Squirrel Hunting with a .22

A .22 LR rifle, a box of subsonic ammo, and a fall hardwood ridge make for the cheapest and most rewarding hunting in America. Squirrel hunting builds rifle marksmanship in a way no static target can match - every shot is at an unpredictable angle, every miss costs you the animal, and every clean head shot is a tiny celebration. This guide covers rifle setup, ammo selection, effective range, scope choice, and the field tactics that put squirrels on the table.

Why a .22 LR Over a Shotgun

Shotguns kill squirrels efficiently but they ruin meat with shot, scatter game on missed shots, and don’t teach precision shooting. A scoped .22 LR rifle requires you to wait for clean shots, place each round precisely, and recover every animal cleanly. You get more shooting practice from a single squirrel season than a year at the range.

The downside: harder learning curve, fewer animals per outing while you adjust, requires patience for stationary squirrels.

Rifle Choice

The squirrel rifle market spans $200 plinkers to $3,000 precision rimfires. The honest answer for most hunters:

Budget winners ($200-400):

• Ruger 10/22 - semi-auto, customizable, lifetime durable
• Marlin 60 - tube-fed semi-auto, classic
• Savage Mark II / B22 - bolt action, accurate, light

Mid-tier ($400-800):

• Ruger American Rimfire - bolt action, threaded barrel option
• CZ 457 - exceptional out-of-box accuracy
• Tikka T1x - modular, premium feel

Premium ($800+):

• Bergara BMR - competition-grade rimfire
• Anschutz 1416/1517 - the gold standard

For squirrel work, a bolt-action .22 with a 16-22 inch barrel and a threaded muzzle (for a suppressor) is the ideal. Bolt actions force discipline and concentrate on precision shots; semis encourage rushed follow-ups.

Optics

The most-overlooked equipment choice. Squirrels are small targets at variable distances, often in dappled light high in trees. Use a scope.

Magnification: A 4-12x or 3-9x variable in the 32-40mm objective range is ideal. You’ll typically shoot at 6-9x. Fixed 4x is fine for younger hunters or close timber.

Reticle: A fine duplex or simple BDC works. Avoid heavy crosshairs that obscure small targets.

Parallax: Rimfire scopes should be adjustable parallax or set for 50 yards. Generic centerfire scopes set for 100 yards parallax cause vertical stringing at squirrel ranges.

Recommended models: Vortex Crossfire II Rimfire 2-7x32, Athlon Talos BTR 4-14x44, Bushnell Banner 6-18x50 (older but excellent).

Ammo Selection

The .22 LR cartridge offers a huge variety. For squirrels specifically:

Subsonic hollow points (CCI Quiet, Aguila Super Colibri, CCI Standard Velocity) - quiet enough to not spook the second squirrel after the first shot, accurate, plenty lethal at 30 yards. Ideal for suppressed rifles.

High-velocity hollow points (CCI Mini-Mag HP, Federal Champion HP, Remington Golden Bullet HP) - louder but flatter shooting, lethal to 60+ yards on head shots. Best for unsuppressed hunters.

Match-grade target ammo (CCI Standard Velocity, SK Standard Plus, Lapua Center-X) - phenomenal accuracy but solid bullets sometimes drill through without dramatic stops. Excellent for very precise head shots only.

The single best squirrel ammo for most hunters is CCI Mini-Mag HP - accurate in nearly every rifle, lethal, available everywhere, $10-15 per 100 rounds.

Suppressors and Squirrel Hunting

A suppressed .22 is transformative. The rifle is so quiet that squirrels often don’t flush after a shot, allowing two or three additional squirrels from the same tree. A basic rimfire suppressor (Silencerco Sparrow, Dead Air Mask, AAC Element 2) runs $400-700 plus a $200 ATF tax stamp.

If you hunt frequently, the wait and paperwork pay off in fuller game bags and a more meditative hunt.

Effective Range

Honest squirrel range numbers:

• 15-25 yards: Almost any .22 will hit a head-sized target consistently. Beginners should limit shots here.
• 25-40 yards: Skilled shooters with quality rifle/scope put rounds on heads consistently.
• 40-60 yards: Field positions and wind drift become limiting factors; advanced shooters only.
• 60+ yards: Possible but ethics question. Often you should close distance instead.

A .22 LR drops roughly 1 inch at 50 yards and 4 inches at 75 yards from a 25-yard zero. Know your dope, and a zero and holdover calculator makes those small-target corrections easy to memorize.

Field Tactics

Sit and wait: Find a feed tree (hickory, oak, beech, walnut), sit downwind 25-40 yards away, stay still. Squirrels return within 10-20 minutes. This is the highest-percentage method.

Slow stalk: Walk 30 seconds, stop and listen 2 minutes, scan tree canopies methodically. Squirrels betray themselves by movement, cuttings dropping from branches, and the distinctive “thump” of acorns being dropped.

Two-person around-the-tree: Two hunters circle a tree from opposite sides. The squirrel flushes to one or the other.

Use the wind: Squirrels see motion easily but rely less on scent than deer. Sound matters most - quiet boots, no metal-on-metal noise.

Best Times and Conditions

Cool dry mornings 30 minutes after sunrise produce the most action. Squirrels feed actively for the first 2-3 hours of daylight, rest midday, and feed again the final 2 hours before dark.

Wet, windy days suppress squirrel activity. Stay home or hunt the warmest, calmest pockets you can find.

Late summer through autumn is prime - mast crops are dropping, squirrels are stockpiling food, and the leaves haven’t yet hidden tree canopies. After heavy frost knocks leaves down, visibility improves further and bushy-tail hunts become almost too easy.

Field Care

Squirrels skin best when fresh and slightly chilled. Two skinning methods:

Tube method: Cut a small slit across the back, insert two fingers and pull the hide off both directions like removing socks.

Slit-and-strip: Slit down the belly, peel hide off in two pieces.

Quarter as you would small game, store cool, and process within a day or two. Squirrel meat freezes well; older squirrels benefit from braising over fast grilling.

FAQ

Is .22 LR lethal on squirrels? Absolutely - head shots are instant kills; body shots also work but ruin meat.

Can I use a .17 HMR for squirrels? Yes, but the .17’s high velocity destroys edible meat on body shots. Stick to head shots only with the .17.

Should I use an air rifle? A quality .22 PCP air rifle (.22 cal, 25-30 ft-lb) is a serious squirrel hunting tool - quiet, accurate, no game laws around firearm season conflicts. Check state regs.

What about gray vs fox squirrel? Same techniques, same ammo. Fox squirrels are bigger and slightly tougher; gray squirrels are more numerous and prefer denser woods.

Is squirrel meat good? Yes - flavor like dark-meat chicken with a slight nuttiness. Excellent in dumplings, stews, fried, or braised.

Conclusion

A scoped .22 LR rifle in CCI Mini-Mag HP, with a suppressor if you can swing it, is the ultimate small-game tool. Sit by feed trees, head-shoot squirrels inside 40 yards, and skin them fresh. You’ll improve as a shooter faster than any other hunting discipline can teach you, and your freezer will fill with one of the more underrated wild meats in North America.

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