I was woundering what type of squirrels you guys hunt? Like red, gray, black or fox squirrels. I have a ton of red squirrels behind my house. Are they esier and safer to hunt than Gray squirrel? Also has any one ever hunted chipmunks with a hawk?
I hunt Grey becuase thats all we have in my area except for the ocasional Red. I guess Reds could be a little safer but I bet they can still dish it out. The guys down south do some Fox squirrel hawking. I have only hunted chipmunks after bunnie and squirrel season has ended since they can be hunted at any time in my area. I did this at the end of my first year with my male redtail. Took over 30 of them in about a month.
Hi I have both red & Grey's here and now and then a black & flying squirrels. I think the reds are harder to hawk much faster than the grey and usually are located near or in pines which is harder for the bird to get them. I don't think they are any more safer than a grey they bite just as hard and will usually kick a grey's ass in a fight. We got a weird one yesterday looked like a fox with big ears and a brown color to it's fur but not the size a fox would be only 738gr. Ice killed it in the nest took a few bites to the toes but nothing to worry about.
We have both red and grey squirrels here, although the greys are much more common in the areas I hunt. I have yet to come across a red squirrel while hunting this year. With regard to chipmunks (we call them "timber tigers"), I don't know any falconers who actively hunt them. Most people I know consider them to be kind of like big mice and therefore don't count them in their game totals if their birds take them incidentally.
By the way, I see in your profile you list your location as Northern New York. I grew up in central New York State myself, but I have relatives up near Potsdam. Are you anywhere near that area?
- Jon D.
"In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
I grew up in Herkimer (a small town close to Utica) and still have family up there. We used to spend our summers at Eagle Bay (near Old Forge) in the Adirondacks.
"In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
Here in Stafford VA all we have is the grey squirrels and they are a pain. They are wicked fast and when you hunt them they go straight for a hole or a brush pile or a thicket or something that will drive you nuts. They also are so feisty they roll right up in a ball and bite. I love the little tree rats though they have gave me some exciting days. ;D
Down here in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, we have only Fox squirrels. Further east, there is a mix of Fox and Cat squirrels.
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion................ and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish."
Here in East Texas we've got plenty of foxsquirrels and catsquirrels, like Weasel said. Personally I'd take a fox over a cat anyday. The chases are usually longer and more aerial, as the foxsquirrels tend to stay in the tree tops as long as they possibly can. Catsquirrels tend to get nervous and bail to the ground pretty quickly, which can lead to some very cool stoops from the bird, butt if she misses, it's usually over.
Post by Master Yarak on May 4, 2006 12:54:20 GMT -5
Having flown on both with a good size hen RT far more serious bites accure with Fox squirrels. Their larger size gives them a distinct advantage. Where I live now their are only greys. Her feet easily encompass them and give them very little wiggle room. If it were not for the bite risk I would prefer to hunt Fox squirrels. Yarak
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
Grey squirrels dominate red squirrels, that's why red squirrels live in the pine trees, basically they are pushed out of prime locations by the more aggressive greys. When food is scarce we see the greys moving to the pine trees, feeding off the pine husks as a last resort.
We, here in GA have grey squirrel & only come across the larger ( what we call fox squirrel ) in certain locations mostly down Sth GA. Or do you call the red squirrel a fox squirrel ? Foxes are red, is that where the name comes from ? Click on the following link to www.georgiafalconryassociation.com/ website, go to miscellaneous then photos. The 1st photo on the left hand side is Tony Escobedo with a GA fox squirrel caught at our annual meet down at Callaway Gardens. Let me know if this is a Texas fox squirrel or not ?
No that is not the fox squirrel normally found in Texas. Their Fox squirrels look more like a huge Grey with Red/orange instead of white. The fox squirrels in Georgia,Florida,etc are Sherman's Fox squirrels which are a sub species. This is a picture of the Fox squirrels taken in Texas. www.coe.ilstu.edu/scienceed/basolo/what%20do%20animals%20eat/fox.jpg
Last Edit: Nov 13, 2006 17:31:29 GMT -5 by Tiercel78
I used to think i knew some things. But i'm not so sure anymore.