Taking advantage of great afternoon

[Johnsfolly]

I had planned on not heading into work today. Got a bunch of the high ladder painting done in our living room this morning and early afternoon. So I had planned to take my brother in-law out for a squirrel hunt for the late afternoon. We both had our scatterguns and in hindsight that was probably a good idea, since there was a lot of shooting and not a lot of killing. We went out to the spot I had taken my daughter's boyfriend on Christmas. I was also trying out the ear muffs that my daughter gave me for Christmas. We started hearing squirrels as soon as we entered the woodlot. I sent my brother in-law into the cedars after that one while I headed to the lower end of the cedar thicket just in case it decided to break out my direction. After about 10 minutes, BOOM, then BOOM BOOM then I heard more shells going into a shotgun. That one must have run the opposite direction. I never saw it headed my way. Since Herbie was wearing blaze orange, I was able to head towards where he was getting out of the cedars. As I headed down towards the creek bottom I saw three squirrels in a large oak tree chasing each other. As I got within 40 yards they headed off across the creek. I set up next to another tree and one of them came running back towards me and up a leaning tree and out of view. The next one ran slower than the first and I thought I had a good shot, but missed. Then it ran up another tree and I missed again. I don't recall the last time I missed a squirrel with my shotgun. Now I had two empty shells and no bushy tails to show for the effort. Herbie also shot a couple of more times at one or two squirrels. I went over to where I last saw the squirrels that I was shooting and found one just on the other side of the fence marking the property line. I kept watching that one to see if it would cross over the line, which would have been a 15 yard shot. It never came across the line. I caught movement to my left well on the public land. I could not get a shot on that squirrel at first. I saw another to my right and it was too far of a shot. Then the one on the left got into a good shooting position, BOOM and he fell into the creek. Figured if I couldn't kill it with my pellets maybe drowning would work. At least I got one in the vest, that was after fishing it out of the creek with a long stick. We headed to another section of the woodlot to wait for a couple more critters before it got dark. We got set up and waited. With my ear muffs, I could hear some commotion in the under brush on the other side of the creek where I figures that I would see some critters. That area was where Jeremiah saw an 8 point the last time we hunted this area. It sounded too big for a squirrel. Never did see it, but I did catch movement near the downed log that crossed the creek next to where I had setup. The squirrel was heading towards me along that tree, but caught me putting up the shotgun and it took off into the brush. I followed and finally it headed up a nearby tree and BOOM. Second one was down. Since I was on the other side of the creek and it was just after sundown or in my experience can be primetime, I stayed put in case another came by. I did see one well up in a tree 50 yards from me. No shot then one headed up into another small tree to my left and I got a shot on it before it got into a bigger tree. When it hit the ground, I didn't think that I was dead. So I got across the creek and to where I saw it fall and did not see it on the ground. I went and picked up the first squirrel and went back to look over the other area again. There was a small hole in the base of a large sycamore and out came the squirrel. I could tell that one of my pellets had broken it's spine since it was only using its front legs to pull itself along. I quickly caught and dispatched it. I put my last shell into my gun and got this last squirrel into my vest. Another squirrel was on the other side of the creek and then ended up running right towards me and up a tree within 6 feet of me. There must have been a hole on the other side, since I never saw that one again. Now it was dark. I called Herbie and we headed out of the woods.

When we started the hunt I had hoped to get at least three or four to go with the ones I have in the freezer to make a great meal. Although Herbie didn't get one, we both had a bunch of chances. We'll get out at least a couple more times before he heads back to PA.

Pretty happy with these bushy tails. Now the two old men are dragging our aching bodies all over the house.

[BilletHead]

   Great report. Like the play by play. I am thinking about making Aurora squirrel today. Maybe even shooting another one or two if they give me a chance. 

BilletHead

[Johnsfolly]

That's a great recipe. Good luck if you feel you need a couple more. Right now I have five. With my son and brother in law I may need to get one or two more. I'm still leaning towards squirrel and mushrooms. Going to have my betterhalf grind those dried chants to see what they taste like. Will post whatever I finally make.

[Nitro 750]

Thanks for the great report, looks like you have some fine eatin!!!!