Today is the opening day of Indiana's squirrel season. I'm out the door in an hour. It rained last night, but I think this morning will be ok. Gonna be hot and muggy today. I'll report back later.


maddog

Well, got in a while ago. It got pretty hot/humid, about 11 am. My shooting was AWFUL! Saw about 9 squirrels, got shots at 5, and......killed 1 dam*ed limb chicken..

Luckily it was a young fryer.





and it was a red head...





I was so pizzed about my shooting, that I took the rifle back out and checked it on a target. You guessed it, three shots touching at 25 yds. Guess I'm gittin' old. If I'd taken a shotgun, I'd a had a limit. Oh well, what fun would that be.


maddog

Killed 4 gray and 1 fox with my .25 Benjamin Marauder this morning.

JimH, Good shooting!!


maddog

Got 4 grays at Morgan Monroe south of Martinsville, In. with my CZ 455 using Eley .22 Subsonic HPs

Batchief, ya done good! Congrats!




maddog

Well, I popped another one this morning. It was really hot/humid in the woods . Shot better. One shot, one limb chicken.





skeeters were terrible, and I wore a headnet this am.


maddog

Congrats! Yep, skeeters are awful this year. Won't go without my ThermaCell! Working today, so not able to get out. Keep them coming!

great hunting and getting a chowder start..

Decided to go today, early, before it got too hot. Got in and set up near a pignut hickory, that the limb chickens were cuttin' on. Hadn't been there more than 5 mins. When this ole girl showed up.





One shot red head, DRT!


Went and picked her up, and she was missing 1/2 the hair on her tail, and she was nearly hairless on her inside rear legs and belly. Her skin was real wrinkly and you could tell she had lost a bunch of weight. Here is another pic of her, but you really can't see the missing hair, well enough.





I couldn't tell if it was mange or she had been in a nest nursing younguns. If it was the latter, she had weaned them and dried up. The longer I thought about it, I made the decision not to clean her, and I threw her away. Probably only 1 of 3-4 I've ever thrown away in my life. By 9am., it was hot and muggy, so I quit for the day. BTW, it was the only squirrel I saw all morning.


maddog

Our season doesn't open until September. I have no desire to be out in the woods in muggy, mosquito infested, deer fly miserable summer conditions. Can't wait for fall!!!

Looks like you squirrel hunters have having a good one..
Haven't hunt tree squirrel in probably 12 years.. Enjoy..

Hit the woods early this morning. Was in there for almost an hr., before I heard my first squirrel. Snuck up and found him cutting a hickory nut. First one in the bag. Moved on and found 2-3 up a pair of pignut hickories. Shot twice at one little varmint, and missed both times. Moved maybe 50 ft. and caught a couple more. Shot, thump, in some weeds. Lined up another, and he hit the ground within three feet of the first. Walked over and limb chicken no. 1 was no where to be found.





Went on and found two more cutting hickory nuts. THIS time, nobody got away!





Ended up with four. It was getting warm, so I cleaned them up and called it a day.


maddog

Good going! I'm gonna hit it bright and early in the morning.

Dog, nice shooting.. Those fox squirrels are great!!

Great hunt maddog. Got 2+ months till opener. Was on lease bushhogging today and noticed the squirrels are tearing up the pine cones.

Well, went again this am. Wanted to hit the same place that I did yesterday, but somebody was back there, so I went on down the road. Hit the same place I did last Sat. Saw exactly 1 squirrel in a short 2 hrs. The weather was beautiful, no skeeters, actually just a little chilly. About 9:30, I went across the road, where I also had permission. Finally found one up a HUGE pignut hickory [maybe 90+ ft tall.] Anyway, 1 shot under the jaw, that exited out between his shoulder blades, gave me one more limb chicken for the week. This makes eight, since last Sat.







maddog

dang y'all got a bunch of fox squirrels. Don't see many here..

Got 1 fox squirrel Saturday morning at Morgan Monroe. Gonna hit it again Monday morning. Makes 5 for me.

We finally made at this morning. It was 68 degrees and sprinkling off and on.

Me and my youngest son went one way and my Dad and my oldest son went the other. Me and my youngest son seen a grand total of one squirrel and he was running as fast as he could. I made him a little faster after throwing a load a 6's at him. Even though there was plenty of nut trees there was not a single squirrel cutting.

Here's my youngest eyeing my little .410.
[img:center]http://[/img]

There was plenty of shooting from my Dad and oldest son though. Dad said they were all in a sweet gum tree and not cutting nuts.

Here's my youngest telling my oldest what he thought about all the shooting they did.
[img:center]http://[/img]

There is always next week.

Dink

Glad to see pics of kids out chasing squirrels. I was a happy kid when I was sneaking around in the woods, looking for a limb to shake.

