black powder squirrel hunting

Regarding actual squirrel hunting strategies with a muzzleloader, they change little, if at all, from those now-infrequent times I carry a modern firearm. PLEASE contact me with any questions or to order a new hand-crafted Bill Smith Black Powder shooting bag, haversack or powder horn Phone: 270-737-3597 email: wsmithblackpowder@windstream.net Choice of muzzleloader is mostly a matter of personal preference. Most hunters only move two or three feet in 10 minutes or longer. Daniel Boone might have been able to shoot the eyes out of squirrels at 80 paces with old Tick-Licker, but most modern-day hunters find it much harder to head-shoot squirrels with iron sights. BPCR Message Board. Orange and red hues highlighted the chilly eastern horizon. We had arrived before daylight to watch the woods come alive. All rights reserved. Most of these early black powder guns were flintlocks and are as old as this country and even older. Jake. I used a T/C New Englander 12 gauge, 70 grains Goex FFg, one over powder … It adds a new twist to small game hunting. BUDDY HUNTING: Buddy hunting may be the best way to squirrel hunt. I’m talking about hunting with traditional black-powder rifles with iron sights. For consistent success, we need to get within 25 yards of our quarry. WHERE TO HUNT: Almost all public areas in most states are loaded with squirrels that are seldom hunted. SNEAK IN: Wake up early and sit around walnut trees or cornfields before daylight. I grasp the stick with my left hand and rest the barrel of my rifle on top of my hand. You don’t need to know which trees provide food each week throughout the summer. A better approach is to find actively feeding squirrels, sneak in and take a position in their midst, and hit a few licks on the distress call. My buddy, Dr. Andy Cline, and I sat in a long oak ridge waiting. My squirrel distress call is sold by Haydel’s Game Calls under the name Mr. Squirrel. He too had found a family chasing each other's tails. Black Powder Cartridge Guns. I replaced the extra plastic wad in the clothespin part of the quick loader with a dry beer-flat over-powder wad, and I was in the muzzleloading shotgun squirrel hunting business. Choose the plan that’s right for you. So, the time during which you can drift off-target is much greater. You can use a store-bought rifle rest, but I prefer an actual stick – an ironwood sapling that I cut nearly 40 years ago. 4 1. Hovey Smith with a black powder squirrel (Traditions .32 cal) Most the popularity of blackpowder hunting has been dedicated to big game animals. Do not, however, let anyone tell you that small-caliber muzzleloaders won’t kill squirrels outright. You can also find powder flasks, bullet molds, powder bags, and the iconic powder horn for sale on eBay as well. Hard-core traditionalists will opt for flintlocks, but there’s no shame in opting for the more certain ignition offered by percussion models. ... About the only thing we have up here is RED squirrels...They aren't worth the powder to even bother shooting at...One of these days,I'll head south to do some serious squirrel hunting with my … Bag limits, special seasons and hunting regulations for Georgia hunting seasons do vary based on animal and seasons. Summer squirrels are not concentrated around nut trees, as they are in the fall. Black Powder Squirrel Rifle. You can use percussion caps to clear out the barrel of dampness or debris before loading. I heard the expected chattering of four young squirrels chasing each other up and down the big oak I sat against. Then pay attention to the squirrel’s feeding cycle. With just 12 to 15 grains of FFFg black powder, depending on the barrel length, most will get a patched 45-grain .310" ball or a 47-grain patched .315" ball out of the muzzle at between 1,200 and 1,300 f.p.s. Move into shooting position during the active feeding phase, freezing when your quarry moves between branches. What a fun hunt to use a bp rifle! Another advantage to hunting squirrels in the summer is the fact that they are more susceptible to calling than at any other time of year. 9 years ago. It’s enough to know that where you find one squirrel, you are likely to find more. I had 20 grains of FFFG black powder under the .31-cal ball. Most of these people prefer to use a .32 caliber rifle, using a shotgun for taking squirrel just isn't very sporting. You don't travel far fast, but you will definitely see more. Come join the discussion about optics, trails, clubs, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! My buddy, Dr. Andy Cline, and I sat in a long oak ridge waiting. A .32, downloaded to only 15 or 20 grains, will be a great squirrel gun and the damage is not much more than a .22 LR. The lead found its mark. Study the trees you pass and look behind you occasionally. The smaller calibers tended to be anywhere … My comfort became a secondary consideration. The limitations I face with the percussion gun versus, say, my Ruger 10/22 are two. 0 0. If you don’t already own a muzzleloader, look for one with a set trigger. Leaves changing to gold and red were like an invitation for us. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Next place a cloth wadding around a small lead pumpkin ball and use a small ball starter to push the load just inside the barrel. Later, they consume the succulent flower and leaf buds of a succession of trees. The sun did not have to rise very high before their chattering started. The morning was pleasantly cool requiring long-sleeved camouflaged shirts. Digital access or digital and print delivery. One of the reasons that I truly enjoy squirrel hunting is a .32 CVA Squirrel Rifle. For sport my choice of firearm for hunting squirrel is a 36 caliber black powder rifle loaded at the muzzel with powder, cloth patch and lead round ball. 11/10/2014 02 ... found Hodgdon’s Triple 7 in the FFFG variety or Pyrodex P makes the gun much easier to maintain and clean than pure black powder. - with just 140 to 175 foot-pounds of energy. The cap shoots a spark down to the black powder when the hammer drops by pulling the trigger. RG Gunsmithing - specializing in unique Handcrafted Black Powder firearms for competition,,, Hunting or a cherished and valued Flintlock collector's piece. I settled in on the rocks and sticks that made sitting almost unbearable, but the squirrels were moving. One problem unique to summer squirrel hunting is meat spoilage. Not only will squirrels leave the treetops to investigate, some will run toward you and perch on branches, barking and offering a shot. Mornings are cool and wildlife is moving this time of year. STILL HUNT: Still-hunting is the term used for a dead-slow walk. This arrangement works for any elevation. However, there is a way to hunt summer squirrels with a rifle that is, paradoxically, both easier and more challenging. Here are tips for hunting blackpower squirrels: The first is a 30- to 35-yard maximum range for squirrels when hunting with the blackpowder piece. Early in the spring, I have seen as many as a dozen squirrels in a single elm tree, harvesting the fresh, green seeds. Squirrel hunting is only a challenge for those without patience. Later still, they focus on mulberries and other fruit, such as hackberries and wild cherries. This video was forgotten on the iPhone and I decided to upload it! The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS ~ 422 Seneca St., Leavenworth, KS 66048 ~ Do Not Sell My Personal Information ~ Cookie Policy ~ Do Not Sell My Personal Information ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service ~ Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. I have not shot a 36 or a 45. If so where could I find such? What should I be expecting to pay? The load is then pushed down the barrel with a ramrod until it will push no farther. Sound is more important than sight for finding summer squirrels. This lessens the tendency to pull the rifle to one side as you squeeze the trigger. One is to blind call, which will cause any squirrels in earshot to reveal their location. The heavier load simply is unnecessary. Black powder squirrel hunting is fun and challenging. When you hear feeding activity, gradually move toward it until you make visual contact. The overnight low was 56 degrees, the first in 47 years to fall into the 50s. The day ended with four squirrels in our game pouches meaning fried squirrel for dinner. Squirrels move from one side of the tree to the other to escape danger. I bet you would be happy with either caliber if you buy a quality piece, I say you shouldn't fixate on the caliber if you find the squirrel gun that feels right. First squirrel I body shot with a .36 (after hunting with a .32) came down literally in pieces. Enjoy! The first squirrel I shot with my .32 CVA Varmint caplock was a full-grown gray squirrel. Some of the guns that use black powder include pistols, rifles, and shotguns. With turkey season in the rearview mirror and Memorial Day just around the corner, Missouri hunters’ thoughts naturally turn to squirrels. I’m no pro at hunting or fishing but I enjoy the open air and the challenge. A .535-cal round ball weighing 230 grains packs a serious wallop that a .31-cal ball, weighing a mere 45 grains, can’t match. Gutting squirrels as soon as you shoot them hastens cooling, and keeping them inside the pouch avoids attracting flies. You might just get an easy shot. You can do all the above with a modern rifle, too. © Gannett Co., Inc. 2021. Most hunters shoot squirrels with a .32 or .36 caliber black powder squirrel rifle. All rights reserved. We arrived at the farm at sunrise, to find a very unusual