I've SCORED, prime Ground Squirrel hunting...
- Thread starter HogKiller
- Start date
Meeeeee toooooo, saw a grand total of 3 squirrels, two were at a 85º from my bench and 50ish yards away, the one that was posing for me, I let fly, I was sighted in for 100yards, went over it's head, made a stab at compensating down about 1.5moa or so, all while balancing the gun on one leg of the bi-pod and trying to twist my body enough to hold steady, got it to jump, then it ran away, the others well, one was on steps but ran off when I walked by. The darn weeds are getting tall there, luckily they started mowing them when I'd had enough. I think I got my .25 a touch better at 100yards, Set up two MOA targets and got it walked in for a few bullseyes, I need a good spotting scope, had a breeze from the left so of course the pellets/slugs went right 1 to 1.5 MOA. I never did figure out where the pellets were going, targets were somewhat obscured by weeds, so started using 26gr slugs at about 980. The saga shall continue, with MOMS...Minutes of MISSED Squirrel. Looks like I'm investing in a tripod and a few thousand slugs and getting serious about polishing my barrels.
Upvote 0
File this under WHAT THE H. Went out at 0930, sun was just breaking through, not a d'mn squirrel to be seen as in NO WHERE, they go on vacation?? so put up my targets at 80 yards, had a lovely breeze off of my back left, tried the 26gr FX Hybrids at 960 then dropped then dropped again and settled on 960, just a bit over one Minute of Squirrel, next tried the 25.3 JSB, Hmmmm slightly better, ok next up 33.9 JSB a smidge over 900, HELLO MOS. Now 2 hours have gone by, still not a squirrel to be seen. My buddy treated me to lunch, I should have bought him lunch, he was down by the targets spotting for me. Oh well, next week I may finally get lucky. Oh for giggle I started shooting at a dirt clod out about 70 yards, finally connected, spinning it around several times, then I broke out my .22 Sapsan with 12gr or so pellets and a red dot and magnifier, FINALLY figured out where it was going, made some compensations and started hitting the clod.
Upvote 0
Don't know if you have one, but, I use my golf laser rangefinder when I pest for ground squirrels 
, works like a charm, no guesswork! Amazon/ebay has many budget ones that should work well. If you can get one with slope built in. You'll anchor them soon, good luck and have fun 
.
, works like a charm, no guesswork! Amazon/ebay has many budget ones that should work well. If you can get one with slope built in. You'll anchor them soon, good luck and have fun .Upvote 0
Thanks, I have one but carefully left it home.Don't know if you have one, but, I use my golf laser rangefinder when I pest for ground squirrels
Upvote 0
Because of where I have to shoot, it's wide open, zero cover so I'm forced to go long, the bright spot is I'm under a shade tree on tables so I'm pretty steady. Because I've been there for years I know the various ranges. Next week if my usual spot isn't active I'm going to take my Sapsan with the red dot, it's lighter and I can brace on the fences of the arena.Sounds like something I would do
Upvote 0
That is so cool! Table under a tree sniping GS's...sipping iced coffee....how FUN! That is a lot of land to cover but that is perfect! I go to a friends place with acres of land but the terrain has some steep declines/inclines but is so fun, there is also many trees to set up a shooting table. I usually end up using my Accu-Tac bipod with leg extensions and wander around, there is shade everywhere plus the GS's have no real pressure so they are not skittish...there are also starlings, shots are usually 40-120yds.
Upvote 0
For those of us that live in maple syrup country, if you’re driving around a rural area and see tubing runs from tree to tree it might be worth your while to ask the owner if he needs pesting assistance. Squirrels, chipmunks and even ground hogs like to chew the tubing, causing leaks. I have two permissions that allow me year round pesting. The owner just needs to get permission from the game warden to allow it.
They aren’t as high of a body count as pigeons at dairy farms and the like but it’s a good time regardless.
I usually set up with a low ground chair, trigger stick, monocular, gillie suit and a gillie blanket and within minutes they start showing up. I’ll place handfuls of peanuts, corn and sunflower seeds strategically and then laser range them. I use the gillie blanket over my head (not over my face) and draped over my shoulders to break up the human form that they recognize. It really makes a difference for me. It’s easier and quicker than setting up a blind on sticks, although I have a pop up blind that works too.
They aren’t as high of a body count as pigeons at dairy farms and the like but it’s a good time regardless.
I usually set up with a low ground chair, trigger stick, monocular, gillie suit and a gillie blanket and within minutes they start showing up. I’ll place handfuls of peanuts, corn and sunflower seeds strategically and then laser range them. I use the gillie blanket over my head (not over my face) and draped over my shoulders to break up the human form that they recognize. It really makes a difference for me. It’s easier and quicker than setting up a blind on sticks, although I have a pop up blind that works too.
Last edited:
Upvote 0
I have a carbon fiber tripod now with a ARCA and folding camp stool, that's my next thing to get use to. I'm not sure I can do a full camo sniper thing, it's freaking hot out there in the summer and my buddy would have to wear one also.
Last edited:
Upvote 0
The tree is the one above the SCCHA , my next point is around the corner of the bottom of the building, this is a large nest under the larger of the trees, they up and to the left of the arena, that I can hide behind some netting I've got. Then way out to the right is where it gets interesting, that's about 120 yards. If I thought a Panthera would be a better option than my 600VP I'd spend the money, I'm so deep into this for these damn squirrels what's another 2k? Or I could turn my 600vp into a sniper, I've got the barrel assy, for it, but I've got it shooting so well I don't want to mess with it.
Upvote 0
Ok out I go tomorrow AM at the crack of 0800, weather is suppose to be good, Camera works, gun is working great, ammo clean. Hopefully I'll finally get more than 1.
Upvote 0
Well, success. I can say 2 confirmed kills and 8-10 hits, heard a dull "thunk", but couldn't find the bodies. I don't go running out immediately after a hit, don't want to spook the others. So they may have crawled off to their burrows to die. I'm attaching two pics of the ones I found and I'll post some videos when I get them edited, that I'm pretty sure shows hits, they just fall down
Maverick VP .25 600mm barrel, JSB MKII 33.95
.
Maverick VP .25 600mm barrel, JSB MKII 33.95
.
Upvote 0
Ok, first let's see if the video will upload, so far 0 for 3, giving it plenty of time for the site to process it, or so I think. Short take Maverick Compact .22 using 22gr hybrids, 50 to 120 yards. Ahhhh, I was hitting the 200Mb limit. Have my Trigger Cam working well, and a nice image.
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Got up today bright and early, weather was suppose to be good and got there at 0800 and, not a darn squirrel to be seen. Well except for the 4 running from the entrance. Got all sighted in with my Maverick .25 VP, after an hour saw one at 120 yards laying on the fence, it was perfectly safe, missed ever darn shot, I'd like to blame the breeze but can't. Saw some movement off to my right, moved over to get set up and the little dears went to ground.....finally, one popped up and of course I forgot to turn on my camera, a solid thunk from a 26gr Hybrid, went to get my grabbers and...the darn thing was gone. Went back, another popped up, thought I hit it but...no body. Was about to call it a day after 2.5 hrs, and I see movement by the properties house, can't shoot that direction, chicken coop. Walked around an out building for the Horsemans association and what decides to run a bit towards me and freeze. Off hand shot 25 yards, just happened to have the parallax close and elevation about right, smacked it with my Maverick .22 compact 22gr. Hybrid. If you look close you can see the entry, no exit
Upvote 0