Hit the woods, yesterday morning. The weather was absolutely gorgeous! Over a period of 2 hrs., I saw five, shot at four, and nailed three....all head shots.





Interesting part was two of the three were shot about 10 am. I've been going early, each time out, and have yet to kill a limb chicken before 8am.





The more I hunt with that little scoped 10/22, the better I like it.

Today will be fun. In about an hr., I'm taking ole Dexter[my min pin] to the woods with me. Stay tuned....


maddog

Good going! You fellow Hoosiers are making me feel lazy. Haven't made it out yet. Kids football and other activities have kept me busy.

Got side tracked this am, on honey-do projects.... ole Dex and I are gonna try to get out in the next couple days.



maddog

I got out yesterday morning. I got one that fell into a thicket of nettles. I never did find it. 😟

Still waiting for our season to open here

Got out this am for a couple hrs. Shot two males, two hrs. apart, in two different pig nut hickories. Just like above, the first was at 8 am, and the second was at 10 am. Go figger.......








maddog

Gotta make me one on those skwerl toters. Can't find fish stringers anymore..

Those stringers are awesome. Plus, I can hang it on my walking stick/gun rest, while I'm searching a tree for another limb chicken!


maddog

http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/...29_4416325524650712648_n_zpso86tgj4z.jpg

#'s 21-25 with the Marauder.

Are you guys finding many trees with hickory nuts. I have been out several times and only found a few pignut hickories with any nuts on them. Have shot a few cutting red oak, but sure not seeing many compared to last year. I'm hunting Gibson county. What say you?

So far, every woods I have hunted, the hickories are loaded.



maddog

Hello neighbor! I grew up in Gibson County! Can't give you much info on the nuts as most of the guys I talk to from there don't squirrel hunt. Good luck!

Ha that is cool,Kawi

My son finally got home for a hunt this am. Very humid, with thunderstorms about. Managed to nail three, before we called it a morning.





Dan with his two.





My young fryer.

We're gonna try to hit it again Mon. am.


maddog

You suck.


Im gonna look for a bunny next week.....

Nice squirrels, you are not going to eat a bunny before it gets cold are you??

We got a frost over week ago....


They are safe before then, but I can't stand the botfly larvae and I damn near got a dose of tularemia once, so I'll skip that again...

Maddog - show us that shooting stick and how you use it.

Here's a couple pics of the stick. I don't have any of me shooting off it, but I think you can figger it out....








Besides shooting off it, I use it as a walking stick, squirrel hanger, cobweb and briar mover, etc.





maddog

Hi pointer, I'm just not finding many hickory trees with nuts. They are starting to hit the pecans down in the Wabash bottoms though. Got 3 grays this morning before I called it a day. There just aren't too many people that squirrel hunt anymore around here. Most of them I see are old bald headed guys like me.

260AIS, I can relate to that. Other than my son 2-3 times a yr. coming up from Indy, I hunt squirrels by myself. I have one buddy, in his sixties[like me], that goes a couple times, but 99% of the time, it's just me. On the positive side, it's real easy to pick up good places to squirrel hunt. They just look at ya funny, and say help yer self! I got probably in excess of 30 woods I can squirrel hunt.


maddog

Mike...I know a squirrel hunter that might be heading that way......

Git yer fanny back here, and after 2-3 days of limb chicken hunting, you won't need yer motel.....just sayin'......if ya kin hittem......



maddog

Nine more days until season opens here in Alabamey. Like kids waiting for Christmas! Weather forecast looks cooler around that time, which will be nice.

Be careful what you wish for....I got an invite from a cousin in Ohio who is loaded with squirrels, and my sister lives in between you two...I could kill two birds with onestone....and a bunch of skwerls.

What time is best there Mike?

I personally love Oct. Even the woods that have bowhunters, I can hunt during the week. If you are talking late in the season [ie: Dec./Jan.], it's all weather driven. Skip November, deer season. Let me know.


maddog

10-4...I think that pretty well coincides with Ohio...


Ill keep you posted.

My son and I hit it this am, for a couple of hrs. Really warm and muggy. It was my son's only second chance to go, because of work. Otherwise I might have stayed home. My shooting was awful. Shot at three, and nailed one. I'm blaming it on the weather, foggy glasses, etc


Mine.





Dan's three.





This is gonna be it til it cools off.


maddog

been waiting for that also; temps hit 100 here today, but by next weekend, forecast shows a morning low of 60...thinking i may hit the woods.

Looks like a good shooting stick.

Quite a while back I asked what people used to steady their shots in the woods -you showed that stick back then -I just thought maybe it had evolved a little.

I can get all the cane poles I want around here - might try and build a light weight cane pole shooting stick.
Thanks -Mike

The only "evolvement" it's gonna get is a new paint job on the top bolt!


maddog

Maddog, what's your favorite way of cooking them so they're nice and tender? I usually boil them forever but I'm looking for something different. Been thinking about a pressure cooker. Ever try that?

