Would Squirrel Hunting This Weekend Affect Deer?

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UTGrad

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I'm considering squirrel hunting in the same area where I've got some good pics with a lot of deer activity. Would squirrel hunting that same area this weekend have aany impact for September 22nd?
 
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I have run rabbits with beagles in the morning then deer hunt the same area that evening and see deer. We have even had deer come watch us run a chainsaw cutting firewood. They don't have super natural powers and they will never remember you being in there squirrel hunting. What will mess with them is if you go in and out of the area a few times a week playing with trail cameras, auto feeders, or whatever. They will move away from repeated activity.
 
There iis a small chance you could afftect opening weekend, but you could also do some more scounting while squirel hunting, end up with a better plan for sept 22 and something to eat until then. Go have a good time, and take a kid with you if possible.
 
I don't think it matters so much, provided you're not wearing out the same spots daily going closer to deer season. I prefer not to walk within 50 to 75 yards of good early season stand spots within 10 days of deer hunting them. To what extent my "squirrel woods" and "deer woods" are good for both, I'm mainly deer hunting around the edges of the squirrel woods.

Provided you're in typical "mixed" habitat, most of your squirrel killing is going to be in the more mature timber areas, not where deer would typically be bedding. I do avoid scenting up bedding areas, even a month before hunting. If you're hunting in some really big woods habitat where deer bed a lot in open hardwoods (because there's nowhere else), then you'll probably benefit more by being able to scout for deer sign while squirrel hunting than you disturb the deer hunting areas.

Besides being a hunting skill-gaining and fun experience, squirrel hunting is a great opportunity to cover some ground scouting, especially being able to find the edges of bedding areas and rub lines, both last year's and fresh. It's a particularly fun way of checking out the mast crop, including finding particular oaks that deer may be feeding under. And, all with the added benefit of some "taste like chicken" squirrels for dinner!

The ONLY thing I don't particularly enjoy is having to prepare all those squirrels for the table! Have gotten better at it over time, but a squirrel is a tough little critter when it comes to separating the meat from the hide. And the meat is best boiled first to tenderize (I use a pressure cooker) before then frying like chicken (or however else you might prepare).
 
Wes Parrish said:
And the meat is best boiled first to tenderize (I use a pressure cooker) before then frying like chicken (or however else you might prepare).
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This is exactly how my 84 year old grand mother prepares squirrels. She tops it off by making squirrel gravy at the end. Her and I just had this conversation this past weekend as I was asking her if she wanted some squirrels this weekend. Of course she said yes. :)
 
I try to hunt public land! It seems everytime i hunt private land, i screw up the deers patterns and movement. But i believe its bc i hunt small tracts. If you had a good chunk of land, you might be alright!
 
Pursuit Hunter said:
It's really pretty easy if you use this technique http://youtu.be/6dekMT72WcE
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Not for ME. :D
I STILL end up pulling the tails off too many of them, and then they're even harder to skin.

But that is a good instructional video clip on how to skin a squirrel. I had a grandfather who had that technique down to an art form, but I've yet to master it.

More recently, when I'm in a hurry, I just save the hind legs and back (without skinning the head & shoulders). Although the front legs don't get eaten this way, most of the meat is on the hind legs, while much of the front legs are more "shot up" anyway. But I do hate to be wasteful, so often spend more time just to get a smidgen more meat from the front legs.
 
Wes Parrish said:
Pursuit Hunter said:
It's really pretty easy if you use this technique http://youtu.be/6dekMT72WcE
Click to expand...
Not for ME. :D
I STILL end up pulling the tails off too many of them, and then they're even harder to skin.

But that is a good instructional video clip on how to skin a squirrel. I had a grandfather who had that technique down to an art form, but I've yet to: legs are more "shot up" anyway. But I do hate to be wasteful, so often spend more time just to get a smidgen more meat from the front legs.
Click to expand...
yep Ive pulled a few tails off too. The key is to step on the skin, not the tail.
 
If someone came into your living room and set off a bale of firecrackers, would you notice it? I am not being a smart alec. Any time you invade their turf, they know it and it only take a time or two for the big'uns to scoot.
 
I don't worry about it that much. I'm not going to pass up a good squirrel hunt because I am scared I may run off a deer. I like to carry my boys squirrel hunting in mid to late september because the season gets better as it goes.
 
Hardwoodmaterials said:
I have run rabbits with beagles in the morning then deer hunt the same area that evening and see deer. We have even had deer come watch us run a chainsaw cutting firewood. They don't have super natural powers and they will never remember you being in there squirrel hunting. What will mess with them is if you go in and out of the area a few times a week playing with trail cameras, auto feeders, or whatever. They will move away from repeated activity.
Click to expand...
ditto especially with chain saws
 
LanceS4803 said:
That was a very good video on how to clean a squirrel!
Click to expand...

That's the exact way my grandpa did it and taught me how to do it. It's quite simple, really. Now, if you got a big old tough fox squirrel, it can get tricky..one secret is to have a SHARP knife!
 
I don't generally chase tree rats where I deer hunt. Although , on our family farm in North West Tn. we do. I haven't seen much effect. The one thing we don't do is ride 4 wheelers on the farm and we don't walk around the farm during the off season. We leave it as un molested as we can during this time. We will be chasing tree rats in the morning there and will do a little scoutin as well.
 

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