I need help with squirrels!

[Garry L Gordon]

This is a Parker question before it's a hunting question (as far as I'm concerned). I know there are a few of you out there that will admit to hunting bushytails. Our Missouri season opened at Memorial Day and we are in a spate of cool "morning-ed" days that make me long to carry a Parker in the squirrel woods. I'm interested in taking enough to populate a Brunswick Stew (that's Brunswick, Virginia, thank you very much!) -- without butterbeans, I might add.

Here's the question: What Parker would you carry? You can base your answer on your experiences (probably as a kid, no doubt, like me) or, if you're a real connoisseur, what your current experience suggests.

Gauge, barrel length, chokes (grade??)...?

[scott kittredge]

me, i would use a 20 ga with 3/4 oz of 6s mod and imp/cly. they should be young and close. good luck
scott

[Jeff Kuss]

I think that new to you 410 needs to be blooded.

[Garry L Gordon]

I think that new to you 410 needs to be blooded.

Ah-ha! I have one now, Jeff, inspired by you and Stan Hillis (although nowhere equal to a certain beautifully engraved .410 I was privileged to hold not long ago).

[Garry L Gordon]

me, i would use a 20 ga with 3/4 oz of 6s mod and imp/cly. they should be young and close. good luck
scott

Scott, I’ll have to check the chokes, but I may have what you recommend—thanks!

[Phil Yearout]

Sorry; it was a .22 back in my squirrel days.

[Garry L Gordon]

Sorry; it was a .22 back in my squirrel days.

Mine, too, Phil, but times they are a-changin’

[allen newell]

410 ga with 7 1/2 oz shot.

[Reggie Bishop]

.410 are harmless to squirrels in the top of Tennessee hickory trees. Use a long barrel 20 of course!:cool::cool: oh and full choke is an asset.

[Garry L Gordon]

410 ga with 7 1/2 oz shot.

Any particular choke?

[Gary Cripps]

.22 with a pup to bark um an keep them moving

[Garry L Gordon]

.410 are harmless to squirrels in the top of Tennessee hickory trees. Use a long barrel 20 of course!:cool::cool: oh and full choke is an asset.

Know anyone with such a gun? Our hickories are pretty tall here, too. Maybe we could work a guided hunt out. :)

[Garry L Gordon]

.22 with a pup to bark um an keep them moving

I wish I had a squirrel dog, but it would corrupt my bird dogs:rotf::rotf:

What you describe, Gary, is what I grew up with. Oh, for those days again.

[Milton C Starr]

The 10 gauge with #4s is a pretty good combo on squirrels for me.
It was almost like a jungle where I used to squirrel hunt, I think the #4s had a much easier time going through leaves and such than the #7.5s.

[Garry L Gordon]

The 10 gauge with #4s is a pretty good combo on squirrels for me.
It was almost like a jungle where I used to squirrel hunt, I think the #4s had a much easier time going through leaves and such than the #7.5s.

I like 4s and 6s for squirrels. Never used a 10 gauge—hmmm…

[scott kittredge]

7 1/2s is a lot of pellets to spit out :shock:

[Jerry Harlow]

I went for the first time in thirty years this February. Took a 20 gauge Parker and thought I would have my limit in an hour. Four hours later I had two. Most of the time they saw me first. Out of range. The twenty was not enough. Wished I had taken my Parker trap gun with high powered shells.

A 12 gauge double, one ounce of 6s in a right I.C. bore, high powered 1 1/4 ounces of 6s in the left full choke. Only a 20 or .410 on a rainy day where you can hear them shaking water off the leaves and they can't hear you walking up.

Used to squirrel hunt every morning before and afternoon after quail hunting.

[Chris Pope]

I took care of a whole lot of squirrels with a Thompson Center Contender with a .410 barrel and 3" #6 shot. Seemed to pattern very well. If I had to choose a Parker would go with a my 28 ga repro mod/imp and #6.

[Richard Flanders]

Squirrel hunting for me as a teen was an exercise in practicing to be a sniper. I had an old Mossberg .22 bolt gun with a 2-6x scope that made it relative easy to make head shots at over 50yds. My best shot ever was taken from at least 60yds and when I picked the squirrel up I couldn't find a hole in it.... until a drop of blood and some small bone frags came out of one of his ears. That shot went in one ear and out the other. That's the kind of shot you never forget. I still have that Mossberg in the basement. It was my first gun and cost me just $35. It went well with the pristine 20ga Mod 12 we got for $40!!! Those were the days..... I think I only ever shot one squirrel with a shotgun as a kid. Used grandpa's 12ga full-choked mod 37 Ithaca.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I ain't a believer in shooting squirrels with toy guns, I take the 12 bore with full choke and 1 1/8 ounces of #6. I hunt in tall timber, so you need a little ommph to get the down.

