In most states, hunters can legally chase squirrels for several months or more per year and can typically harvest between four and six squirrels, combined species, per day. We are welcome our friends to reach us for asking on fan page: We dont accept guest posts for any reason. Use your binoculars to study the crotches of limbs and the topsides of any large horizontal branches. Some places forbid catching Red Squirrels. Squirrels eat nuts in the wild, so they will be very attracted to peanuts and other nuts placed in a trap. Her offspring will quickly grow to adult size after around six weeks. For instance, if I have not seen a squirrel, but I want to set up a trap anyway, I will use peanuts. Squirrels who are pestering you and your property are a complicated matter because the presence of these animals indicates various disturbances and issues. But, due to the destructive habit of these creatures, eliminating them from our houses is allowed. Any time they catch sight of a trap, it appears to them as a threat. Grey squirrels have limited legal protection and can be controlled all year round by a variety of methods including shooting and trapping. Simply smear peanut butter or even gooey marshmallow onto some soft bread as an edible gluein the bait pan. Additionally, squirrels prepare themselves early for winter. Also, in the Spring, squirrels take plant shoots as soon as they appear through the earth. Also, the fall season is a good time for hunting squirrels since theyre busy stocking foods. What about muzzle velocity? Sticky, sweet, and nutty! This is due to the fact that without a glove, you will inadvertently transfer your scent to your trap and bait. I believe in treating all creatures with respect. The western gray squirrel has grizzled grayish fur above and whitish underparts. Admittedly, I pack more afield in this pouch than perhaps necessary, but long ago I learned its better to have something and not need it than vice versa. The Hunt Begins Again If you face a scurryof squirrels (more than one), you need to catch and relocate the groupquickly to prevent damage to your home. As I mentioned in this post, I swap the squirrel bait around depending on the climate at the time. Having the correct type of bait trap for trapping squirrels is necessary for successful hunting. When relocating them, put them at a location a minimum of 10 miles from your home to significantly decrease the possibility of the animals finding their way back and pestering you again. But worst of all, squirrels have voracious appetites and can quickly decimate the crop of a vegetable garden or fruit tree. What is the best time of the day to go squirrel hunting? The good news is that there are many things squirrels love, and they can be used as bait. When choosing a relocation site, select a wooded and large area so that there is a higher likelihood for the squirrels to find adequate shelter, food, and water. I actually have three muzzleloaderstwo shotguns and a long riflethat Ive taken afield for squirrels. The Complete Guide to Hunting Squirrels | MeatEater Hunting The actual red squirrel, sometimes known as a pine squirrel, is a very abundant tree squirrel in northerly latitudes that is typically ignored by hunters due to its small size, about a half-pound and the piney flavor of its flesh. One-door traps have a door with a trigger plate in the back for putting the bait. Most mothballs are made from harmful chemicals and should be kept out of reach from pets and children. Live-trapping gray squirrels, using metal box traps at least two feet long is often the most effective way to remove them. As an offgridliving supporter, we will earn some cents when you purchase a valuable product from our suggestiions. To bait the squirrels should be easy as you simply need to use any type of nut or corn and some squirrels will come running. Other excellent baits you can use in trapping squirrels include the following: It is very important to be successful in your squirrel trapping operation. One such trap is the body grip trap, which leaves the animal in a bloody mess. They are heavier than easterns, weighing up to 2 pounds. If you dont have or cant keep these kinds of trees, hang nest boxes made of untreated wood or metal around your yard. The bait is just a part, albeit a crucial one, of the trapping process. 3. This is a special device that lets them exit the hole but not come back in. The gun uses percussion caps and its lightweight, pretty enough, and easy to maintain. You should also make sure that the animal will have to trigger your trap if it is to obtain the food item. If youre toting a shotgun, hold your bead off the end of the squirrels nose in order to limit the number of pellets that get into the meat. Western gray squirrels usually have only one 1 litter, born in the spring. You can modify or add screens to it depending on the need to seal all possible escape points over the hole. The nuts that they consume range from those that are usually eaten by and available to people to those wild nuts that can be gathered at woodlands. These odors will attract squirrels which means they are perfect squirrel bait options! In placing