Dan73 Posted November 16, 2017 Report Share Posted November 16, 2017 Is there any finer sport than stalking Grey Squirrels? Probably, but still. Had a couple of hours free this morning so I popped along to a syndicate Trout Fishery which I am a member of and where I can control the grey squirrels. For this I use my fully moderated Baikal 410, usually with Eley 2.5" 12.5gm cartridges. However recently the squirrels have been far more skittish than usual and stayed high in the trees so I've upped the cartridges to Eley 3" 18gm ones. There is a slightly louder report with these, but it is still a very quiet shotgun/cartridge combination. I took my usual walk around the lake but saw nothing so I went up in to the woods and decided to just stand by a tree, around a few dreys to see if anything moved, whilst also hoping a Pigeon might land on a nearby branch. After a good 10 minutes of just watching and listening I saw a few high branches moving in an erratic motion about 50 yards away. Watching a little closer I saw a squirrel mooching around, stopping to eat or smell something before moving on. Clearly it did not know I was looking at it. Waiting a little longer it seemed to be moving from tree to tree, slowly getting closer to me, although still staying very high up in the branches. I then noticed two other squirrels darting about, again up high in trees but some way back from the one which was coming closer. This one then went behind a tree so I took a couple of slow steps forward, trying to make as little noise or sudden movements as possible. I then saw it again, it ran over a couple of branches, and still hadn't clocked me. It stopped again and I pulled it down cleanly. I don't shoot anything moving with this gun, I always wait for a stationary target. After picking up the squirrel I thought I had made enough noise to move the other two off but as I was making my way through the wood, which is covered in bracken and fallen trees, to the Lodge for a well earned cuppa, a small squirrel moved in a tree to the left of me. When this happens I freeze and wait to see if the squirrel has seen me. I can normally tell by the tail twitching if its spooked or if it runs without stopping up the other side of the tree. This one stopped, waited, took a couple of steps forward - probably waiting to see if I moved - then took a couple more steps then stopped to sniff/eat something. This one was also taken cleanly. So two squirrels in the bag for about an hours "stalking" - that brings my total at the Fishery to 82 for the year. Most of these have been females - the larger one in the attached picture is male and the first one I've taken in several months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted November 16, 2017 Report Share Posted November 16, 2017 Cracking write up that Dan, sounds like you have a great place there as well. Mice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted November 16, 2017 Report Share Posted November 16, 2017 Stalking squirrels I love it mate , sport of kings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted November 16, 2017 Report Share Posted November 16, 2017 I like to hear about these tree rats meeting their maker. Pity more people didn't take more attention to killing as many as they can. Well done, keep up the good work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrix's rifle Posted November 16, 2017 Report Share Posted November 16, 2017 Been out a couple of times recently after greys, nailed a few but not seen any since good shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted November 17, 2017 Report Share Posted November 17, 2017 Are there any successful ways of calling in squirrels? There's a strip of woods where I shoot and I thought I might look for any squirrels. I've read somewhere about tapping two coins together. I also see the yanks produce a squirrel caller - looks a bit like a crow caller. Or is it all a load of old hooey and down to good old stalking. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16BoreFan Posted November 18, 2017 Report Share Posted November 18, 2017 Few good squeaks on the back of my hand have bought them running in to me before as I sat quietly with my back to a tree. They are very nosey creatures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted November 18, 2017 Report Share Posted November 18, 2017 I'm ordering a squirrel caller, there are a good few out there, given the numbers the yanks shoot there must be something about them, most get good reviews as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted November 18, 2017 Report Share Posted November 18, 2017 At the moment I don't need to call them. I just camp out in my pop up blind or even just sit in the Land Rover with the window down where there are a couple of pheasant feeders. I have a couple of specific squirrel feeders set up but they have not been so successful. It is so successful that I am about to put in permanent blinds in a couple of places where I am shooting double figure mornings. I have heard varying comments on calls, some good and some bad. I am loath to give away my location as squirrels are very adept at locating and then hiding. Plan to be out on a feed ride I have not shot since February when the ground was grey with them, this weekend. Hope to boost the returns on here. No finer sport and non more worthwhile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longstrider Posted November 18, 2017 Report Share Posted November 18, 2017 A 'Walk, stalk and stand' day in a good bit of squirrel woods takes a hell of a lot of beating for good sport in my opinion, whether it's with a .410 or with the air rifle. Anywhere that the squirrels are a particular problem I like to site a feeder filled with peanuts and shoot over that from a hide. I've had 17 squirrels in 3 hours like that before (air rifle). If you'd like to try a feeder Dan, give me a shout. It looks like you must be close to me and I have a few feeders made up in my workshop at the moment waiting to be put to good use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXHUNTER1 Posted November 23, 2017 Report Share Posted November 23, 2017 Ive called many a squirrel , just lip squeak them , very satisfying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted November 24, 2017 Report Share Posted November 24, 2017 well I used my new caller today and was very happy watching squirrels moving towards me, good for getting them to sit up and still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted November 25, 2017 Report Share Posted November 25, 2017 Well done Dan. One of my favourite shooting sports is on the squirrels. Went to a large wood a week last Friday expecting to see a few so took a semi auto ready for the fast action sport ahead. As it turned out, I didn’t see a single squirrel. Plenty of dreys though. You never know what you’re going to get. Once in these woods, my mobile phone rang. Whilst I was on the phone, three squirrels came towards me, I don’t know if the phone ringing attracted them? Anyway, I broke off my call to attend to the business, bagged two of them. I will return up there when most of the leaves have fallen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telf Posted November 27, 2017 Report Share Posted November 27, 2017 On 24/11/2017 at 17:02, Mice! said: well I used my new caller today and was very happy watching squirrels moving towards me, good for getting them to sit up and still. what calleer did you get bud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted November 27, 2017 Report Share Posted November 27, 2017 This one, watched some YouTube videos first then had a good look about price and delivery varies massively bought it from this eBay seller, turned up quick free delivery some are saying two weeks from states and £40? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telf Posted November 30, 2017 Report Share Posted November 30, 2017 On 27/11/2017 at 08:33, Mice! said: This one, watched some YouTube videos first then had a good look about price and delivery varies massively bought it from this eBay seller, turned up quick free delivery some are saying two weeks from states and £40? cheers seem ok ,got one on order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted November 30, 2017 Report Share Posted November 30, 2017 I carry it in a small binoculars case in two parts, otherwise if you knock it or lean on it sounds like a dog toy in your pocket, let us know how you get on. 1 hour ago, telf said: cheers seem ok ,got one on order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted December 1, 2017 Report Share Posted December 1, 2017 You can sometimes get interest by holding largish coin, say a 50p, in your left hand encircled by your thumb and trigger finger and tapping it with the edge of another coin - move the rest of your fingers around till you get the loudest sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon Shredder. Posted December 5, 2017 Report Share Posted December 5, 2017 I noticed this afternoon that any sound had them look up and stop foraging, none of which was from myself as l was nicely tucked up in a hedgerow a 100mts away, but they showed no concern at all to pheasants walking in amongst them. lndeed they were so into feeding that the crack from the HMR didn't even have them running for the tree tops, 5 didn't run anymore at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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