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Post by HillBillyJeff on May 22, 2015 19:55:44 GMT -5
Just wondering if anyone hunts these? There are no restrictions on them and they can be hunted year round. Smaller than a gray, but it shouldn't take too many to make up a pot of dumplings.
I seem to be overrun with them here, and it is even worse when they are cutting pine cones.
Just curious.
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on May 22, 2015 20:52:42 GMT -5
If I've seen one, I didn't know what I was looking at ...but I'd like to shoot some and eat them.
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Post by throbak on May 23, 2015 7:29:23 GMT -5
I used to start my season every year around the 1st of Aug on these things tough targets small and never set still good eating back and back legs cut Iron wood earlyand hawthorn
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Post by firstwd on May 24, 2015 17:45:02 GMT -5
I got told on one ask the C.O. thread that there wasn't restrictions on them and on another that they isn't regulations on them so they are protected.
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Post by nfalls116 on May 24, 2015 18:10:24 GMT -5
Don't recall seeing them in my area
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Post by squirrelhunter on May 24, 2015 21:03:02 GMT -5
I got told on one ask the C.O. thread that there wasn't restrictions on them and on another that they isn't regulations on them so they are protected. Dad always told me while I was growing up that it was illegal to shoot them too. |
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Post by HillBillyJeff on May 24, 2015 21:12:20 GMT -5
I got an email from the DNR stating no restrictions and you don't need to report any kills either.
DFW May 21 at 11:02 AM
To
Jeff
Red (also called "piney") squirrels can be taken at any time without a permit. They are an exempted animals like the groundhog.
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Post by maddog on May 25, 2015 5:48:33 GMT -5
Jeff, good deal. I've shot a few, for a buddy, but have never eaten them. I heard they tasted like pine oil, but that may be an old wive's tale.  When you get some, cook em up and report back. If they are decent eating, I may have found me a "spring squirrel season"! maddog |
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Post by HillBillyJeff on May 25, 2015 6:56:26 GMT -5
Jeff, good deal. I've shot a few, for a buddy, but have never eaten them. I heard they tasted like pine oil, but that may be an old wive's tale. When you get some, cook em up and report back. If they are decent eating, I may have found me a "spring squirrel season"! maddog I know they eat a lot of pine, but they also hoard walnuts here in huge piles and right now they are hitting my yard heavy for maple seeds. I've killed a lot of fox squirrel when they were cutting pine and never noticed a taste difference. I won't be able to report back for some time since it is going to take a while to get enough for my dumplings. I have 7 in the freezer from the last three days. I am having to be careful not to shoot the young ones as they aren't really worth it since they are so small. They skin a lot easier than fox squirrels too.   |
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Post by throbak on May 25, 2015 7:48:00 GMT -5
I have eaten lots of them they taste like squirrel
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Post by firstwd on May 25, 2015 9:24:59 GMT -5
I got an email from the DNR stating no restrictions and you don't need to report any kills either. DFW May 21 at 11:02 AM To Jeff Red (also called "piney") squirrels can be taken at any time without a permit. They are an exempted animals like the groundhog. Keep that email for your local C.O. Mine said they were protected also. Just keep it handy to cover your butt. |
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Post by HillBillyJeff on May 25, 2015 13:22:41 GMT -5
I don't think the CO's are always up on all the laws themselves. I spoke to one at a lake and he wasn't aware you needed your name on your shanty in two inch block letters. I have the email and will be printing it off as well. I only hunt them here at home, so I doubt I will need to carry a hard copy of it with me. Can always pull it up on my phone too.
Added two more mid morning. Got 9 in the freezer now. I think I will vacuum seal them in 12 packs.
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Post by budd on May 25, 2015 15:45:43 GMT -5
They are EVERYWHERE around here. Around here there are not much for nut tree's, I see them all the time eating pine cone seeds.
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Post by dadfsr on May 26, 2015 9:27:54 GMT -5
If I have my thoughts right-these are NOT native squirrels. I do know they are extremely territorial and will chase off any other gray or fox squirrels-my dad told me years ago that they actually will castrate another squirrel when fighting??
They are pretty small and don't have a lot of meat on them compared the bigger/slower squirrels.
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Post by HillBillyJeff on May 26, 2015 10:08:22 GMT -5
My dad used to tell me the same thing about the castration thing, but then he would also say he has never found a castrated squirrel.
From my readings they are native and their range is pretty much everywhere but on the Pacific cost. They have the Douglas squirrel out there.
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on May 26, 2015 21:53:26 GMT -5
I think I had one in my attic. I thought it was a baby squirrel, because it was small. I caught it in a rat trap.
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Post by HillBillyJeff on May 30, 2015 18:41:37 GMT -5
Put 12 or so in the freezer so far and they have been big ole females. Trying to avoid the young ones as they have virtually nothing on them. All this from the yard too. If this keeps up I am not sure how many will be cutting cones later this year. Unless these young grow fast. Have about 9 of them running around the yard.
Time to vacuum seal these and I think one more bag will do it.
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When you get some, cook em up and report back. If they are decent eating, I may have found me a "spring squirrel season"! 