Well for us hillbillies, it's finally going to be the season opener for squirrels.  I loved hunting them as a kid and still manage to make it out a few times each year after the little tree rats but nothing like my younger days.  The old timers always tell ya to hunt with a shotgun when the leaves are on and shooting is close, then go to a 22 rifle when the leaves are off.  I have usually just hunted with a 22 all season long regardless of the foliage.  My little Marlin 39 A lever action is quite a tack driver and one that I enjoy shooting to make the hunt more challenging.  However, I'm also considering using my old single shot 410 that my Grandfather gave me so many years ago.  If that weren't enough, I have a Remington 870 Wingmaster 12 gauge that I haven't even fired a round through yet!  I'll probably go with the 410 for nostalgic purposes but what would you guys take and why?

 mountianeer: here in michigan we do the same thing . shotgun for the first part when the leaves are on. and then go to the 22's when they are down. but the only advantage to carring a shot gun is the pat season is open also. this year they have extened the season till mar.1 . so we will be going back to the deer woods to get those little pests. will be able to see them along way off. let the kids have at them with their 22 s. all this 22 sil. shooting they have done will come in handy.

   what your best way to cook up them tree rats?????    we tail skin them. cut em up and role them in flour. brown em in bacon grease. then throw em in the crock pot with onoin soup mix and slice up an onoin and 3/4 cups of water. let them slow cook all day.  good eating man.

Mountaineer;

Myself, I'd just take a .22lr & have done with it.  If I were hunting with somebody else, it would be one of each. 

900F

Mr. Mom,

Sounds like a superb recipe that I'll probably have to give a try.  Thanks!  We usually just skin and quarter them then pressure cook them.  Once cooked, we pluck them boneless and add barbecue sauce to make sandwhiches or we make gravy. 

CB,

I'll probably take the 22 on the next outing I suspect. 

I'm fond of the "original" squirrel rifle,.... .36 cal. roundball, 40 inch. barrel, 35 grs. FFFG blackpowder, and "FLINTLOCK"!!

rollinb,

Yeah that would be fun!  Think I might prefer a 32 cal if I could get one.

Mountaineer,

     Careful, RollingB can make you one - and that'd make me jealous.

  If you cain't get a 32 Cal, I'd use the .22 - in fact I got a 39a golden handed down from my dad.  A bit heavy in the barrel but accurate as all get go.

Spot

Well I went with the 410 and took a few of the tree rats.  Using Mr. Mom's recipe, very tasty, thanks!!!  I was going to use my Marline 39 cause I only had #4 shot for the 410 and I'd rather have # 6, but when I went to check the zero, the dag gone thing wasn't shooting worth a hoot.  I was way too far right and shooting tight groups but I bottomed out the left windage adjustment.  Don't know what the problem is there, it's a cheapo simmons so I'll probably just replace it.  Can't wait to try it again!

It is difficult to beat a 22 rf for tree rats.  It puts you in the deer woods stalking game with a rifle.  A shotgun just doesn't cut it for me on squirrels.  I've used a bolt marlin and I won a pump Remington at a DU banquet about 20 years ago, so thats what i hunt.

I always wanted a super grade Kimber in 22rf or maybe an old winchester m52.  Too many 22 rifles are built cheap and feel "tinnie".

I don't think you  should opt for a 32 cal black powder; the bores foul pretty easy on them.  a round ball out of a 36 is only about 70 grs.  I use a .435 ball in my flint lock and it is about 120 grs and I can hunt deer and squirrels at the same time.

BEAR

Hmmmm,

Not a bad idea bear.   Might have to reconsider

With the 45 cal I can either shoot for the head, as the sq is coming down the trunk, or bark him.

Sometimes I shoot for the head and when the smoke clears, I did bark him.

Squirrels shot with a black powder rifle, taste much better than chicken.

BEAR