[Pintail]

Hello all, I have been browsing these forums for quite some time and it has helped a great deal up to this point. I am as new as new can be - just passed my hunter safety last weekend. I have a few questions regarding small game. I have some out of state buddies that will be home in NJ in December and will be gracious enough to take me under their wing to do some waterfowl hunting. In the meantime, I'd like to get out into the local woods and see what I can do. From everything I have read it seems squirrels will be my best chance at success by myself. (Open to other suggestions as well) I have done plenty of homework and I think I have a good plan together with gear, gun, and strategy. My question really boils down to if I can be pointed in the right direction as to where. I live in Essex county and from what I gather my best bet is in a local state park. (Note: my first available to hunt will be next weekend which coincides with the opening of pheasant season. So I think it would be best to avoid the WMAs, I think.) Any suggestions as to where I should start? Ringwood SP, Wanaque, wawayanda SP, Abrab Hewitt? Ideally I'd like to be withing an hour of West Essex. Lastly, like anything, there seems to be a great deal of debate about which # shot. I will be using a 12ga and it seems #4, #5, #6 are the most common. My thought was to go with the #5 just to split the difference. Any and all help would be very much appreciated! Thank You!!

-JR

If squirrels are the game go with #4's bigger pellets pack a better punch and there are less of them in a given load. Full choke will keep things tight.( it will also keep you from losing a animal to a hole in the tree from a light hit) Squirrel hunting is a sit and walk game. if you hit the woods at day break you won't need to sit too long. first couple of hours in the morning and the last hour of the day are best. Squirrels are some of the best eating game out there you just need to get a few for a meal.