You gotta check out Mikes limb chicken chowder recipe!
The BEST soup in the WORLD!


BTW MIke,not gonna make it this year...too much other travel....

That's the kind of stuff I'm looking for!

ingwe, I'll shoot a basket full in your honor....you can thank me later.....


Yes, a pressure cooker works great. I marl all my squirrels for the freezer either young or old. When I get enough old ones, I cook em, bone em, and put them in a baggie, and back in the freezer for future use....limb chicken chowder, squirrel pot pie, BBQ squirrel, etc.


maddog

RS308MX, here is the thread on the squirrel chowder recipe.


https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...94/Fantastic_squirrel_recipe#Post6855994


maddog

Thanks maddog!

Mama took off to see her grandson, this weekend, so I got out this am, to do a little hunting. Hit a couple places down on the river, that are my grey squirrel woods. Saw a bunch of the lil boogers, but they were either bouncing through the tree tops, or were across ravines I couldn't navigate. Still, I managed to red head one little dummy, when he hesitated on the side of a tree, a might too long. This is my 1st. grey this year. I'm going back to the same places tomorrow.





maddog

You guys are killin' me....

+1

Our season doesn't open until the first weekend of October.

Went again this am. Temps . were in low 50's. No mosquitos even buzzing about. One of the wierdest morning I've ever had hunting squirrels. Saw a bunch of gray squirrels, but they were all either running on the ground or were 1-2 ft. off the ground, hanging on the sides of small trees. The mast hasn't started to drop, yet. I did finally get shots at 3, but only managed to get one. Just flat out missed the other two. This is a new place I just got permission to hunt. It's a neat place, and I will be going back.





maddog

Can't wait -well I guess I have to -but come on squirrel season.
Gitter done Maddog !

Well, was going down south, this weekend, and hunt squirrels and catch catfish. Had to cancel, cause my allergies are absolutely killing me, along with my back, legs, and feet. Off to the chiropractor, in a couple hrs. Sux to get old....



maddog

Alabama season opened on Tuesday the 15th this year; three days in and so far 3 squirrels and 1 rabbit. I think they passed cat inspection...

Dang, Phillip is breaking out all those fine looking ol' guns of his.
Very good..

Mike: off topic but have you tried Nasacort for your allergies?

It is the difference between living and existing for me. Simple and relatively cheap.


BTW: I found a stronghold of fox squirrels moving north in Wyoming last week...I might get a little hunting closer to home!

Tom, I use Nasacort, have been for almost a year. Also using generic allegra, claratin, chlor tabs, benedryl....yada, yada, yada. I think this year the only thing that's gonna help, is a frost.

Phillip, nice pics, beautiful guns.


We get the storms out of the way today, and tomorrow, I may go hunting Sunday, when we have a cool spell, again.



maddog

All the pills stopped working for me years ago... Nasacort is a lifesaver. But I forget you have about a billion other kinds of plants that pollinate back there...

Went for a walk right after dawn and saw this one. I need some Nasacort and Robitussin, some sort of upper respiratory virus going around. Went back to bed after the morning woods walk.

Shot 2 more squirrels early this morning; the first was decent sized, the second was tiny, I guess what some of ya'll are calling "breakfast squirrels". :p

Phillip,
Love seeing your pictures. They are well composed and feature good looking shotguns and knives. Excellent!

Went out for a coupla hrs. this am. First I'd been out since last weekend. the woods was absolutely beautiful. Chilly enough, that I had on an insulated sweat shirt. Saw 5-6 squirrels, but only managed to shoot one. Prolly missed 4.... Think I forgot to clean my glasses.... .









The last supper....er breakfast, so to speak.


maddog

Nice shooting.. Beautiful time of year in the hardwood country..

I hear ya! I have yet to go as the kids activities have kept me tied up every weekend so far. Might try to shoot a couple this Sunday between deer hunts with the 8yo. My grandpa used to run all over the Buckskin bottoms and strip pits chasing squirrels. He still talks to a father/son combo there that kill a couple hundred a year. But nothing like it used to be that for sure. Still a bit too hot and buggy, but it doesn't get much better than hunting squirrels.

pointer, thought ya fell in and the hogs ate ya! Glad ta see ya back. Went hunting this am. It was beautiful out! I saw three, and shot two. Both red heads. The way it's 'posed ta be .......






maddog

Good shooting Mike!


I been out shooting bunnies...my surrogate squirrels

I don't have time to be 'et!

Went this am, to a buddy's place, that I hadn't been to this season. Prolly the toughest hunt so far this season. Saw plenty of squirrels, but it was almost impossible to get a shot! The place is beautiful, 35/40 acres of bottoms, with rolling hillsides and a creek running through the middle. Here's some pics.





Said squirrel. The only one I shot in 2 1/2 hrs.











