24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 741
BMR Offline OP
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 741
Last fall I rediscovered the fun of squirrel hunting. It came as the result of sitting in a tree bowhunting and seeing multitudes of squirrels running around beneath me and in the trees nearby and wishing I had a .22 instead of a bow. I had never seen as many squirrels as I had in this particular patch of woods, which was filled with oaks, walnut trees, and hickory trees. So, one day in early November I decided to give up a morning of hunting the rut and bring my .22, which is something I never thought I'd do.

That morning I saw numerous squirrels right after first light, but when I'd try to get close and tree them, they wouldn't cooperate and would run as far and fast through the woods as they could. Feeling somewhat frustrated, I sat down and after awhile saw a couple squirrels playing grab ass in a good sized oak about 75 yards away up the hill. I was able to walk up the hill and get within about 10 yards of the tree, standing behind a small tree to stay concealed and give myself a rest. There were more than a couple squirrels - it seemed this oak was filled with squirrels chasing one another. I'd wait for one to stop and give me a clean head shot, shoot, drop it, and then wait for them to start chasing again and shoot when one would stop. One was smart enough to run down the tree and haul ass down the hill, but he was the only one.

Anyway, the last two were chasing around, and one was partially down in a hole and the other was just outside, messing with it. I shot the one on the trunk, he dropped and then the one in the hole came out to see where his buddy was. Mistake on his part and I limited out! Don't think I'll ever repeat that in my life, but I will surely remember it! I'll bet I haven't seriously squirrel hunted in about 34 years, having bow hunted in the fall since my teen years, and bird hunted when the season was over. It sure brought back a lot of memories.


[Linked Image]

BP-B2

Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,469
M
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
M
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,469
Nice write-up, nice squirrels and the little Browning speaks for itself...pure quality.

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
Offline
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Yep. The Browning/Leupold combo is skookum. Trying to think if I ever shot five that fast and can't recall that I ever did. Cool beans... cool


"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,798
M
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
M
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,798
Really sweet gun/scope combo, a classic for sure.



maddog

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,167
B
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
B
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,167
I killed five out of one hickory in probably 3 seconds one time. Could have got a couple more if my shotgun {20 ga. BPS} hadn't run dry. There were at least 8 squirrels in that one tree.

IC B2

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 741
BMR Offline OP
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 741
I bought that 1965 Browning back in 2000 at a little gun store in Fredericksburg, Texas, unfired and in the box with all paperwork for $500. While I have plinked with it over the years, last fall was the first time it's been hunting. I love the Auto 22, as although it is small, it has a long LOP of 13 3/4".

Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,719
W
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
W
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,719
Excellent!!! I am not a bow hunter, but squirrel hunting with fine .22 beats bow hunting anything.. Thanks for the post..


Molon Labe
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,437
T
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
T
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,437
Hunting gray squirrels with a good scoped .22 rifle has been a favorite past time of mine since I was a kid.


μολὼν λαβέ
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 10,866
C
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
C
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 10,866
That's getting it done. Nice baby Browning. Squirrel gravy and biscuits. Mmmmmmm.......


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,255
E
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
E
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,255
That was a heck of a five minutes. Nice shooting.

That photo makes me hungry.


IC B3

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,359
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,359
thanks for the writeup. I started squirrel hunting again last year after many years off, really enjoyed it. My arthrtic back has forced me to slow down but I think it has made me a better hunter... slower and quieter.

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 741
BMR Offline OP
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 741
If that makes you hungry, Ella:

[Linked Image]

I finally cooked up some of my store of frozen squirrels tonight. Parboiled them for a bit over an hour until a fork went through easily, then dredged in seasoned flour and fried in cooking oil. That's a boiling pot of potatoes behind the the pan. Completed with some country gravy, sweet peas and biscuits, and washed down with a couple of beers. It's been a long, long time since I've had fried squirrel and it was absolutely delicious. Even my 8 year old daughter enjoyed the "chicken wings"!




Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,255
E
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
E
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,255
That's how it's done!

Last night I took some out to thaw for Sunday supper. Swap collards for sweet peas and we'll be following your menu.

My buddy's kids love squirrel. The toddler brought in one the cat had got and wanted her daddy to cook it smile

Ella

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 8,573
W
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
W
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 8,573
Not to one up you BMR but your story reminded me of a hunt some years back. Hunting a small creek, it turned to the left. As I rounded the corner, I saw a squirrel about twenty yards away. As I raised my gun, I saw more movement to my left, two more squirrels in two trees about 30 and 35 yards away. Then right on the creek bank another squirrel climbing a tree.

Dad always told me to shoot the furtherest squirrel first as it might get out of range if I shot a nearer target. So, the squirrel at 35 yards was moving down the tree, shot him out, the one at 30 yards headed up the tree, shot him out, nearest squirrel was running on a limb, shot him out. Squirrel at creek bank tree running on limb, shot him out.

Don't know time wise how long that was but four shots with a semi-auto, fast as I could fire and turn,had to have been less than a minute.

Last edited by websterparish47; 04/09/14.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 592
H
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
H
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 592
Great hunt BMR. What part of the state you hunting?

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,907
P
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
P
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,907
Thanks for sharing BMR...if we were allowed semi-autos here in PA that browning/leupold combo is the set up I would want for small game - that is perfection!!! Squirrel hunting takes me bake to a much simpler time with some cherished family members that are no longer here - nothing but GREAT memories smile

Made me dig some of the squirrels I got last year out of the freezer grin

PennDog

Last edited by PennDog; 04/10/14.
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,032
N
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
N
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,032
squirrel hunting is my favorite, hands-down. good shootin.


Uber Demanding Rifle Aficionado
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 741
BMR Offline OP
Campfire Regular
OP Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 741
I don't mind being "one-upped" at all, webster. That's some impressive shooting!

hunterjrg, I am in the western part of the state, near the La Crosse area.


Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 335
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 335
Makes me yearn for those crisp fall mornings with yellow leaves on the hickories and acorns cuttings sounding like rain. It don't get no better than squirrel hunting, lessen it's squirrel gravy and homemade biscuits.

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,559
Campfire Kahuna
Offline
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,559
we still have some great squirrel hunting here in North Florida, but ours seem very skittish, compared to the reports here. I mostly kill 'em with a Ruger 10/22 and Bushnell 4X scope combination. Accurate and deadly out to 45, 50 yards.
That is some darn fine shooting there, BMR. laugh


Sam......


Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
187 members (32_20fan, 257_X_50, 1minute, 300_savage, 204guy, 10gaugemag, 26 invisible), 2,068 guests, and 977 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,726
Posts18,400,645
Members73,822
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.092s Queries: 14 (0.003s) Memory: 0.8805 MB (Peak: 1.0189 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-29 06:13:00 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS