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

 

[Angus 1895]

Squirrel stew is crazy tasty!

Skinning them buggers is the only thing that is a bummer. My brother claims it’s like getting a small child out of their winter clothes.

 

[hunts_with_stick]

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

Interesting, I never knew that, but that makes sense, on how I lost my fruit then

 

[hunts_with_stick]

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

I read about that, where they would cross the Ohio river

 

[Native Hunter]

I read about that, where they would cross the Ohio river

I’ve actually seen it about 3 times in my life. The first time was when I was very young and hunted squirrels. I felt like I had been transported to hunting heaven.

 

[Catscratch]

Squirrel migration... I can't get the image of a bad beer commercial with waves of tree rats invading a park and getting in Chevy Chase's hair out of my mind.

Looks like I need to get out on a few hunts. Skinning them is the worst! Used to shoot one, sit at the base of a tree cleaning it and letting the wood settle, then shoot another. Repeat.

 

[bigboreblr]

Open the belly skin like you would a deer. Cut the bone of the tail off without cutting the fur. Grab the back and step on the leg. I often use sicssors to do it. Sometimes cut the feet off the legs.

2 greys are about hre same meat as a fox squirrel. A few years back I ws going to visit VA to hunt them for a day or two in public land and then visit VA beach or williamsburg.

A 40 cal flintlock is not a bad way to get them either. Especially if all you can find is 3f powder lately.

 

[Catscratch]

Black powder would be fun! I'm thinking .22 or .17hmr though.
Sounds like an easy enough way to skin them.

 

[Native Hunter]

 

[Catscratch]

Lol

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

If we lived closer, my 11 and 13 year old boys could assist with your squirrel problems! They put a solid dent in squirrel numbers here.

Squirrels do a good job planting acorns and walnuts in the fall, so if you shoot them after they bury them and before they dig up to eat them in winter you should have some young trees growing next year.

 

[Turkey Creek]

They are fruit stealing little SOBs. I keep a shotgun in strategic places. If they are within 50 yards of a fruit tree they become organic fertilizer. Not saying they are bad eating we used to do a couple of big hunts on them every Fall when I was a kid. You could shoot a bunch of them and they are usually the first season to open in the Fall. The bobcats and hawks keep them pretty well in check it seems.