Squirrel Hunting

[TankHunter]

Im just wondering, if there is a law stating that you cant shoot a squirrels nest in a tree while hunting squirrels. I know that it is suppose to be illegal to harm or destroy an animals nesting site, such as burn out animals and things, but I cant find it anywhere in the book where it states that you can not shoot a squirrels nest or where it even says you cant harm their nest.

If you have any input or an answer please let me know. I dont do alot of squirrel hunting but when i was rabbit hunting we got checked by the dnr and he told us that we arent suppose to shoot their nests. We didnt get in trouble and I know it is a little un gaming to shoot the nest so im just wondering if it is illegal or not. Please let me know if you have any input.
Thanks,
TankHunter

[Bow Hunter Brandon]

This time of year they are not in the leaf nests anyway they are in holes in trees exc. But I dont see why you would want to shoot them your not going to acomplish anything if they are in them except for possibly killing the squirrel and having it die in the nest.

As far as the law I think I remember reading you are not alowed to shot them but it was a few years back.

[Thunderhead]

I'm pretty sure it's illegal. I VERY sure it's unethical.
Your going to kill the squirrel, it'll die in the nest, and not fall out.
There are PLENTY of squirrels running around and shooting them out of their nest is just wrong.

[I'llbeoutside]

Don't know if it is illegal but it should be. DON'T DO IT. What kind of enjoyment or sport can that be. If there are squirrels in the nest they would most likely die or suffer in the there. There is still a few weeks left to hunt them and on a sunny day they like to move. With the snow and no leaves you should be able to get a couple w/out being unethical.

[trout]

Not sure but, Many owls will nest in those leaf nests.
They are nesting NOW, yep they are sitting on eggs Now.
Many other animals will seek shelter in them as well.
Please don't shoot at what you can't see.
Be sure of your target at all times.

[Mark Harmes]

It is illegal, you will get a ticket and it is stupid.

I have a question for you, why would you even ask this, it's pretty unethical.

[Rupestris]

got checked by the dnr and he told us that we arent suppose to shoot their nests
I know it is a little un gaming to shoot the nest so im just wondering if it is illegal or not
It just sounds like he's trying to confirm what he was told by a DNR officer. I think its better that he ask here than find out the hard way. Please don't berate anyone for asking a question that they honestly don't know the answer to. Remember, there are no stupid questions...

[ibthetrout]

I do believe there is a law against shooting game without the intent to retrieve it. This should really be in the hunting law forum. Boehr could give you the definitive answer without all the backlash.

[skulldugary]

It's illegal and unethical..........

[MGV]

Come on....someone gotta find something on the DNR web site for this fellow. As most said it has to be illegal just find something in black and white.

[Thunderhead]

I'm sure he can read. Every sporting goods store in the state has the guide books.

[LandBarge]

Is it possible rename this thread to "Nest Shooting" or something along that line? I was eagerly hoping to find some squirrel hunting stories, tips, lies....

[Hawker]

It is illegal to disturb an animal in its "den, nest or burrow." That's why I quit hunting woodchucks with my terrier. It got to be too much of a hassle to always go out with a licensed pest control person to stay within the law.

This time of year they are not in the leaf nests anyway they are in holes in trees

Maybe up north they are all in holes but my bird hit a nest (I can't get him to follow dnr rules :D) on one of the coldest days this year and FOUR fox squirrels came out. My bird consistently busts squirrels out of leaf nests all winter long.

[1-CHANCE]

I have a large tree in the backyard and the squirrels do not stay in the nest there. Two of them share a little bird type house on a post by the fence about4-5 feet off the ground. They tease the Heck out of my dogs...It's actually kinda funny to watch.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14177&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=1

[TankHunter]

Yeah I never said I shot the nests. I did shoot some squirrels out of the nest and that is what I meant by a boring day because we were rabbit hunting and I just shot a squirrel because We werent getting many rabbits. Yeah it is unethical so I wouldnt recommend shooting them out of their nests. I was just wondering if in the book it is illegal or anywhere written on legal documents saying it is illegal. Im not really a squirrel hunter anyways I was just wondering.
Thanks

By the way squirrels are in there nests this time of year I have seen them go into them many times while I was rabbit hunting on cold winter days throughout the winter months. Im sure they would prefere a hollow tree if they have one near but alot of squirrels still stay in there nests they just are more likely to buddy up in them somtimes as many as 3 or 4.