Some camping area pics. Think I'm gonna set up a campout there for next season with my son and son-in-law.


maddog

Still looking pretty leafy there!

Watched a redtail hawk catch and eat a squirrel in the backyard yesterday. Looked like he enjoyed his meal!

Will be, for about 3-4 weeks.......



maddog

I just wish we had fox squirells here in East Tennessee

Only difference I've ever found between fox and cat squirrels is the weight. You get a bag of fox squirrels and they get heavy, real quick.

They have a BIG fox squirrel in S. La., 2-3 times the size of a normal one. Toting a limit of them would kill a fellow.

Our limit is 10 per day in TN. Me and sch300wsm took our little ones out the other day. It was like hunting with a herd of elephants having a 4 and 5 year old in the woods, but so much fun. We killed 4, but 2 stuck in the tree. The kids loved it and so did we.

I have never seen a fox squirell in TN. I know we have them out west but not here in the east so much. We also have a red squirell a little smaller than a grey squirell. Only ever seen them in the national park and higher elevations. Would love to shoot some of the fox squirells with cool colorations. If it's not pouring rain I will head out in the morning. They were in the white oaks hard, and found 2 beech trees they had been hitting good too.

Went this am, and took ole Dex, my min pin. Unfortunately, the woods was way over grown with weeds and briars. Managed to get one down[one shot red head to boot]. Ole Dex was covered in weed seeds. Got him back to the truck, and it took 15 mins. just to pick him clean. If I'd taken him home, covered like that, and let him in the house mama woulda kicked my azz!! .








maddog

Maddog and Little Dawg, tough combo..

Well the pointer household is on the squirrel board! Only I didn't get to pull the trigger. Just applied the size 12 coup de grace. He aimed mid body and spined it. All in all he was pretty proud of himself...

You'd never notice he was enjoying his squirrel hunt. Congrats..

Hey pointer, tell the boy congrats. I can see by the look on his face, he was having a terrible time.......



maddog

Congratulations to the young man, Pointer! Love to see pics of kids enjoying a hunt.

Thanks guys. I do think I have a hunter on my hands. Only downside is I have to say no too much. Any/all animals he sees he wants to shoot!

FWIW, that's the pretty side of the squirrel. Last couple of years I've been hunting with the CCI Quik-Shok 22LRs. They absolutely blow holes in squirrels. Didn't have to gut this one as they were already hanging out...

No squirrels here, but the bunnies took a hit yesterday! Shot a bunch with the .223AI and reduced loads.


Heres a triple.

Nice. Now make a stew out of them.

Or "Brer rabbit limb chicken chowder"......just sayin'...



maddog

First, there will be fwied Wabbit....


Then maybe wabbit pot pie...



Then maybe " Cottontail Chicken Chowder"...


I put 32 rabbits and a grouse in the freezer this week...I'm ready!!!!

Jeepers! That'd be super country to have a brace or more of beagles in. Until they jumped a jack...

We actually ran beagle a number of years ago. First jack he got on, just loped along with dog behind, got tired of it, looked over its shoulder and went Turbo.
Dog literally stopped in his tracks and looked back at us with a classic WTF! look on his face!

OTOH, my Border Collie was the only dog Ive ever seen run a jack down,and catch it!

The dogs we had would have kept chasing it to the next county! Even if they weren't getting closer. My grandpa had an old male, "Rocky" that he claimed never met a cold track he didn't like... Course he had about 5 Rocky's in my life alone, so I'm still not sure which one it was. He always seemed to have a Rocky and a Snoopy.

Saw only this one today, early in the morning with the Kimber Hunter. Had a good solid tree rest, the perfect hold! Squeezed the trigger.............and get a soft CLICK. I had forgotten to chamber a round.:o Worked the bolt and nailed it through the neck with the second try. It had multiple botfly woolves on it. ich. Tried again in the afternoon, didn't see any, it was pretty breezy and too much movement for me to spot them in. I usually take several pictures in case some turn out poorly, and boy did they ever, I got ONE shot out of multiples that was in focus, the rest all crap.

Phillip, in all my years of squirrel hunting, I've never seen one, that I've shot, with the botfly wolves on it. If you shoot another with that condition, would you take a close up pic and post it? That goes for anyone else, too.


maddog

Ive seen a couple, and a couple rabbits with them. They are BIG TIME DISGUSTING! However, they feed on the mucous membrane between skin and body, and when they hatch and fly off, the wound is slight, heals fast, and doesn't mar the meat.

I'm like maddog. I've never seen them in skwerls but have seen them in rabbits in warm weather.

It rained all morning then windy again as the front moved on, so I took the Grulla shotgun and went through some of the heavier cover in the woods hoping to see something. No squirrel, but flushed a rabbit and nailed it with the second barrel. Gun is choked modified and full and the first shot was probably taken too close anyway.

