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| < 16ga. General Discussion ~ 16ga Squirrels |
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 Posted:
Sat Feb 08, 2025 4:04 pm
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Member
Joined: 18 Aug 2010
Posts: 410
Location: Ballymoney Northern Ireland
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Shot my first Squirrel last year 2024 , doing my wee bit to help the native Red Squirrels here in Northern Ireland, used my 20ga , must get out after Greys again this spring, they are an invasive species here and carry Squirrel pox which kills off the Reds ,
WJ. |
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| Posted:
Sun Feb 09, 2025 9:26 am
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Joined: 14 Feb 2017
Posts: 407
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| My first recollections of squirrel hunting were with a single shot 16 gauge that was kept in the corner in my grandparents house. I also distinctly remember that it would not eject a shell after a shot. You would shoot and then hafta find a straight tree branch that would fit down the barrel to poke out the empty. |
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| Posted:
Sun Feb 09, 2025 12:06 pm
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Joined: 09 Dec 2022
Posts: 43
Location: Washington
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| Brewster11 wrote: |
Just curious - how do gray squirrels compare to fox squirrels for table fare? We took nothing but fox squirrels back home, but out here it’s all grays with some Douglas and Reds thrown in. Some out here turn their noses up at Fox squirrels, can’t understand that.
TIA
B.
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I can only vouch for the Gray's we have here that are legal to shoot.
Dark meat, rich flavor, makes a wonderful gravy. Where we were they were not really gamey at all.
Wife likes to butterfly and fry, but pressure cooking and stripping the meat to use for whatever was also a fav of mine. |
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Was GWP that joined 2008 but had to re-join. |
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| Posted:
Sun Feb 09, 2025 2:49 pm
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Member
Joined: 31 Dec 2010
Posts: 205
Location: SE Michigan
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| My first squirrel was taken in WV while on a visit to Grandma & Grandpa's house. I was about 7-8 years old. My parents just gotten in from hunting and not long after their return my mom looked out the window and pointed out a nice fox squirrel perched atop an old wooden barrel. She entreated me to sneak out the back door with my BB gun and see if I could get it, and I eagerly complied. With the stealth of a ninja I got within striking distance and let loose with a single shot. No movement. I took a few steps towards it and realized that it was dead. No squirrel ever tasted so good! Years later I learned that they had staged the scene with one of their earlier kills to create that random opportunity... |
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"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them." John Wayne |
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| Posted:
Sun Feb 09, 2025 4:25 pm
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Joined: 14 Feb 2017
Posts: 407
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| waggo71 wrote: |
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My first squirrel was taken in WV while on a visit to Grandma & Grandpa's house. I was about 7-8 years old. My parents just gotten in from hunting and not long after their return my mom looked out the window and pointed out a nice fox squirrel perched atop an old wooden barrel. She entreated me to sneak out the back door with my BB gun and see if I could get it, and I eagerly complied. With the stealth of a ninja I got within striking distance and let loose with a single shot. No movement. I took a few steps towards it and realized that it was dead. No squirrel ever tasted so good! Years later I learned that they had staged the scene with one of their earlier kills to create that random opportunity...
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That’s awesome. |
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| Posted:
Mon Feb 10, 2025 4:59 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 2434
Location: West MI
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| This thread is inspiring, after closing late Goose today will chase some tree rats soon. |
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Sorry, I'm a Duck Hunter so shouldn't be held strictly responsible for my actions between Oct 1st and ice up. |
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| Posted:
Mon Feb 10, 2025 5:34 am
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Joined: 03 Sep 2014
Posts: 406
Location: Rochester, MN
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Friends and I have been squirrel hunting several times this winter. I have been using mostly a 16 gauge Savage 720, modified choke, 7/8 oz #5 or #4 steel.
We have hunted on both private and public land. We donated 25 processed squirrels to a nearby gun club for their annual wild game dinner.
Squirrel legs, and backs, lightly dusted with a frying mix and then deep fried, rolled in Buffalo Wild Wings sauce (any variety) are outstanding. |
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John Singer |
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Mon Feb 10, 2025 10:41 am
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Joined: 26 Apr 2016
Posts: 370
Location: Vermont
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| I have not shot a squirrel in 25 years. I took my son and his friend Trapper then and they each shot their limits. I showed the 2 of them how to clean them and they spent the afternoon doing that. Saved them for a game dinner we had every year, my old buddies wife used to make a woodcock pie. I asked her to substitute squirrels for for it and she declined. That is until my 12 year old asked!! She couldn't say no and did it it was delicious! I have an 8 year old grandson now that I might break in this coming fall! |
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| Posted:
Mon Feb 10, 2025 9:15 pm
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Joined: 10 Feb 2008
Posts: 51
Location: SC
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| I've got about a dozen in the freezer now. I'll be making a big crockpot of Limb Rat Etouffee (a Ted Nugent recipe) to take to work one day soon. |
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| Posted:
Tue Feb 11, 2025 4:15 am
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Member
Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 2434
Location: West MI
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| SCGunNut wrote: |
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I've got about a dozen in the freezer now. I'll be making a big crockpot of Limb Rat Etouffee (a Ted Nugent recipe) to take to work one day soon.
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Drooling, where exactly do you work and what day are you sharing the stew? |
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Sorry, I'm a Duck Hunter so shouldn't be held strictly responsible for my actions between Oct 1st and ice up. |
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