[Stan Hillis]

I would take the .410 with 3" no. 6s, based on years of squirreling. No. 6 shot will transfer more energy to the squirrel and penetrate to the vitals well. Any of the bigger gauges will surely get the job done, but having lots of fun while "making meat" is why I like the lil' guns so much.

Pattern density is the key with the .410s. The pellet energy is exactly the same as the same size pellet fired out of a 12, or 10, gauge (at the same velocity). They aren't toys. Putting plenty pellet strikes on the game is vital, and done with dense patterns. Full chokes all the way for me with the .410s.

[charlie cleveland]

if I was hunting for meat it would be a 12 ga 30 inch full choke and high brass no 4 s or 5 s.....shooting thru leaves you need that extra power.....charlie

[Joseph Sheerin]

Tight choked 20ga with 6's would be my choice........ At least of the guns I own.

But, my perfect squirrel gun my 50yr old newfangled Remington 1100 .410 with full choke....

Shoot em in the head, and don't waste any of that good rib meat. :D

[Chris Travinski]

I've had a lot of success with a 28ga. reproduction M/F with Win AA #8

[Andrew Sacco]

I think this is being over-thought. You can kill a squirrel with anything, but I'd be partial to my F/F 26" Trojan in 16g and #5's.

ALL I CAN SAY IS TOO BAD PARKER BROS. NEVER MADE A DRILLING : )

[Daniel Carter]

Garry, the only solution to this is to take ALL of your Parkers squirrel hunting and by careful note taking report back your findings. This may be a long and arduous task but the results will be worth it to the group.

[Dean Romig]

Why has nobody suggested a scoped .22 ?

Oh wait, I see... it is a "Which Parker" thread.



.

[Milton C Starr]

I like 4s and 6s for squirrels. Never used a 10 gauge—hmmm…

4s with the 10 gauge hits them hard. I don't believe you can use too much shotgun really. Worst damage I've seen on a squirrel was a 17 hmr, blew it into literal pieces. Normally when I recover squirrels there's only a few pellets in the head. I've shot them with everything from
1 1/8oz loads to 2 1/4oz loads. Any shotgun load really will anchor them I say use whatever gun you enjoy carrying the most. If you don't like the heavy guns it's hard to go wrong with a 16 or 28 gauge for your small game hunting.

[allen newell]

410 all day long

[charlie cleveland]

I ve squirl hunted with my 8 ga several times with no 6 lead its a little over kill but hey what a blast it is....it aint a parker but the little steven 410 and 22 over and under is the best squirl gun I ever used......charlie

[Mike Koneski]

Sika 6-Point would tell you to use the 8g with 1 1/2 oz of 7 1/2 shot! Shoots them right off his roof. Never mentions how he has some water dripping through his roof in a steady rain though. :whistle:

Back when I was knee high to a grasshopper (you gettin' this Garry?) the tool of choice was a Winchester 67 with iron sights. Used to sit on the side-hill at my Pappy's in the oak stand and pick off half a dozen in a sit. :) Pappy's farm is long gone but I still have that rifle.

[George Lang]

I agree Mike. I've had my Win 67 since 1952 and its still going strong on squirrels and chipmunk's plus several other vermin.

[Garry L Gordon]

Back when I was knee high to a grasshopper (you gettin' this Garry?) the tool of choice was a Winchester 67 with iron sights. Used to sit on the side-hill at my Pappy's in the oak stand and pick off half a dozen in a sit. :) Pappy's farm is long gone but I still have that rifle.

Okay, Mike, I'm taking notes! So...this was back when we had all original parts, yes? Just checkin' for an acquaintance. :)

(What the heck is a Win. 67? A bolt action?)

[Alfred Greeson]

67 is a single shot bolt action Winchester 22. I had the youth model which was also loaned to my Dad's best friend to carry on his raccoon hunts.

[Michael D Hankinson]

I'm another who got my Winchester Model 67 in 1951 or 1952, bought mine used from the neighbor for $9. Still have it minus the little stamped safety flipper. My Dad said if you didn't know you pulled the Hammer back you shouldn't be using the gun. Still iron sights on it. Fun gun for a farm boy at the time.

[Garry L Gordon]

Come to think of it, my older brother used a single shot bolt action .22 for squirrels when we were kids. I had a youth Sears .410 with the side button opener. My brother's bolt action was probably a Sears model, too. We could not afford much beyond the Sears guns when I was a kid. They worked just fine.

My Pop used a J. C. Higgins .22 automatic, the one with the wood wrap around stock (whatever that's called). He was deadly on squirrels. Before I could carry a gun (up to about age 6), I was his "dog" and made the squirrels move to his side of the tree so he could head shoot them. He would only use short hollow point ammo. Try and get that today!