When does rabbit season open there?


I wuv me some wabbits...

Used to open on October 1st, but this year they moved rabbit and squirrel season up, on the 15th of September.

OK...I wondered...they used to always try to time it after the first frost....

It rained all morning again and then more 10-15 mph wind. I didn't figure I'd see much, but had an hour or so to kill before going back to town and went for a little woods walking. Leaves are still thick here in Alabama and with so much movement I was surprised to spot this squirrel after only a few minutes out.

Thats a big grey!


And a nice, proper, shotgun!

AGREED!!!



maddog

Well put my man..

Been 10-12 days since I had a chance to go hunting. Decided to hit it a lick this am. Foggier than hell this am, I didn't leave the house til 9:30. Did all my hunting between 10 and noon. Saw 6 squirrels, and shot 3 [all grays]. So much for the old wives tale about grays not moving midday....








Funny part was the last two. Shot at one, and thought I got it. But it took off running thru the brush. In a little bit, it was back at the tree, so I shot again. This time, I hit the lil SOB. Imagine my surprise, when I walked over to the tree, and there laid 2 dead squirrels. I'd rather be lucky tha good any day of the week!

maddog

Posted on several other threads. Couldn't resist:

Glad I don't have to clean all them lil bastids, by myself....


maddog

I've hunted several hours scattered over the last few days with no luck. Seen absolutely nothing at home or over at the inlaws place. Supposed to cool off some beginning Saturday so maybe it'll get better after that.

Was able to get out this morning and saw fleeting glimpses of six or so Grays but the cover is thick and they got the best of me. Managed to get couple.

No squirrels here, but the bunnies took a major hit yesterday...put 20 in the cooler, and got tired of dressing them, so I didn't shoot anymore


The "back nine"

This makes short order of such a pile: http://www.huntershelper.com/tools.shtml

If you're using that method you're doing it the hard way.

What's wrong with them?

BTW, went out with my son for our first hunt and got 14...

Went yesterday for a few hours. I was surprised that I didn't see that many. The ones I did see were on the ground, and I miffed a couple of shots, cause I shot too quick. These two guys walked by me within 10-12 ft., at about 11am. Got a couple pics, and it kinda made the morning.








maddog

My son is coming up from Indy, this morning. We're gonna hit it a lick before it gets too windy. The last 3 times I've gone, no squirrels. One time I did muff a couple of shots, but the last two times I haven't seen zip. Maybe the luck will change today.


maddog

Dan and I hit the woods about 8:45 am. Didn't see/hear squat, til about 9:30 am. The woods had really grown over, since last season. The squirrels were on the ground. I shot one, and missed one. Dan got two. All in all, for the wind factor, we didn't do too bad.








maddog

Had some time before going to pick up my wife, so I hit the woods and in no time spotted one. Terribly difficult shot, didn't think I was going to make it (10 yards) Minimag HP gave it some brain drain and it was all goggle eyed at the prospect...............

maddog

Parboiled and deboned 20 today. Making Squirrel and dumplins for sons Bday. Had it last year and he wanted a rerun this year..

Good for you!




maddog

Had a good afternoon in the woods. It was pretty windy so I carried the Grulla double instead of a rifle this time. Nailed four of them, and one had FIVE botly warbles/woolves on it, three on the side I photographed for Maddog since he had never seen any of the irksome little parasites.

Nope, I'm positive, now I've never seen that on any squirrel I ever shot, up here in NW Indiana. Sure looks like hell.....


maddog

And the "eggspurts" say eat them anyway..

They look really vile,but as badly as that squirrel looked, when I skinned it they came off with the hide and the flesh didn't appear damaged.

Damn Ingwe. If you ever want a sidekick let me know, I LOVE cottontails. The only place I have to shoot them is up at my buddies place in Gildford, so I don't get them very often. I would love to get a few around here for dinner. Looks like you are eating like a king.

Sad to say Im not getting the numbers around here....there was travel time involved, but I damn sure found them!

Around town here I can pick up 4 or 5 on an evening, but not much more....

Yesterday makes the fifth time I've been out, in the last three weeks, and the fourth outing, where I haven't seen one danged limb chicken. Can't figure out what's going on......


maddog

Come to the Ozark's, they are thick again this year. Sitting in a tree stand while bowhunting dozens of them are constantly stirring all around.

Moving good here. A friend got 8 yesterday and 7 this morning..

No luck here lately either. Hoping to go over to the inlaws place this weekend but the weather forecast isn't good.

Firearm deer season opens, here in Indiana, a week from tomorrow. Hope I can get out 1-2 times before the 14th. I'll have to lay off the squirrel hunting til after that 2 wk. season ends.


maddog

Going out in a couple hrs., for a midday hunt, after the bowhunters are done this morning. Took this pic, a few minutes ago just for the helluvit.





