Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Howdy all,

So my buddy and I got our permits for this squirrel season, our first. So we've been out to Phelps and Thompson WMA a total of four times, starting opening day up to today. Now here is our trouble, we haven't seen anything. Now I'm not meaning to exaggerate, we have literally not seen or heard a single squirrel. No chattering, no barking, no tree rustling, and nothing on the ground. We've done stalking, still hunting for hours. We bet we are in a good spot of ground because you can't walk without crushing nuts and we've both been brained by falling acorns. So we are bumswizzled.

Were we just overanxious in getting to the fields? Or are we doing something fundamentally wrong? Any suggestions or help would be deeply appreciated.

God keep the Commonwealth.

Jeff

Here is the best advice i cn give you Find a creek and a log pileor an old dead fallen tree and have a sit in the morning or evening and have fun. if that don't work pretend that you are Deer hunting those dang bushytails are bound to come out then.

Sorry, my bad. They're all over here raiding my ^$%&ing bird feeders.

I would suggest you be under a tree before it gets light enough to see. Phelps is a tough one for tree rats.

Thompson wma is full of tree rats. check out this site,start at post #153.
lots of good onfo. RimfireCentral.com Forums > The Great Outdoors > Hunting >squirrel hunters! the tree kind
ray

Find a hickory tree and you'll find the rats. The woods here are infested with them. Towards the end of last deer season I counted 31 within range at one time. Or like Taggure said just pretend you're deer hunting and you'll limit out in no time.

Another vote for "pretend your deer hunting".

Phelps is a tough place for tree rats just because it's semi convenient and lots of people hunt them there. Just find a good spot near a hickory tree and hunker down early morning. That's been about the only times I've seen/gotten anything at Phelps. Also it seems they like to come out just as you put away your gun, so maybe the old bait and switch using the buddy system might work as well.

Speaking of, bushytail frustrations...

My prime tree rat spot has been INVADEDED!

There are a pair of OWLS reeking havoc with my hunting grounds! What makes it worse is occassionally, I have a hawk flying in the area as well.

Thinned out the "slow, and stupid" of them, now them clever lil' buggers are learning to be "Vaarwee, vaarwee quiet!"

Frustration?? I've got dozens of the bushytailed birdfeeder invaders frolicking in my back yard and can't pop em (in da' city)....

Try Carlile tract by Hog island WMA. Loaded with the critters. I go in the woods about a half hour before daylight and at first light they are on the move, or set up about two hours before sunset. There are days they just stay in. You will not see one. You have to be stelthy or you will not see them at all. wear as much camo as you can and learn to scan the trees and the ground. I've found the once you shoot one with a shotgun it takes a while before any more will appear but with a .22 rifle you could just pick em off. not really loud enouth to spooke them.