August morning for Kentucky. Black powder hunting small game is a challenge that many people enjoy. Start by pouring a pre-measured amount of black powder or Pyrodex down the barrel. Reducing trigger-release pressure helps offset this inherent disadvantage. Loading the old fashion guns is simple. You also can make your own out of a plastic jug. Typically, they will spend a few minutes gathering food from one branchlet, then move on to another. Sit, look and listen for squirrels and remember, you may hear squirrels before you see them. But if you are looking for a way to make squirrel hunting more challenging and interesting, nothing beats a muzzleloader. Good camouflage makes that possible. This puts a premium on woodsmanship that can pay dividends during later, big-game seasons. ... Black Powder Squirrels. A slow turn and quick aim made an easy shot for the old college professor. I've hunted deer and elk with .40< caliber muzzle loaders before, so I'm familiar with the practices but this would be my first entry into "small bore" black powder hunting, so any advice or anecdotal experience is appreciated. Sharing Our Passion for all Things Outdoors. Black powder squirrel rifle. and if they only come as a kit that you have to build that is perfectly fine... in fact preferred. GETTING STARTED: Squirrel hunting with a muzzle-loader demands that hunters get closer to the target than during the black-powder deer season. When you are certain the load will go no farther, mark your ramrod against the barrel's end with a sharp knife to ensure that the load is all the way down every time. Used flintlock rifles for sale. Go up from there, and there will be a lot of meat damage on a body shot. This entry was posted in Research, Safety, Skills, Squirrel Hunts and tagged Black powder hunting, Dennis Neely, French Fusil de Chasse, French trade gun, North West trade gun, Northwest trade gun, trade gun, traditional black powder, traditional black powder hunting, traditional blackpowder, traditional blackpowder hunting, Traditional Woodsman. Why muzzleloaders are great for squirrel hunting. Still-hunting from tree to tree and about ten feet apart is a standard technique. It won't be our last. Squirrel: Aug. 15-Feb. 28: Woodcock: Dec. 5-Jan. 18 **Season dates vary by zone. Late fall trees have dropped most leaves making ground clutter even thicker. If you hear nothing, move 50 yards and listen again. That way I can build it with my grandfather and put his name on one side of the stock and mine on the other without hurting the manufacturer's finish. Squirrel season opens on May 27. I carry a couple of frozen water bottles in my game pouch. Long Shot Less than 9 pounds, and 543⁄4 inches long, the .32-caliber Davide Pedersoli Frontier Percussion rifle (davide-pedersoli.com) is a squirrel hunter's dream. A young female angled out from me on a low limb. Most hunters using a percussion-cap side-lock can put a round ball in a six-inch circle at 75 yards, accurate enough to hit the vitals of a deer. I use .310 prb over 24gr 3f. They know winter is coming and that day we knew the noisy critters would be actively feeding. Often, they pause to rest for a few moments between forays. Lv 6. Traditional muzzleloaders’ lock time – the time elapsed between the moment you release the trigger and when the projectile leaves the barrel – is much longer for smoke poles than it is for modern firearms. That’s the best bet if you are dead set on bringing home a limit of bushytails. And because last year’s leaf fall has had seven months to weather, you can slip through the woods with greater stealth. Scott and Lee from www.cainsoutdoor.com are back for an early season squirrel hunt using black powder double barrels. Chuck Phelps and I went squirrel hunting this morning, our first hunt together. Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. This is accomplished by placing a cap on the nipple, cocking the hammer back and pulling the trigger. Daniel Boone might have been able to shoot the eyes out of squirrels at 80 paces with old Tick-Licker, but most modern-day hunters find it much harder to head-shoot squirrels with iron sights. Cline watched this and started grinning. Occasionally a load will jam in the barrel creating a messy situation when the spark hits black powder. Source(s): https://shrinke.im/a0skh. You might even enjoy the show of young squirrels chasing their kinfolk up and down trees. Male and female squirrels respond dramatically to young squirrels’ distress calls. I gratefully watched the squirrels jump into another tree to my left. He knew that I might have a squirrel biting my head or shoulder very shortly. I have a CVA 'squirrel rifle' that I have taken many with. Hunting is mostly done with shotguns during the early months of the season, because lush foliage makes bushytails