Mark Fike
Perhaps you are brand new to hunting or maybe you are an avid small game hunter with a definite opinion on this question. Either way, we have arguments for and against each choice.
Years ago, most hunters started out hunting small game such as rabbits and squirrels before graduating to big game. Some of us still really enjoy small game seasons and have learned a lot of tricks from small game hunters that came before us. Still, there are many good conversations that take place when discussing early season squirrel season tactics to include whether to use a shotgun or a rimfire rifle.
Early squirrel seasons generally start in late summer or early fall in much of the United States and this is the time when there are usually leaves on the trees and lots of mast available to the squirrels to feed on. Depending on your hunting situation, hunters might choose a shotgun or they may choose a rimfire rifle for hunting squirrels. Here are the pros and cons of each.
Shotguns for Squirrels
Early season foliage can make rifle shots tricky, so some hunters prefer to use a shotgun and be able to take squirrels while they are hanging in the tree limbs, sometimes partially out of sight, and while they are feeding on acorns or other nuts.
Pros
Shotguns deliver a load of pellets that do not have to be precisely on target and can penetrate leafy boughs of tree limbs and still bring down the meat. A twig or branch may take out part of the pattern, but there are usually enough other pellets to complete the job.
Moving squirrels and/or bouncing limbs make shots a bit tougher, but the pattern of a shotgun can enhance the chances of bringing game down to the ground for squirrel hunters. If squirrels are moving up and down a tree, running along the ground or jumping tree to tree, the shotgun is the firearm of choice in such situations.
If hunters are in an area where they really cannot risk a rifle bullet going a half mile to a mile or more, the shotgun shell with its pellets is probably a much safer choice as the range is limited in how far the pellets will travel before losing energy.
Cons
A shotgun, particularly a large bore gun like a 12 or 16 gauge is pretty loud and can temporarily scare squirrels.
The effective range of a shotgun is 50 yards or less and often less if shooting into foliage.
Picking shot out of squirrel meat is no fun and not easy on the teeth if the squirrel cleaner does not get all the pieces out!
Recoil for smaller stature shooters can be a factor.
Rimfire Rifles for Squirrels
Rimfire rifles have their place in the early season squirrel woods. They are very good tools for harvesting small game and have many pros but also a few cons depending on the situation.
Pros
Rimfire rifles such as the .22 LR or even the .17HMR or the new 21 Sharps that Winchester came out with can extend range from 40 or 50 yards to 100 yards in the hands of a marksman with some practice.
Rimfire rifles can be scoped for better sight picture.
Rimfire rifles deliver bullets through shooting lanes to a precise spot such as the head where no meat is wasted or in situations where you can only see portions of the squirrel.
Hunters rarely have to pick a bullet out of a squirrel. Most shots are pass through, so from a culinary standpoint, eating squirrel can be less work and more of a pleasant affair.
.22 rimfire rifles are much quieter than shotguns.
Rimfire rifles encourage marksmanship which is good training for large game such as elk or deer later down the road.
Cons
A rimfire rifle will travel a long way and shots taken upwards into the tree canopy can be a danger off the property that is being hunted unless the property is large.
Twigs or branches can deflect rimfire bullets and cause misses.
Hitting a moving squirrel, such as one on a bouncing limb, one running on the ground or up a tree is a tough mark.
Using a rimfire rifle will require precise marksmanship in tough situations to bring home the meat.
Summary
If a squirrel hunter had a large tract of land, wanted or needed to take longer shots and/or did not like picking shot out of their supper, shooting squirrels with a rimfire rifle would be a good choice. A .22 LR is a great rimfire choice. Ammunition is plentiful with a variety of choices in grain weights and bullet configurations. There are .22 Long and Short cartridges for those that have older rifles and can find the ammunition to use. Additionally, the .17 HMR, or even the .17 WSM for those wanting really long-range shots on the proper size property, would do quite well although these rifles are much louder than the .22 LR. The new 21 Sharps is an option just making a debut in the squirrel woods. For areas requiring lead-free options this may be your cartridge.
Should the hunt be taking place where a rimfire bullet was going to be a danger if it traveled more than a short distance or if the hunter was not very proficient using a rifle and moving targets were going to be the norm during the hunt, the shotgun would likely be a better choice. Any gauge shotgun loaded with #4, #5 or even #6 shot will work on squirrels if the hunter is mindful of the range limitation of the particular gauge shotgun they are using. With so many shotgun choices to choose from, the options are endless. Some old 28 gauges or even 16-gauge shotguns could be brought out of retirement status for another hunt like granddaddy used to do!
This late summer and early fall, take to the squirrel woods and take a new hunter with you. The opportunities to get some game are plentiful and the tools you need to do so are likely already in your gun safe!
Read More: The Squirrel Hunting Revival
