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Hunting Hide or stalk for greys ?

Rapid7Nick said:
My Squirrel shooting is pretty much all stalking. Having a thermal is a game changer too. 👍
Any hot dreys gets a pellet. Then hopefully the squirrels will run and hide up in the treetops..
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I agree with the use of a thermal imager - it's changed my game for three years now. I estimate that I find 80 to 90% of squirrels that way. Long before they see me and if they do they hide and watch me. All I need to do find the hot head with the imager, make a mental note of its location against branch patterns and find it with my scope. I pair up with a mate on a large perm and we use two-way radios to good effect.

Stalking is my preferred way of doing things, feeders coupled with trail cameras on a new perm to assess the population and the areas they use - that information also helps with the risk assessment.

There's post in this thread that mentions shooting blind into a drey; I think the OP lives in Essex. This method is not to be recommended in areas with red squirrels even if you think you can determine a red drey from a grey one.
 
Both are effective, feeder shooting far more effective, but the trick is to know when to use what methods and in what contexts. Stalking is best when the trees are clear (now and through to late feb early march) - but its still not as effective as hide / feeder shooting as a method.
Having said that, no use in sitting in the hide though if the squizzers are not coming into feed. A seasoned hunter will be familiar with both methods and know when to swap. (y)
 
Whispering Walter said:
There's post in this thread that mentions shooting blind into a drey; I think the OP lives in Essex. This method is not to be recommended in areas with red squirrels even if you think you can determine a red drey from a grey one.
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Owls will use dreys as well, so unless I've seen a grey run into a drey it's a definite no no.
And some of the most difficult shooting I've done is on a patch where there are reds and greys, I've seen movements or picked up a heat source with the thermal but you still can't make out which it is, might be a clear shot but you just can't make out the colour or enough shape, watching a grey run off after 20 minutes can be frustrating but better than shooting a red.

mjr1983 said:
I usually stalk when hunting squirrels. But that's only because there are no feeders allowed on my current permission 😔
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Can you not put up a couple of fat ball feeders on the route you walk, there a lot more discreet than a proper feeder.
 
Storcky said:
When out I do prefer the stalk, and although I have hides and feeders I find that I become bored on occasion waiting for them to arrive.
The stalk highteneds your whole aspect of the hunt.
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If there isn't a grey already feeding when I get to the hide I don't usually hang about long, one of these was on the feeder yesterday, the other appeared in the tree above the hide just as I was about to go and pick up the first.
IMG_20241224_171132490.webp
 
I have makeshift shooting hides at feeders on my permission. Though if the opportunity arises en-route then I'll take it if conditions allow. I find the hides more efficient as the target zone and distances are all established and there is a secure back-stop. These are steel though so they scare any others away for 15-20 mins.
 
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collierboy said:
Another on the feeder today but he spotted me getting to the hide and took to the treetops. It took a few minutes to find the hiding spot and he became the first victim of the new domed QYS pellets I've been trying out.View attachment 635263
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Nice shooting bud 👍.
B.t.w...where is your hide?...& Despatching distance?.
 
Many years ago when I enjoyed 20/20 vision, it was still a case of more squirrels saw me before I saw them.
Now, unless there is movement, I find them increasingly difficult to detect. The movement usually indicating they are aware of me and departing.
With the exception of immature squirrels caught in the open, shooting from cover at a feeding station is now my only viable option.
Anything else being opportunist rather than planned.
 
shergar said:
Many years ago when I enjoyed 20/20 vision, it was still a case of more squirrels saw me before I saw them.
Now, unless there is movement, I find them increasingly difficult to detect. The movement usually indicating they are aware of me and departing.
With the exception of immature squirrels caught in the open, shooting from cover at a feeding station is now my only viable option.
Anything else being opportunist rather than planned.
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Absolutely true.... it's all very well us have debates regarding how good this or that gun is & different pellet testing etc, but those of us with crap eyes are up against it from the off!🙄.
 
karl66 said:
Absolutely true.... it's all very well us have debates regarding how good this or that gun is & different pellet testing etc, but those of us with crap eyes are up against it from the off!🙄.
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Thermal spotter evens the odds.
Doesn't help getting close though, so can be frustrating.
 
karl66 said:
Absolutely true.... it's all very well us have debates regarding how good this or that gun is & different pellet testing etc, but those of us with crap eyes are up against it from the off!🙄.
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Don't look for squirrels then - look for movement, and branches moving is the first giveaway. Wildlife use the same tactic, which is why it is important not to brush or push through undergrowth, a branch moving amplifies your movement. Use that fact to find your quarry.
 
Accuspell said:
Don't look for squirrels then - look for movement, and branches moving is the first giveaway. Wildlife use the same tactic, which is why it is important not to brush or push through undergrowth, a branch moving amplifies your movement. Use that fact to find your quarry.
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And listen, feeding squirrels in the canopy drop stuff.
 
Accuspell said:
Don't look for squirrels then - look for movement, and branches moving is the first giveaway. Wildlife use the same tactic, which is why it is important not to brush or push through undergrowth, a branch moving amplifies your movement. Use that fact to find your quarry.
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Unfortunately I haven't come across a permission yet so all my live shooting is done on my own property, mainly off feeders & some high up into my trees.
 
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