Lifelong squirrel hunter, when I was young we only saw and hunted Fox squirrels, mainly that's all there was besides little reds. now 50 years and lots of squirrels later Fox squirrels are rare and gray and black squirrels are all we see. I still see a fox squirrel now and then. But gray and blacks are what we bring home now. Last few years I don't even shoot the fox squirrels. Two reasons, just not that many in my parts, and I think I like the taste of blacks and grays better, but they are a tad smaller. Anyone else hunt bushytails long enough to notice this change? Ideas why? We used to get some big fox squirrels the grays/blacks seem to be about 25% smaller on average. Going squirrel hunting tomorrow so I got some for a meal next weekend at the cabin.

I’m 60 and only really got into hunting them a few years back in PA. Been hunting since I was little but always for waterfowl, Turkey and big game. The absolute lack of squirrel hunters and the abundance of them now intrigued me. I also love to eat them. My primary MO these days is to hint with my .32 Dixie Caplock. Tenn. mountain rifle. It’s a hoot, makes you learn to shoot again.

I’ve been trying to hunt them this year and seen hardly any, but I’ve seen a lot of great horned owls so I wonder if they are killing the squirrels off.

We had Zero fox squirrels here until the past 5 years... see them on the road killed last week.
I've only eaten Greys. When I lived in ND for 2 years there were fox squithere but I was hunting doves back then.

I have on my want list a black powder squirrel rifle. I do have a .45 kit I picked up from a friend that figured it was beyond his skills. I am afraid that's too big. My .50 cal's are way too much. But for now its a 20 gauge in the fall and my Marlin/Glenfield .22 bolt action. tomorrow the .22 is going.

I've been hunting them as long as you have and have noticed the same thing. My favorite timber has gone from 80% fox squirrels to
90% grays. I prefer the fox squirrels because I hunt with a .22 and they're easier to get a shot at and have twice as much meat as most grays.
Nothing like walking up on a hickory tree and hearing a big ole fox squirrel chewing on a nut.

50 cal works fine for squirrels. Go for head shots only and be sure of a bsck stop.

Do you have more coyotes? I've seen fox squirrels spend more time on the ground further from cover than greys and blacks. Makes them easier prey for coyotes, hawks and owls.

Iv hunted grays since I was abt 8 or 9. , killed a few fox squirrels over the years
Not many fox squirrels around my area, more further south of me.
Don’t see as many squirrels as I use to, just a decade ago was easy to get the limit 8.
Not so easy now, I think predators, bobcats, yotes, hawks, owls and others are catching most of them.
When I was younger is was normal to stalk hunt them and see 20, now I’m lucky to see 5 a day.

I have noticed that gray squirrels and the black color phase of grey squirrels prefer larger, mature nut trees and forest. Fox squirrels seem to prefer smaller trees, brush and especially being near corn. As the woods around you have matured, they likely have become better habitat for the grey squirrels, than the fox squirrels.

Keith

Come South, the South Ga pine plantations are loaded with them. I used to think they were a rarity down here but now they are everywhere. Once you get in the bottoms Greys rule the roost.

I don't recall ever seeing a gray squirrel here in central Iowa.

This trend has been many years in the making. Yeah we probably have more coyotes than years ago. But in the woods the trees are pretty dense. Perhaps...Not sure.

I too notice the difference in the 2 types .
Fox squirrel is very open and brazen with vocals. ( Great targets)
Blacks / greys are the opposite , timid and escape artist to the 3rd power sometimes.
I have a young sq dog who is getting an education in timbering .
All fox squirrels get a pass with me,
Worlds best dog trainers , breeding season has the giant males cruising.
Frosted Cricket

We have been cutting blocks in many of my hunting areas. Most hardwoods are taken in 40 to 80 acre blocks. I will say I do see more fox squirrels near the ag land and woods edges, when I see them. The blacks and grays seem to be in any habitat. Anyone eat the little reds?

The fox seems to have a bark. The grays use a raspy growl or drawl it seems. I have never had luck calling fox but can get response from the grays. No manufactured call for grays, I just make a raspberry like sound with my mouth, hard to describe but it works. I have a pocket electronic predator call with a woodpecker call that often gets results too.

I moved to the Appalachians and can’t manage the mountain territory as well as the flat lands where I was raised. Would love to shoot a limit of bushy tails one more time.

I miss hunting fox and gray squirrels.

For a meal for myself, 2 to 3 is all I need. wife wont touch it. I take my rabbits and squirrels to the cabin. Nothing like peace and quiet and some wild game suppers.

I'm a lifelong squirrel hunter. Squirrel is one of my and my family's favorite game meats. Back when I was a kid in the late-sixties/early seventies there were more fox squirrel in my area if southeast Pa than there are now but they were never common. I haven't seen a fox squirrel for many years now.

Something odd I did notice; we never had black squirrels here. They were always common up in north-central Pa but never here in the southeast. Five years ago I saw my first ever black squirrel near home in the swamp behind my house that I hunt for deer. In the last five years they have multiplied to where they are about 25% of the gray squirrel population.

My granddaughter and I hunt squirrels in there but have purposely avoided shooting any blacks so far. I was amazed when I saw that first one five years ago.

I prefer squirrel meat over deer meat, better flavor to me.
And I will add that I take very good care of my deer meat from shot to table, just like the squirrel flavor , fried
Or in dumplings..