16 replies to this topic

[True2ThySelf]

I'm a new hunter and was thinking of trying my luck with some tree squirrels. Does anyone have any tips on how to start? I was thinking of using an air rifle and heading out to the Sequoia National Forest. Do I just need to put boots on the ground and look in the trees or is there more too it than that? Any advice is appreciated

[ShooterJohn]

Look for areas with oaks and acorns. This time of year the acorns are falling and that's your best areas to track down tree squirrels.

[BearWhoHunts]

+1 there John. Also up in sequoia area look for pine cones that have been stripped of their seeds. They wont be far away. Also they can be quite curious. My old man used to rub quarters together to get them to peek out to investigate. Tons of great memories coming your way my friend! Good luck and have fun!

[dangerranger]

Both of my grandparents were tree squirrel hunters. my grandmother liked to stalk and shoot them with a shotgun. my Grampa liked to sit in a likely area and read dime novels until one was out and then pick them off with a 22. both methods work. DR

[nje]

i love to hunt greys. i love eating them even more. i usually walk and let out a few hen turkey yelps from a mouth call as i go. if they're close they seem to always respond.

[chuckocaster]

easiest is to just get out. i usually wear a hat of some sort, i spot an stalk. if they start to move around the tree i take the hat off, lay it on the ground and then circle back the other way. usually they circle around until they see the hat and move back around the tree the other way. then you pop them. i normally use either a bow or a .22

[Air Rifle Hunter]

I have a questions for those of you who have and are already Tree Squirrel hunters here in California: In doing some research and looking at the California DF&G website I noticed that there is a map for California showing the "Hunt Zone" and "No Open Season" zones for Tree Squirrels. Basically the areas of Mono, Inyo, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, part of Kern County, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orangel, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial are a No Open Season zone. This may seem like a dumb question (and I'm sure I'll ask a few more in the months to come), however since I am still learning all of the regulations and trying to put them to memory so I don't get myself into trouble, please bear with me. My question is: Does that mean that there is no hunting season for Tree Squirrels in those counties/areas/zones? Everything else from those areas up is shown as "Hunt Zone", which is what I would understand to mean you can hunt in those zones during Tree Squirrel season and the the lower portion of the state does not allow Tree Squirrel hunting (though I don't think we have very many tree squirrels in the lower half of California anyway). Thanks for any helpful replies.

[ShooterJohn]

Here is the regulation and it is pretty self explanatory. You can only take tree squirrels in the counties listed below and as it says in ( d ) tree squirrels may not be taken at any time in the balance of the state.

§307. Tree Squirrels.Tree squirrels may be taken only as follows: ( a ) General Season and Areas: The general season in the counties of Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, Yuba, and that portion of Kern County lying east of Interstate 5 shall open on the second Saturday in September extending through the last Sunday in January. ( b ) Archery and Falconry Tree Squirrel Season and Area: Tree squirrels may be taken with bow and arrow or raptors only during the general tree squirrel season and as follows: ( 1 ) The season in the counties of Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Modoc, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba; and that portion of Kern County lying east of Interstate 5 shall open on the first Saturday in August extending through the day before the general tree squirrel season. ( c ) Bag and Possession Limit: Four squirrels per day, four in possession. ( d ) Except as provided herein, tree squirrels may not be taken at any time in the balance of the state.

[Air Rifle Hunter]

Here is the regulation and it is pretty self explanatory. You can only take tree squirrels in the counties listed below and as it says in ( d ) tree squirrels may not be taken at any time in the balance of the state.

Yeah... I read that too and was just wanting to make sure I understood it the way it read. I guess if I want to do some Tree Squirrel hunting I'm going to have to head a little farther North than where I'm at. Thanks for the post reply ShooterJohn.

[ShooterJohn]

No problem.

[Recon]

Can you tree squirrels with a dog and then shoot 'em in our state?

[ShooterJohn]

Sure, if you can find any during the season.

[ratassassin]

Why does California allow hunting them in part of the state but not the rest? Squirrel population density?

[Recon]

Shooterjohn, I'll take that as a challenge! :-)I've noticed my dog is absolutely psycho about tree squirrels. I'm thinking hunting them -something I've never done before- would be great training for me and my sons, and fun for the dog.

[TonyS]

It isn't about population density. It is about hunters who didn't want to go vote when the little old ladies with blue hair DECIDED for you. I know of several areas of Ventura County that are loaded with squirrels. You CAN hunt them in Kern County.

[Braz]

Can you tree squirrels with a dog and then shoot 'em in our state?

Damn man, after the dog trees a squirrel why would you shoot it? Seems to be a pretty good dog to me. Just think about it before you start shooting some good dog. someone on here would probably take it off your hands instead.

[Bisley]

Glad to see I'm not the only one that sees things in that sick and twisted way