[flatlander]

What are some of the unusual ways to hunt that you have developed? I was taught to hunt squirrels about 10 years ago or so by one of my friends. We were going through a drought and there weren't as many leaves on the trees at the time, so we would float down a slow moving river in a canoe and shoot them with contender pistols with 22 barrels on them. If you can shoot a squirrel out of a canoe with a 22 pistol, you have made a good shot! I also have used my marlin 39 lever action out of the boat, and that was fun also. It is really peaceful and they just aren't looking for you from the water. It is still one of my favorite hunts.

 

[ShooterToo]

I have hunted them from a boat/canoe and you are right it is peaceful. I have used dogs a lot when growing up. I tried using calls and had the best luck using the whistle type. You take a branch and beat the ground with it while blowing this whistle. They think a hawk has caught a young squirrel and they come from everywhere to scold and call.

Ususally I go out before daylight and wait for them to wakeup. Then I snipe them with a 22. After a while I will get up and try the walk and sit method. Walk twenty yards then sit twenty minutes. I don't care how you do it, squirrel hunting is fun.

 

[willis5]

I have always wanted to float and shoot.

Do they sink if they fall in the water?

Woodchuck said that their heads do, but I wouldn't want to lose one in the water.

Cheers,
willis5

 

[Woodchuk]

Heads and tails float...Don't know 'bout the rest of them.

 

[flatlander]

From my experience, I think I have part of the answer here. If you shoot one, and he's dead when he hits the water, he floats. If he is still alive and takes water into his lungs, he sinks. That is the rule of thumb we have so far. And by the way, don't go out and roll your canoe. :shock: I spend an hour trying to find 2 missing guns one day. Got them both, but had to strip them both down and get them cleaned and dry. Not a high point of my hunting career, but it could have been worse.

 

[willis5]

Good call with the air in the lungs. it didn't cross my mind.

I guess there isn't a great way to make your guns float, but you could probably tie a small piece of string around the stock and attatch it to the boat. this might help when it is dropped overboard or the boat capsizes, but doesn't help the cleaning part. I am going to try it in the fall and see if it is too much of a hinderance.

Cheers,
willis5

 

[Chuck from arkansaw]

Float tubing

I have been planning to get a U-type float tube this spring. If you had a couple of miles of slow moving river, and an ultra light spinning reel, and a light water resistant rifle, you should be able to float along real quiet and pick up a few squirrels and a few spotted bass and smallmouths. One of those Rosi break action .22's should work fine, or even the little 410. A cloth hat with cartridge loops for the .410 shells would work pretty good too. Wow! , I think I have talked myself into it.

 

[daddywpb]

We drive real slow along roads cut through sugar cane fields looking for rabbits. When they get sppoked out of their hiding places in the tall grass on the sides and center of the road, you can try to stalk within .22 range. Usually, they zig-zag down the road a ways, and then stop and stand up on their hind legs to see what the fuss is all about. The shots are usually less than 50 yards. We used to do it all walking, but you can cover a lot more ground and see more rabbits in the truck.

 

[rickyp]

I have taken up squirrel hunting from a tree stand. I got the idea when deer hunting I would always see lots of squirrels and thought it would work. I talked to DNR and they told me it was fine to hunt tehn this way if i wanted to.

 

[THE#1hunter]

One of my favorite ways to hunt 'em, is to grab the .22 and find a area full of walnut trees and find a big tree and just sit there(its just as peacefull as the canoe)You tend to doze off after awile, without any worry of tipping the canoe :wink: