-america