hard to spot. Squirrels are hard to spot if they are alerted to your presence, even in bare trees. Kenneth L. Kieser Wednesday Nov 24, 2010 at 12:01 AM Nov 24, 2010 at 2:25 PM. Take a seat or lean against a tree when you enter the woods and spend five minutes listening for the telltale rustle of squirrels foraging in the treetops. Squirrels become active during this period of change. © Copyright 2021 Share the Outdoors and Outdoor Bugle. Admin and Moderator. That doesn’t mean they are randomly distributed, however. Head shots are better. You can also find vintage hunting black powder, black powder gun parts, black powder rifle barrels, and more on eBay. Flambeau offers a different version of the same thing, called Mr. B’s Distress Squirrel Whistle. It “sets” the main trigger, dramatically reducing the amount of pressure needed to release the hammer. For consistent success, we need to get within 25 yards of our quarry. You will probably use between 30 to 40 grains of powder for squirrels, but this is best determined by spending time at a target range to find your rifle's most effective load. Do they make a good black powder rifle that is good for squirrel hunting? I have only shot squirrels and targets with the rifle, but I'm certain that I could ruin a turkey's day.....after all 30-30 = .30 dia bullet, 30 gr black powder. Larger projectiles do provide a slight advantage, simply because their greater diameter increases the chances that some part of the ball will make contact with the target. Since you are aiming for squirrels’ heads, it makes little difference whether your smoke pole is spitting .32-cal pellets or .54-cal marbles. Of course, a .310ball is like a cannonball for small game, but it has been my experience that .32 fouls quicker than the bigger bores like ,36, .40, or even ,45. Here are a couple of squirrels I took with a muzzleloading shotgun awhile back. You should do that fairly often on any ML rifle when using true black powder if you want consistent accuracy. The cloth and ball are both lightly lubricated with commercial jells, but saliva will do in a pinch. First make sure the rifle is pointed in a safe direction. A forum community dedicated to Arkansas hunters and enthusiasts. Hunting with a muzzleloader is an excellent fit for summer squirrels. This second trigger – typically located behind the main trigger – is pulled just before taking a shot. I cook and eat the wild game which, if done right, is delicious. My squirrel distress call is sold by Haydel’s Game Calls under the name, Flambeau offers a different version of the same thing, called, Nockturnal introduces the FIT Universal Lighted Nock. I soon heard Cline shoot his blackpowder rifle 20 yards up the ridge. Try it once and you will likely leave your .22 rifle at home. Another young squirrel had barked at him while he watched the chase. When you do spy one, it’s usually just a fleeting glimpse. The same factors that limit hunters’ vision apply to squirrels, so they are much less likely to notice your approach. I have since decreased my squirrel load to 15 grains of FFFG. Including whitetail deer, … But the ol' atomic clock on the wall read 28° and I was looking for the snailmail lady to bring me a letter from a pretty girl, so I decided to lollygag around for a while. When you are ready to start hunting, cock your hammer back to the safety position that is the clicking point just before locking the hammer back for a shot and insert a percussion cap over the nipple. Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 9 of 9 Posts ... Arkansas Hunting. You can use this habit in two ways. Because most of the activity occurs high in the tree tops, most of your shots will be at steep angles. They also offer the possibility of “barking” squirrels – aiming at tree trunks or limbs adjacent to the squirrel’s head so death results from concussion. Yes, the firearm in more capable hands than mine is, I’m certain, is suitable for game such as squirrels and cottontails out to distances approaching 100 yards. It's almost like stepping back in time when we go out on a good ol' fashioned squirrel hunt in Dorchester County, MD with our buddy Dave Ciekot. Thrash the ground violently with a small, leafy sapling while calling to mimic the sound of a baby squirrel caught by a predator. I took careful aim with my CVA .36 caliber black powder rifle, tickled the trigger and sent a pumpkin ball flying. When I went to pick up the deceased rodent, all that was left of the head were flaps of skin from the lower jaw and pate. This makes a shooting stick invaluable. I’m talking about hunting with traditional black-powder rifles with iron sights. Tips, techniques for black powder squirrel hunting . Orange and red hues highlighted the chilly eastern horizon.

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