Shot size for squirrels?

[bikerbeans]

Unrelated to the shot size question, take a look at the bottom squirrel in the picture. It was oddly discolored, almost like it had been bleached on the upper part of its body (the pic isn't that great, but you can tell), it looked perfectly normal and healthy otherwise.

I've lived around here for 25 years and never seen any other than Fox squirrels, much larger and different colored than the Gray squirrels I hunted as a kid in the southeast. I lived in Leavenworth about a hundred miles east of here for a few years and though they were mostly Fox squirrels there, I did see Gray ones occasionally, so we must be pretty close to the edge of the Gray's range here. Do the two species interbreed or is there some other explanation?

Any nuclear power plants or hazardous waste treatment facilities nearby?

BB

[richhodg66]

No, but talking to the Kansas Bowhunter's Association guys on their forum, they tell me coloration can vary quite a bit. There's a town about 70 miles north that has black squirrels and the wife says she has seen one around here, but I haven't. I never saw one like this before, seemed kind of weird, but it seemed healthy and normal in all other respects.

[Arisaka99]

I started hunting squirrels with a 20ga loaded with #4’s. Switched to a 12ga as I was having difficulty with wounding on longer shots, and never had an issue since. Keep a few 3” 4’s (turkey loads) for those long shots, and you’ll be in good stead!

Happy hunting!


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[DDriller]

.22 LR in top barrel and 3" #6 shot .410 in the lower barrel. Also use #6 in 20 gauge.

[Earl54]

.22 LR in top barrel and 3" #6 shot .410 in the lower barrel. Also use #6 in 20 gauge.

Custom 22lr flat point in the top barrel, and 2.5" #6 410 in the bottom barrel for me also. Great minds think similar.

[Newtire]

I prefer #6. #4 drags too much hair into the meat in my observation.

[GhostHawk]

I've shot alot of squirrels with 20 ga and 6's.
But if I was concerned with lead in the meat I'd go the other way, 7.5'shot.

They'll smack that squirrel hard, but probably won't do more than just penetrate the skin.

More of them, but they should be easier to find.

Of course nothing beats a 40 grain lead slug from a .22lr in the brain.

[remy3424]

The difference between 6 and 5s when shooting pheasants is very noticeable with many 6s left in the birds, but 5s are seldom found. I read about this on a different fourm and last year I saved all the pellets from the birds I cleaned (over 50). I shoot more 5's but recovered way more 6 shot pellets, true that heavier shot retains more energy....harder to stop them.

[quail4jake]

I use 1 1/8 oz #6 and 3 drams Swiss FFg in my 46" barreled 20 bore flintlock fowling piece. Kills reliably @ 40+ yards. I like chilled shot and rarely find it in the meat...maybe just lucky?