This is Dexter's buddy Otis[urban limb chicken]. He drives ole Dex nuts, which is funnier than hell.....


maddog

Great picture MD. My son has an "Otis" that worries the hell out of his lab.
Primitive season opens here tomorrow for does only so I'll try to get some "freezer fillers" next week..

Got out this afternoon for some squirrel busting at the inlaws place. Got five of the leetle debils I did! It was windy after the rainy weather front yesterday so I decided to carry the shotgun again. If I had felt like hunting all day I think I could have gotten our limit per day here in Alabama, which is eight. BUT, I had my monthly IV/IG infusion Friday and I always feel ragged the next two or three days, so my butt was dragging the floor this morning and I couldn't get going any earlier.

Well, I gotterdun. Big ol' doe took a bite of .45/70 and she's getting ground up in burger as I type. A couple more "freezer fillers" and I can get back to the fun stuff..

Windy day, but managed to get three.

Well boys, yesterday was the opening of firearms deer season, here in Indiana. Went out and got me some high speed freezer beef. He is a dink [ingwe would be proud ]





Now, back to the limb chickens!


maddog

Sorry to hear about some of your all’s indifferent seasons.
For me, it’s been a good one so far. Opener was a 6 squirrel day (albeit on 6-18 shooting!)


Had some other good days with better shooting. Didn’t take a lot of pics.



I too got sidetracked.


Got back on the path.



The irony is the house I bought this summer has 4 big pecan trees in the yard. The place is dripping with squirrels. If it wasn’t so fun to snipe em, I’d open a franchise of Ignwe’s hotel.

Y'all have a good Tgiving.

Ella

Anyone else get out this am?



It was a fine morning in SC.

Ella

Got these five this afternoon with the Kimber 22.

Nice work, PN, and gorgeous rifle.

One of these days, I'm going to get a pretty gun, and it'll be a squirrel rifle.

Looks like yours shoots too.

Ella

Got out this afternoon past four after Thanksgiving dinner for a bit and managed to find one before dark.

Went out for a few hours late yesterday afternoon. Got one right at sunset, but they were real skittish for the most part. I'd hear them, but they wouldn't let me set up a shot.

Ella

Didn't see any this afternoon. It was a beautiful afternoon anyway, 70 degrees.

Haven't had much of a chance to actually "squirrel hunt" this season, but after another unsuccessful morning in the deer stand yesterday, I did whack a couple corn bandits with the Mach II.

Played hooky this morning, sat down against a big oak in the creek bottom and soon saw a couple limbchickens playing grabass in the bushes. Was waiting for one to clear all the vegetation when some falling debris made me look up. This guy was about 30 feet up in the tree I was sitting against. A little back bending and a pause for his head to clear the branch: one in the bag.



Got tired of sitting and needed to stretch out my neck, so wandered up the slope. Saw this guy running off and noticed a big pecan full of holes nearby. Figured he might come back. Which he did.



Pretty day in the upper ‘60s. Makes it hard to work.

Hey SCgunnut, know where there’s any .22 lr in the area?

Yeah, we've got a ton of Mini-Mag, Stinger & CCI "Tactical" where I work, Shooter's Choice.

No kidding? I might have a road trip up to Columbia coming up. Good to know.

Ella

Another crappy windy afternoon to try to squirrel hunt on. Saw 5 but only managed to shoot 1. Temperature was upper 50's and it might have been a good day for hunting without wind. I carried the double again since everything was moving.

I got sidetracked and didn't get out until a few hours after sunset. Saw nadda. Nothing. We did get a "cold" front through here, so maybe the little wusses were holed up.

Love that shotty, PN.

Ella

Got to hunt again this afternoon; much better day, 60 degrees with only light winds....and not a single squirrel sighted. The woods were just empty, not even birds flitting around to look at. Just me and the trees.

It's been pretty here too, but I've been too wrapped up at work to get out. I'm hoping this weekend.

Ella

Did you get out PN? Where's all the other squirrel hunters?

I worry I'm cutting the limb chickens too much slack this season.

Ella

Just found this thread.. I carry my suppressed 10/22 to the deer stand every time, its helps pass the time..
IMG_2248 by Chris Jamison, on Flickr
Untitled by Chris Jamison, on Flickr
Untitled by Chris Jamison, on Flickr

Sometimes we shoot a deer or two, also...The first one was my daughter's, the second one I killed with my .357 M66 while we were squirrel hunting...
Abby's buck by Chris Jamison, on Flickr
Untitled by Chris Jamison, on Flickr

NICE!!!

Good to see somebody is finding critters; weather was bad windy last weekend and today, and I didn't happen to see any squirrels at all. At least I won't have to worry about running out of ammo.......

My kids schedule and domestic duties haven't allowed me to get out! Grrrr... I'm thinking I will over the Holidays.

