2024/2025 Squirrel Hunting Thread...........

LANEY REECE said:

They have them in the delta Nth. of Vicksburg, MISS, when i had my dogs have killed several also mix reds with black, also mix red and cat squirrels.

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Laney, interestingly as it is, from my research it has indicated that, at least in some locations, black squirrels are not a different breed. Rather they are a gray squirrel that the pigment in their fur is just different. I’m thinking this may be somewhat like some white squirrels.

My guess is that may be the reason for other variations in the color(s) of some other squirrels.

Either way, they sure are pretty

ETipp said:

Laney, interestingly as it is, from my research it has indicated that, at least in some locations, black squirrels are not a different breed. Rather they are a gray squirrel that the pigment in their fur is just different. I’m thinking this may be somewhat like some white squirrels.

My guess is that may be the reason for other variations in the color(s) of some other squirrels.

Either way, they sure are pretty

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I think that's the case. In the UP pine squirrels were very common. However, there they are called Red Squirrels because of their coloration. That same species is a gray color in Colorado and I've never seen a color variation here CO. However, I did on rare occasions see pitch black ones in the UP.

longcruise said:

I think that's the case. In the UP pine squirrels were very common. However, there they are called Red Squirrels because of their coloration. That same species is a gray color in Colorado and I've never seen a color variation here CO. However, I did on rare occasions see pitch black ones in the UP.

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Could be, LC. Some areas in Michigan has, or did have, a fairly good population of black squirrel. As in pure black. Very beautiful little critters.

Also, with the eastern gray squirrel there is sometimes slight color variations, mostly a red tent, and mostly being on the white underside.

On a good note, went to my first post op appointment yesterday. The doc was very pleased with my progress. Knee range of motion is very good and it’s only been 3 weeks. So, with any luck, I should be able to make the early squirrel season here come May and June. Considering I live and hunt the mountains, I still have my doubts as to being able to navigate the steep terrain for it is rough on the body. But time will tell I reckon. Still have about 4 months or so.

I chuckle when some of my PA buddies say that reds are small. We shoot them like this back home in the bottoms of Illinois. I know I should try and blur the rifle out, my boys first squirrel, with a rifle that belonged to his great grandfather.

snakebit said:

I chuckle when some of my PA buddies say that reds are small. We shoot them like this back home in the bottoms of Illinois. I know I should try and blur the rifle out, my boys first squirrel, with a rifle that belonged to his great grandfather.

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Is that a red squirrel or a fox squirrel?

Some areas of the country call fox squirrels “reds”. Kinda gets confusing as we have red squirrels which are much smaller than grays and we have fox squirrels too.

I haven’t seen a red squirrel here in PA in years though.

ETipp said:

On a good note, went to my first post op appointment yesterday. The doc was very pleased with my progress. Knee range of motion is very good and it’s only been 3 weeks. So, with any luck, I should be able to make the early squirrel season here come May and June. Considering I live and hunt the mountains, I still have my doubts as to being able to navigate the steep terrain for it is rough on the body. But time will tell I reckon. Still have about 4 months or so.

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Great news Ed. You’ll soon be tearing up and down those hills like a teenager!

Jim K said:

Some areas of the country call fox squirrels “reds”. Kinda gets confusing as we have red squirrels which are much smaller than grays and we have fox squirrels too.

I haven’t seen a red squirrel here in PA in years though.

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That’s what I’m thinking as well. I have never seen a large red squirrel. All the ones I’ve seen were smaller like a pine squirrel.

However, I haven’t hunted a lot of states either. Still learning!

Jim K said:

Great news Ed. You’ll soon be tearing up and down those hills like a teenager!

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Thanks, Jim. I’m certainly putting in the effort to do so. Things are getting a little better and I’m getting a little stronger every day. Definitely looking forward to spring squirrel season.

ETipp said:

Is that a red squirrel or a fox squirrel?

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We always called them reds. That day we called him supper. Maybe it is a geographic thing. Where I cut my teeth squirrel hunting, reds were just as big, if not bigger than greys.

snakebit said:

We always called them reds. That day we called him supper. Maybe it is a geographic thing. Where I cut my teeth squirrel hunting, reds were just as big, if not bigger than greys.

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Guess you are never too old to learn something, did some looking on the Internet, what I learned early in life is backwards.

I shot this squirrel back on late September. When drawing a bead on it the rising sun prevented a good visual of the hide. Thought it was young of the year Grey. Stooped down to pick it up and became concerned I had shot a protected species, as I had never seen one of these in SW Ohio before. Just down the road from where I grew up, less than a mile.

Google search shows it is a 'Red' squirrel. We call fox squirrels red interchangeably. We were wrong. Then I double checked the hunting regs and found out it is a legal game animal. Learn something new all the time.

Shoot, I'm hunting Grey's where in tomes past only fox squirrels roamed. Things keep changing.

Received another one for the squirrel arsenal today. A CVA Squirrel Rifle I bought from Bowhunter 73 here on the sight. Hopefully my son will take interest. It's definitely lighter than my CVA Varminter in the same caliber which shoots neck and neck with my Crockett. If he doesn't like it, I'll keep it for myself

snakebit said:

Received another one for the squirrel arsenal today. A CVA Squirrel Rifle I bought from Bowhunter 73 here on the sight. Hopefully my son will take interest. It's definitely lighter than my CVA Varminter in the same caliber which shoots neck and neck with my Crockett. If he doesn't like it, I'll keep it for myself

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Site*

snakebit said:

Received another one for the squirrel arsenal today. A CVA Squirrel Rifle I bought from Bowhunter 73 here on the sight. Hopefully my son will take interest. It's definitely lighter than my CVA Varminter in the same caliber which shoots neck and neck with my Crockett. If he doesn't like it, I'll keep it for myself

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That’s awesome. Congrats on the find, snake. Hope it serves you well.

ETipp said:

That’s awesome. Congrats on the find, snake. Hope it serves you well.

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Thank you buddy. I have a fondness for my Crockett, but I think this new to me little gem would be a pleasure to tote in the woods. Will be up to my poor eyesight I suppose. I put fiber optic sights on my Crockett and Varminter.

P.S. check your mailbox this coming Friday.

snakebit said:

Received another one for the squirrel arsenal today. A CVA Squirrel Rifle I bought from Bowhunter 73 here on the sight. Hopefully my son will take interest. It's definitely lighter than my CVA Varminter in the same caliber which shoots neck and neck with my Crockett. If he doesn't like it, I'll keep it for myself

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Pretty grain pattern on the stock. Always nice to receive another Christmas present after the holidays.
We expect to see it resting next to a couple of hard earned squirrels before too long, as well.

snakebit said:

Thank you buddy. I have a fondness for my Crockett, but I think this new to me little gem would be a pleasure to tote in the woods. Will be up to my poor eyesight I suppose. I put fiber optic sights on my Crockett and Varminter.

P.S. check your mailbox this coming Friday.

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Will do. Thank you.

Christophero said:

Pretty grain pattern on the stock. Always nice to receive another Christmas present after the holidays.
We expect to see it resting next to a couple of hard earned squirrels before too long, as well.

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We'll have to see. I got it hoping my son would be interested. I'll get her to the range first chance I get and let her talk to me. It would be a tough choice to sideline my Crockett rifle.