Squirrel Hunting

[Lunker]

Okay, I hunt just about everything. But I have never hunted squirrel . I would like to give it try this fall, for not only myself, but to maybe introduce a couple of people to the great sport of hunting. I was wondering where with about an hour of the cities would be a good place to hunt squirrels, or if a landowner is reading this, maybe let me hunt the little chatter boxes at your land? Just thought I'd throw it out there. Also, how far out of city limits do u have to be to hunt? I thought of maybe going out somewhere near elko(where my gun range is) and chat up some land owners to see if I could, but dont know where it is legal since there are farms all over. Thanks

[knoppers]

sherburne county has lots of state and federal lands, and with all the oaks here, I would think it is a good place to start, I would let you hunt my property, but since I am in the city limits, I think its not a good idea. way to many tree rats and rabbits.
I have had two squirrels come down my furnace exhaust, what a friggin' experience.

[Gissert]

See if you can get permission from a farmer. Look for corn fields that have a woodlot along the field edge.

set up a few yards inside the woods, and sit quietly. Sooner or later the squirrels will become active, working back and forth from the woods to the corn.

My dad and I used to hunt squirrels a lot this way when I was a kid. Great memories, and great eating too.

[CornPirateKiller]

Glad to see there are others that still go for tree rats out there. I don't get to hunt them much any more because my wife and kids won't eat them and I can't eat all that I could shoot. I still take a few a year for fun and memories and then have a private feast when the family is out.

Check out the woodlots and hillsides beside fields. Most farmers don't mind rat hunters. Sitting works best for me. Find a comfy spot and sit still near the edge of te trees. After about 15 minutes or so, they'll get curious and start rooting around looking for food. Sometimes a good spot will yield three or four without having to move.

Good Luck!!

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Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

[Lunker]

Thanks all. The DNR and maps of ranges says that there are fox squirrels in the state as well. Living in the cities and hunting up north I have never seen one. Where are these usually located?

[Rick]

A fox squirrel likes edges a bit more than the gray squirrel. Grays will normally be deeper in a wooded area while fox squirrels will tend to be on the cornfield edge of a wooded area. Southern Minnesota woodlots, especially oak, near cornfields are usually decent spots. Hilly hardwood areas adjacent to cornfields are also good. Especially in SE MN

[Lunker]

Thanks Rick, do u think the elko area would be too far north for there to be any fox squirrleys?

[Rick]

Around Elko shoud be great.

Remember, farmers woodlots around corn usually work out the best for those chunky foxy's.