Jamison- Now that suppressors are legal in IN, I so want a suppressed .22 for that very reason. Couple of stands I sit would be FUN with one of those.

Jamison, nice work and cool photos. I do a bunch of mixed game hunting myself. Can't stand to sit in a stand, so usually end up toting a rifle for one and a pistol for the other. Wish someone made a .30-30 over .22.

Hadn’t been out in too long, so played hookey from work yesterday morning. Glad I did. Last couple times in the woods were slow, but they were moving around, maybe because it rained the day before. Shouldn’t have picked up coffee on the way, as I had bad shooting jitters. Finished 6-15 (had to reload!), all but one headshots, and was out of the woods by noon. My kind of morning.

Got out this afternoon to hunt on my land for a while. Spotted one squirrel, nailed it when it got to within 30 yards with a Federal 712 hvhp. phone picture not very good focus.

PN, nice shot. Is that a squeaker call? Any luck with it?

Ella

It's a combo call, squeaks and barks. The only luck I ever have with it is to get squirrels barking some to see if any might be in the area. Rare to get any to come closer that I know of.

I used one of those made by Olt back in the day. It worked so damn good I only used it out hunting once..it took all the sport out of it.
I didn't know what I was doing so Id use it to bark at a passing squirrel. He would invariably answer with a series of barks and I would mimic him. Apparently they don't like to be mocked cause it would infuriate them and they'd come within a matter of feet, barking and lashing their tails.

Hunted all afternoon, but only found one squirrel, and it was a long shot. I first estimated 75 yards and held over 2" for that distance, but the shot went too low and slightly to the right, more wind than I'd first thought. The squirrel jumped and ran up the closest tree as dirt flew just underneath. I added more holdover and into the wind a tad and dropped it with the second shot. Paced off 80 long strides to where it lay, so somewhere close to 80 yards. When I picked it up, I saw TWO wounds, one through one of the back legs; the first shot either glanced off the ground and struck it, OR it hit the leg and the dirt I saw flying was behind it. Better photo this time, used the Nikon instead of cell camera.

beautiful wood on that rifle, nice shooting as well.

Untitled by Chris Jamison, on Flickr
Ended up with 4 yesterday... This was the first. I'm working on getting the PWS Summit T3 tuned in--Its pretty picky about ammo.
The best thing is that it is 5# 15oz with scope and sling...

It rained all morning, then let up late afternoon; I took the Kimber and went through the woods on the south end of our land and found one shortly.

Thats a beautiful Kimber!!

Found one squirrel this afternoon, while carrying the Evanix Renegade AR6 PCP air rifle; first one I've managed to get in a while with the air rifle, just had not been having any luck when I had the PCP with me.

Been out hunting three times since the last post, and have not seen a single squirrel.

I haven't been squack hunting in a few years. I might just go this weekend. Last time I went I killed six out of one tree in about a minute, it was a couple of years ago in october, With a shotgun though... I do love hunting them with a semi .22 with open sights and I have a .22 mag bolt gun with a new scope I really should shoot. I bought a savage 24 after wanting one for 30 years and it needs a little woods time too. Looks like I need to squirrel hunt more often.

Really like all the pics. Wish I could post them.

Any of you guys have black squirrels? We have mostly grey but some fox squirrels in the mountains.

Deer and duck season winding down fast so back to the fun stuff. Tried to find some "hardball" .22 mag, no luck. Still got a few.

seal, of course here in Wy. we only have the little reds, and a few fox squirrels in town.. I used to hunt fox squirrels quite a bit when I first retired.. Spent a good bit of time in W. Va. They were really a blast to hunt.. The last I shot, I used my little .22 Hornet and made headshots.. Those woods were very open with only mature timber..

You mentioned black squirrels.. Everywhere I have hunted, they were pretty rare.. But my wife is originally from the Straits area of Mich.. When we visit her children there, there are tons of black squirrels.. There they out number the greys.. Never saw a fox squirrel there.. Sometime I would like to hit that area, when season is on.. Never bagged a black squirrel..

Wyo: check the cottonwood bottoms north of Lovell, towards the lake

Loads of fox squirrels........



Trust me.

Property I hunted up until a few years ago had a good many black fox squirrels. Here are a couple, along with a "panda" squirrel I killed there.

Those are too kool for skool!

ingwe, thanks, I will check this out.. We will be in that area later in Feb. I think season is in til March, but will have to check.. That is good to know.. Again thanks..

A black squirrel would be a trophy to me. I'd mount that rascal.

GunNut, you like the 24s too I see. Are the barrels regulated good on yours? Mine were off a little and when I took it in the woods for the first time I carved a shim out of a piece of maple and wedged it between the barrels. Shoots to point of aim with both barrels now but my rear sight is at its highest setting.

Great pics, I especially like the grey and black squirrel. Are they bigger than greys?