the bait and setting your trap, remember to wear gloves at every stage of the work. Squirrels love nuts, so peanut butter is one of the best baits to use to humanely trap them. Not only will it smell, but it will createa disease risk and may attract other pests. Theres also a chance that your household pet will get ahold of a poisoned squirrel if one escapes to the yard, poisoning your cat or dog. Hunting squirrels can help you learn and maintain stalking skills, and it can hone your abilities as a precision shooter. And at only 7 pounds, its certainly not a burden to pack all morning. Look for bushel-sized and smaller nests of leaves and twigs in the high crotches of treetops. You may also consider exclusion as well, using a one-way door. A day well spent for any huntsman is when their goal for the day is achieved. Other favorites arent exactly natural, but the squirrels love them anyway. A big eastern gray squirrel might weigh 1.5 pounds. Firstly, I would try more bait options. It should be positioned in a place where your target squirrel will need to enter the trap with its entire body to be able to reach it. A percussion .32 caliber long rifle is the perfect small game muzzleloader. A coalition of airgunners across Anglesey successfully removed grey squirrels from the island. Instead, just hold tight and wait. 07236828. var cid='1246778114';var pid='ca-pub-1751397014771798';var slotId='div-gpt-ad-rodentguide_com-box-3-0';var ffid=1;var alS=1002%1000;var container=document.getElementById(slotId);container.style.width='100%';var ins=document.createElement('ins');ins.id=slotId+'-asloaded';ins.className='adsbygoogle ezasloaded';ins.dataset.adClient=pid;ins.dataset.adChannel=cid;if(ffid==2){ins.dataset.fullWidthResponsive='true';} Typically, though, finding something like my Pedersoli .32 long rifle is going to take some hunting. These animals are outside the nest early in the morning and late in the afternoon to scavenge for food.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'emoffgrid_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_3',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-emoffgrid_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Harris Catch and Release Humane Animal Cage Trap. Also watch and listen for close-range squirrels that are watching you in hopes that youll simply pass by without noticing them. Pineapple, for example, offers a pretty sweet and succulent smell that can attract squirrels from a decent distance. You might then want them trapped and relocated instead, which will require traps. Make sure that the cage is large enough to hold a squirrel. If you're up for a project, consider building a squirrel trap from things you might have lying around your home.This trapping method also works if you're hunting for squirrels outside. Pick a large, wooded area for the release. Why or Why Not?Continue, Read More Can Squirrels Throw Things?Continue, Read More How to Get Rid of Ground Squirrels Without Killing ThemContinue, Read More Are Squirrels Dangerous? Obviously, you cant shoot the tail, so then your job becomes a waiting game. But its my third muzzleloader, the long rifle, to which Im partial. The distance and darkness will disorient the squirrel, discouraging it fromreturning. They occur in three color-phases, the most common being rust-colored. Theyre cute, theyre funny, but theyre making a mess of your yard. Finally, you mentioned it is a Red Squirrel. Once you find these spots, take a seat and hold tight. Never relocate during winter, as it will cause them to starve and die. This lessens suffering, and preserves the fur and meat. Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus). This is where you will mount your trap. A hunter with a .22 rifle should follow directly beneath the squirrel as it travels, being very careful to NOT let the squirrel get out of eyesight, even though thats basically impossible because the squirrel is almost inevitably going to vanish. On a hot day, I will absolutely use fruit as squirrel bait. Natural squirrel repellents may I have tried luring it in with a loose peanut and it quickly picks up the peanut and exits before tripping the peddle at the back. The preferred weapon for most experienced squirrel hunters is the .22 caliber rifle. The key here is to do a lot more sitting and a lot less moving. Theyre crepuscular, which means theyre only active at dusk and dawn. Since it can no longer hear you walking about, itll get curious about where you went and then itll move to get a better look. Having the squirrels stick to one area increases the chances of hunting. Dad found the bushytail, a big ole fox squirrel, cutting in a hickory tree. You should outsmart these intelligent creatures. When planning on catching a squirrel on your property using a live trap, remember two things: Check that it is legal in your state to catch a squirrel using a live trap. Of course not; they want to live as you do. If you have tried everything in your arsenal and you are still unsuccessful in catching the pests, you can consider contracting the services of a pest control professional company. 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