[Bluegill Bob]

tank hunter Yeah I never said I shot the nests. I did shoot some squirrels out of the nest and that is what I meant by a boring day because we were rabbit hunting and I just shot a squirrel because We werent getting many rabbits. Yeah it is unethical so I wouldnt recommend shooting them out of their nests.


Tank hunter, you make me proud to be a hunter:mad:

[I'llbeoutside]

Its more than a "little un-gaming". At least you got your questions answered. If your day was that boring maybe you need to be doing something else. If you have to shoot something everytime you go out take a camera or find a different way to spend your free time. I have had countless days in the woods and on the water w/ out seeing a single animal or catching a fish, but I can't recall any boring ones.

[LandBarge]

understatement of the century. It goes a lot deeper than that and I'm glad I'm not the only one having a problem with this. Shooting into a nest hoping to kill something simply to relieve your own boredom is nothing more than killing for the sake of killing. Tank Hunter, do me a favor and mark your vehicle next time you're in the woods. I don't want me or my dog anywhere near you the next time you get bored.

[Rupestris]

Yeah I never said I shot the nests. I did shoot some squirrels out of the nest

Tank hunter,
I still think theres a little confusion here. At least for me.
When you said “I did shoot some squirrels out of the nest…” did you mean squirrels that were not in a nest ?
I hope thats what you meant and that it is just not comming across clearly.
If rabbit hunting was boring and you legaly took some squirrels with intentions other than killing just to shoot something, thats fine. Please clarify.

[rgillett]

I have squirrels nesting in the pines in the backyard. Everyday it seems they take mouthfuls of leaves into those tree nests. Its like they are sprucing it up a bit or adding more to it. I do believe even in the winter the tree nests are utilized at some point during the day.

[Jumpshootin']

The following passages from the 2003-2004 Michigan Hunting & Trapping Guide are the only two that refer to the interference of/with animals in dens, nests, etc....

Under Fur Harvester rules
It is illegal to: Molest or disturb the house, hole, nest, burrow or den of a badger, beaver, mink, muskrat or raccoon, whether occupied or not, or molest or destroy a beaver dam, except under a DNR Wildlife Damage Investigation and Control Permit.

Under Other Hunting rules
It is illegal to: Use snares, traps, cages, nets, pitfalls, deadfalls, spears, drugs, poisons, chemicals, smoke, gas, explosives, ferrets, weasels or mechanical devices other than firearms, bows and arrows or slingshots to take wild birds or animals, except as provided by trapping rules or special permit.

There is no mention of the illegallity of shooting squirrels in a nest.

Unethical? Unsportsman like? In my personal opinion, yes.

Who among us on this board are so desperate for food that we need to take game in this manner?

[TankHunter]

Yeah sorry for the confusion but I meant I shot some squirrels that were not in or near their nests i did not shoot their nests nor would I. Im not an ungaming hunter I would not shoot a squirrels nest and no I dont go out to shoot something everytime I myself have had a ton of times out hunting or fishing where I didnt see or shoot anything or even get a single bit. I asked the question to see if it was in the rules not to se if I can do it or not. Thanks for the comments at least the ones that got what I was trying to ask and say.

Im a respectable hunter and have been since I was hunting at 12 and I wouldnt just go out to shoot a nest or shoot anything that moves just to shoot. Thanks for your concern though fellas. I said I dont shoot alot of squirrels I just legally took a few that day why is that a problem I am pretty sure it is not.

I meant by the whole dnr thing that while he stopped and talked to us after making sure we were all legal, which we were my buddy had heard that you couldnt shoot nests and his uncle or something had got caught doing it once but didnt get a ticket just a warning so he asked the officer if it was illegal to do so. The dnr officer said yes but could not show us where it was written in the book, so I was just asking if anyone knew where it was stated illegal.

Thanks for the input and sorry for the confusion but I'm am the last person you should be calling an unethical disrespectful hunter.

TankHunter

[Rupestris]

Thanks for clearing that up TankHunter. I had a feeling that something was being lost in the translation. :)