Alas, I proudly call Johnathan O'Dell my husband. While no, squirrels don't fill up the freezer, the elk is doing a nice job of it. What the squirrels do fill up are humorous conversations with friends around the campfire as they await John's memorable squirrel enchilladas. I am fortunate to be the bride of a man who's job not only brings him home from work with a smile on his face, but affords him the opportunity to commune with nature...and if he has the opportunity to shoot a few edible creatures and have some fun while he's at it, then happily ever after we shall be.

Congrat's, to my dear friend Jonathan. Who is a former "Sapper" and United States Paratrooper of the US Army and does not stoop as low as some of these comments.
To all those drinking up the Hater-aid out there, you should be ashamed to pass judgment on a person you know nothing about.
As a fellow "Sky Soldier" I myself had the pleasure of witnessing Jonathan on multiple firing ranges and with multiple weapons that, he was very proficient at and that I would dare say most people out there have never shot. Try shooting Expert with an M4 (5.56) 300 Meters, SAW-M249 (5.56) 500 to 800 meters or with the pig "aka" M240-B (7.56) at 800 to 1000 meters - Day and Night.
Yes - My Dear Friend Jonathan has. Blow a building up with C4 explosives? Jonathan has. Wrap DET Cord and prime blasting caps around multiple trees for a hasty LZ? How many jumps out of a plane day or night with 100 lbs of gear strapped to your butt, defused land-mines or hump 60 lbs of gear over 12 miles in 3 hours have you done? That's right Jonathan has. So to all you Haters and so called Sharp-shooters that mock him over a weapon, a weapon is a weapon and if you’re able to “one shot one kill” your prey then that is all the "skill" you need. Congrats to Jonathan at following a Dream and actually getting to live it and call it work at the same time. Congrats to Jonathan who is lucky enough to have a supporting wife that encourages her husband in both his career and hobbies.
Whether you hunt for tree rats, Deer, Elk, rabbit or some feathered species, you have to admire his dedication, as the "game" is not always around when you step foot out the door on the hunt. How many of us post pictures of a prized Deer taken by a rifle with a scope? The argument can be made "why not hunt with Iron sights" to prove your skill.
Jonathan, I am proud of you! Good for you and keep up the Great Work. I sure miss the days of C4 and hand grenades my brother.
SSG.Nowicki, 82nd Airborne Division, Sapper and Sky Soldier for life. Peace Out!

I'm all for hunting squirrels, can't believe some of you are giving him guff for it. But c'mon man, put down the 12ga and use a .22

Congratulations to Mr. O'Dell on a job well done and for sharing his experience with us here at Field and Stream. The negative comments are astounding! Why is there so much ridicule over the use of a shotgun? Yes, it is more challenging to do it with a rifle but he provided a feasible explanation for his choice of firearm. These negative comments are a stark reminder of what todays so called hunters have turned in to. If it doesn't have a rack, beard, or involve riding around on a quad many of you simply aren't interested or are unable to find any enjoyment in it. Mr. O'Dell is a small game enthusiast. He and many other like myself are the staple of American Sportsman. Once again, thank you Mr. O'Dell for providing this interesting article.

Hell Yeah!!! I get ragged on for limbrat hunting all the time, I let it roll off my back. I use my 870, too. Everyone tells me that a .22 is much more challenging. Really?!?!?! At 100 yards, they don't even see it coming. I like stalking up to the oaks slow and quiet, then popping em with the edge at 20 yards or less. The real fun starts when they start bookin it through the trees and you catch em mid-jump. Oh man, I love that. I also don't need to worry about my shot traveling a mile and a half...

Really? A shotgun in all those photos. Why not us a 22 and make it a bit more challenging.

BobGWI: You saw black phase gray squirrels, which are VERY common in many areas. For instance, the city of Philadelphia seems to have nothing but black gray's. Southern Ontario, Canada also. That area seems to be a center for melanism, with black woodchucks and black garter snakes too. I love squirrel hunting, but much prefer to do it with a 22.

He clearly addresses his choice of a Remington 870 pushing #6 shot in the article. Also, you can hunt squirrel for months in most states - how long is big game season, how long do you drive to hunt elk? Haters gotta hate but wouldn't you rather be stalking tree rats on a Saturday morning than spending the day at Bed, Bath and Beyond?.. maybe Home Depot...not sure if we'll have time.

Where I live here in Wisconsin I have shot grey and fox squirrels in the same woodlot from the same seat. I was in Michigan over the weekend, just north of Detroit, and saw some squirels in my friend's backyard that were black. They were about the same size as a grey squirrel. Anyone with any info on these? A subspecies or color phase?

Hunter Bride, my hat's off to you, you are a real classy lady. Your husband is a man after my own heart, I love to hunt squirrels more than any other game. I use a .22, but I have used scatterguns before, and I must say that a lot of the time a rifle is easier to use. Where I hunt, a stalk with a shotgun is usually fruitless because the little rodents are easily spooked and a shot under 40 yards isn't easy to get. Mr. O'Dell, you have inspired me. I travel a lot for work, and now I may have to try for a North American Tree Rat Grand Slam!

Hunter Bride, you tell 'em! For those of you lining up to run this fellow down for something that he's obviously passionate about, why don't you share some of your obviously more interesting feats and obviously superior ballistic wisdom with us? Turkeytalk, I seem to rememeber somewhere that you said you were around 18 years old, is it possible you might learn something on this site?Come on folks, you're better than that, step up to the plate and quit sniping at your fellow hunter.

well, i like hunting squirrels but they won't fill a freezer.

Tom Warner & jh45 gun, thanks for the info.

A bows the most fun to shoot them with!!! Also makes good practice for deer season :)

I understand a shotgun is easier but if you noticed it said he chose it based on the idea he would be taking them to a taxidermist later. He also used just the edge of the pattern implying that he not only had to carefully aim but had most likely spent some time patterning it as well. Cool accomplishment!

Man, I say do what makes you happy. I probably do a lot of stuff this ol boy would think is weird, but I can't see running all over the country after some squirrels. But like I said, do what makes you happy and good for him for being able to follow his kind of unusual dreams. And congrats to Mrs. O'Dell for being supportive, that makes the whole thing doable and fun.

I love squirrel smothered in cream of chicken gravy!

I got a squirrel slam at Dennys just last week.

Ok; here is how things play out where I live and the business rules I use. When the leaves are on the trees the little buggers aren't to nervous and will sit on a limb or on a log for great shot. Then bring the .22 and .17. Sit on a log in the sign and wait.

When all the leaves are gone, and when hawks are migrating through, the little fellas bare only out for a few minutes a day (dawn and dusk) tapping the cache of nuts for a few seconds, load them cheek jowls and run like hell for the nest. If the weather has been great the previous day they may not even be out at dawn. In last of the season they stop and pose for no one. Then I bring the 870 full choke and number 5 shot. Most shots are running like hell bent for leather. Try it with a .22 handgun some time (that one you have to be damn careful).

The best part is I always alert for deer sign and good tree stand locations.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, cause I I love to hunt, just didn't say I was great at it.

Congrats on your accomplishment! From the time my Dad took me squirrel hunting as a boy to the times that I am now taking my boys squirrel hunting, it has always been great fun and a real challenge at times. Over the years I have used everything from a 12 gauge to a .410 and a .22 to a 1200 fps pellet gun. There isn't a wrong way to do it!!!

It amazes me how many people are "haters" because someone bags an animal differently than their own preferred method. As hunters, we are constantly having our way of life challenged. We don't need small minded hunters helping them along. As far as the elk comments and the like, squirrel season in Missouri is almost 9 months long. Elk/deer/etc., not so much...

Never thought about a squirrel slam. I'll just stick to what I know, a day in the woods with a good Feist dog...

JakeT_little.racks: perhaps you don't recall the past F&S "One-Minute Naturalist" column where this is addressed. Black squirrels are actually a variant of grey squirrels...and at one time most grey squirrels were black...the grey variant took over as the black were readily spotted by early (1800s?) hunters. Natural selection gave the grey variant the edge on survival. So now most grey squirrels are actually grey. Perhaps Mr. O'Dell could shed some light on this?

i saw a red squirrel in tennessee-smaller than a gray squirrel,but red in color-bright red like nicole kidmans hair-has anybody seen similar?

Being a biologist allowed him to obtain the proper permits to hunt species that others cannot. The Grand Slam is a great RARE feat.

Hell yeah, SSG.

And @Turketalk101 its not overkill for the eastern and western grays, just use number 6 or 7 shot and its perfect. Where I hunt squirrel in virginia their are lots of thickets and the 12 gauge is perfect because it has enough umhf to punch through the thickets.

The Author, Major John Plaster's (RET) in his book "Ultimate Sniper" which is the bible for snipers in our armed forces and many other countries. This guy was a MACV-SOG in Vietnam and is considered one of the gurus of sniper shooting. Anyway, he credits most of his shooting ability development and that of many other snipers with squirrel hunting as a youth and as an adult. BTW the fieldcraft section of this book is excellent reading for any hunter.

This is for Artie-
Read the California Game & Fish and Oregon DNR (or whatever they call themselves) websites for Western Grey Squirrel hunting season information. The Oregon site is specific for the species, California simply has a "Tree Squirrel" season.

I loved the article. My first hunting memories were squirrel hunting with my father. I haven't been in the woods stalking bushy tails for many years. I think I will headout this weekend. Congratulations on the slam.

And black squirrels are just greys squirrels with very dark fur. if look at the scientific name it is the same.

BobGWI - Black squirrels are just a color phase of a Gray squirrel. I don't know where in WI you live; I live near Crivitz and we have lots of black squirrels up here. The hills around Baraboo have lots of black squirrels too. I used to hunt them in that area when I was a kid.

BobL

He missed the one at my office.What is that he's holding...a howitzer? .22 rimfire is the only way to shoot them.

12 gauge? That's total overkill for squirrels. I have used .410's, .22's, and .177 pellet rifles to lethally take squirrel's. Nice job on the slam pal, but I give you no credit for your choice in weapon.

Must not have nothing better to do than hunting squirrels?Why not hunt deer or elk that have a little meat on them.

It's people like this that give squirrel hunting a bad name. As an esteemed member of the NWTSHA (national wild tree squirrel hunters association) I feel strongly that all squirrels should be harvested with a small caliber rim fire rifle if you are over the age of 5 and have no physical or mental limitations. The ethics of squirrel hunting demand this. Furthermore, If your going to harvest these critters you better eat the things, and the shotgun (12 vs 20 gauge) makes me think otherwise.

-Concerned Vermin enthusiast

I didn't know there was a "grand slam" for tree rats. what is next, the national rabbit grand slam?!