[Chris Pope]

Rifle that my dad taught me to shoot in the early 60's - Winchester mod 67 ! Remember it like yesterday. Target shooting mostly, no squirrels. Remember my first deer hunt with the grown-ups at a very young age I was allowed to carry it- empty, no bullets (Barney Fife style). That was a great day and likely ruined me for life. (:

[Garry L Gordon]

Rifle that my dad taught me to shoot in the early 60's - Winchester mod 67 ! Remember it like yesterday. Target shooting mostly, no squirrels. Remember my first deer hunt with the grown-ups at a very young age I was allowed to carry it- empty, no bullets (Barney Fife style). That was a great day and likely ruined me for life. (:

What a “gift of ruination” from your father.

[Joseph Sheerin]

All this talk of 22 Squirrel rifles reminding me that I had picked this one up a year or two back, put a vortex scope on it, sighted in, then forgot it was in a gun sock in my secondary gun safe.....

Might have to take it up to my place later this summer and shoot some bushy tails with it. I normally take my ugly little Nylon 66 when I go up there.

High Standard Sport King Special Deluxe model. No serial number....

I do remember it being quite the shooter last time I had it at the gun club.

[Garry L Gordon]

All this talk of 22 Squirrel rifles reminding me that I had picked this one up a year or two back, put a vortex scope on it, sighted in, then forgot it was in a gun sock in my secondary gun safe.....

Might have to take it up to my place later this summer and shoot some bushy tails with it. I normally take my ugly little Nylon 66 when I go up there.

High Standard Sport King Special Deluxe model. No serial number....

I do remember it being quite the shooter last time I had it at the gun club.

Now, that's a nice looking gun.

[Richard Flanders]

If I were to get back into sniping fat fox squirrels again, it would be with this puppy. Marlin 39A with a killer scope that is very crisp and bright. I bought this new in 1973 in Lansing Michigan. I shot it with iron sights for many years and did very well until my eyesight went fuzzy and I couldn't see the rear sight well enough. With this scope, it will really reach out there with the stunning accuracy that Marlins are well known for. It's ridiculously easy to keep this within an about 1.5" at 100yds, and the scope has a BDC system.

[Garry L Gordon]

If I were to get back into sniping fat fox squirrels again, it would be with this puppy. Marlin 39A with a killer scope that is very crisp and bright. I bought this new in 1973 in Lansing Michigan. I shot it with iron sights for many years and did very well until my eyesight went fuzzy and I couldn't see the rear sight well enough. With this scope, it will really reach out there with the stunning accuracy that Marlins are well known for. It's ridiculously easy to keep this within an about 1.5" at 100yds, and the scope has a BDC system.

Now that's a "head shot only" rifle!

[Stan Hillis]

The most fun I ever had chasing squirrels was with my .36 cal. long rifle. I'd use 25 grs. of FFFg behind a patched 000 buckshot, and head shoot them only. A friend gave me a bag of them he had bought bulk and, as I recall, the buckshot measured about .350". With a good , thick pillow ticking patch they shot "minute of squirrel head". But, with .355" cast balls and teflon coated ticking that little gun is a tack driver.

Very satisfying and relaxing.

[Chris Pope]

Flintlock rifle hunting squirrels from a jon boat floating down amongst the big oak trees that lined the banks of the Contoocook River in central NH was always a dream of mine. I'd think about doing that every time I went duck hunting. But never made it happen.

[Garry L Gordon]

Flintlock rifle hunting squirrels from a jon boat floating down amongst the big oak trees that lined the banks of the Contoocook River in central NH was always a dream of mine. I'd think about doing that every time I went duck hunting. But never made it happen.

Chris, surely there is a SC river that would lend itself to a float hunt? Take the fly rod and some poppers and pick up a few bream, too.

Missouri's Ozark streams lend themselves to this, but here in the north part of the state, there's not much in the way of float streams outside of the oversized Missouri and Mississippi.

[Chris Pope]

Oh definitely some nice squirrelly streams near us...great idea!

[Stan Hillis]

Chris, surely there is a SC river that would lend itself to a float hunt?

There are many, but the problem with many is that the banks on both sides are privately owned, and unless the squirrel falls out of the tree into the stream so you can retrieve it from the boat it would be illegal to get out on the bank to pick it up. I've run into that issue when jump shooting ducks from my camo fiberglass kayak on creeks and rivers here.

[Phil Yearout]

Take one of those telescoping golf ball retrievers with ya :rolleyes:!

[Garry L Gordon]

Individual state property laws are very interesting.

[Stan Hillis]

They are, indeed. In GA, as long as a stream is deemed "navigable", it can be fished and hunted by the public as long as you are in a boat, as described earlier. I have a copy of a letter from the Corps of Engineers that states that a particular "creek", which I drift for ducks, is navigable, from where it empties into the Savannah River, upstream for many miles to a certain bridge, above which the landowners can control the hunting and fishing on it.

[John Dallas]

A river or stream in Michigan is "navigable" if logs were floated down it when Michigan was lumbered in the late 1800's