WCH, I have been to Michigan a couple of times but didn't hunt any. I had rather be in Wyoming any day of the week. I would however like to visit the U.P.. While I was in Michigan I did notice black squirrels. My band mates said I was grumpy I remember telling them it was nothing a few days off the road and in the woods wouldn't cure. I would have loved to hunt and fish some of the places I have been.

I understand there are really quite a few squirrels in there, and I know for a fact they have filtered up the waterways as far north as Bridger montana. They are considered an invasive specie here. No season and no bag limit
They follow the water and the deciduous trees around it.

Was hoping to get out for the last day or two of the season, but there's still 18" or so left on the ground and the access roads are likely not cleared yet.

Oh well, still a month of wabbit season left.

Weather was awesome today. 50 degrees and sunny. went for a couple hrs. Saw 2 squirrels, got a shot at one, and missed. I was off to a great start this year, but since late Oct. I've been out 7-8 times and haven't seen hardly any squirrels. I've shot at a couple, and missed. Tomorrow is the last day of our season. If it doesn't rain, I'm gonna hit it for a couple hrs., then hang it up til next Aug. 15th.


maddog

ingwe, that is good to know about squirrels in Montana.. We spend some time there each year.. Kind of depends what else we have going.. We also go to the Big Horn Basin a lot.. On those trips we make a run to Billings for shopping.. I haven't shot a tree squirrel for probably 10 years.. Did go out Fri. and shoot 5 fat cottontails with my Sako .222.. Could have shot twice that many, but 5 is about all I want to clean at one time..Naturally, my camera's battries were dead.. So no pics.

Seal, I can understand about being in Wy., but I enjoy traveling.. Mich. has some pretty great fishing.. I would much rather eat a bluegill, perch or salmon that any trout I ever caught.. Brookies are good, but nothing compared to the others.. Not to mention walleye.. The U.P. is a cool place.. Love traveling though there, but too thick and swampy for my taste.. But it was Robert Traveler's country, and he was an awesome writer.. Also Hemingway..

Hunted a couple of hours this afternoon but saw nothing. It was pretty windy but not cold so at least I didn't freeze from the breeze. Hunting has been frustrating since Christmas, seeing very few since then.

Wyo: If you find the squirrels, remember your limit is ten ( I checked...) I have it from a good source there are as many as you can stand to shoot in the cottonwood bottoms.
Please keep me apprised of the rabbit situation down there. If the upswing continues I will visit myself upon them again next fall.

Gladly..

I have four mounted at home: one of the black ones, the "panda", a brownish one and the more common silver. The other black one is on the wall of the gun store I work in. I don't kill much else worth mounting but I'm squirrel poor. And yes, the foxes are considerably bigger than our greys.






I have three 24s, .22LR/.410, .22 Mag/20ga and .357 Max/20ga. Both of the rimfires are well regulated and the rifle barrels are pretty darn accurate with ammo they like. The Maximum is a bit of a pain in the arse...

Don't feel bad, I hadn't been in a couple of years and I went this morning and only saw one. It was in the biggest cluster of brushy undergrowth ever. I didn't even try. I would have never found it. I went to my favorite spot and built a small fire to warm up and relaxed for an hour or so, shot the ol savage 24 a few times and went home. It was a good morning, better than work or sitting on the couch.

Today was like yesterday, warm but strong winds. I decided to just stay in and do some house chores, not worth fighting the wind traipsing around to see nothing. We have one more month to go here in Alabama, so I'll get out as much as I can.

Yesterday was our last day of the season, for this year. Didn't go because it was cloudy, windy, and kinda rainy. Instead, I put all my hunting clothes away and cleaned my .22s.


maddog

Won't be long til Aug.!! Ever go to some of those states with a spring season???

No I haven't. Be honest, no more pressure than squirrels get, here in Indiana, they could extend the season from Jan. 31st to the end of Feb./Mar.


maddog

Speaking of pressure, i wish I could say the same. But the squirrels around here have always been super skittish.

Nice morning in the woods today.managed a couple and missed a couple,but good fun with the .22 mag

I went this morning against my better judgment. It was 20 degrees and very windy and snow on the ground. I had never hunted them with snow on the ground before. I figured it would be quiet, nope snow made a crunchy sounds when walking and I couldn't get close enuff to make a good shot with my open sighted .22. Shoulda took my scoped .22 mag. cause they were skittish.

Untitled by Chris Jamison, on Flickr

Went out this morning and didn't see a single squirrel.. This crow wasn't so lucky...45 yard eyeball shot...

Went out yesterday morning with the savage 24. Got one young grey squirrel. Only squirrel I saw. Got it with the 20 ga barrel and a 1 oz load of #6s. With the open sights I just couldn't see it well enuff with my old eyes to get it with the .22, even with my glasses on. Getting old sux...