Almost a limit

[BilletHead]

              I did some shooting yesterday with the .22 marauder air rifle. I prefer the .25 but have less premium shots. Many more with the .22 . I want to make a long walk and not have to carry the portable air tank. Today was not that long walk but I found some Fox squirrels to try the .22 on. As a matter of a fact they were going crazy chasing and fighting I shot two doubles out of the same tree. These guys did not stay still at all so there were some shots that missed. All were big nutted boars. This is breeding season and I am betting some female in heat was close. All were head shots but lost one front leg on a pellet exit. There will be a long slow braise in the cooking process. I am thinking squirrel aurora will be one of the dishes.  I am so glad I have reconnected and fell back in love with hunting this furry little creature. Good for slowing me down and making me  use patience for the small target.

Todays take,  

A quick short hunt with the .25 Saturday morning netted me a couple of grays. One took a tumble into a creek, 

    BilletHead

       

[Johnsfolly]

Hey buddy the daily limit is 10😌. Nice mess of bushytails! 

[BilletHead]

       

16 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

Hey buddy the daily limit is 10😌. Nice mess of bushytails! 

     Dang I have a long ways to go there friend. I had it in my mind six. I for sure wouldn't want to carry ten of those behemoths from the woods!  I was half way there . It is amazing on the food we have at our disposal. 

BilletHead

[JestersHK]

Nice job buddy.  I've been out bow hunting twice and should just shoot those instead of deer... 

 

[fishinwrench]

Airgun hunting is such a hoot.   I need to find a good woodlot to hunt, we simply have no squirrels anywhere near my place.  Darn few anyway.  

[Johnsfolly]

10 hours ago, BilletHead said:

       

     Dang I have a long ways to go there friend. I had it in my mind six. I for sure wouldn't want to carry ten of those behemoths from the woods!  I was half way there . It is amazing on the food we have at our disposal. 

BilletHead

Used to be six. Then changed to ten about 6 to 8 years ago. In a single outing I've shot four a lot and five a few times and six just once. Typically three to five would do for a meal. Would cut down my predatory angst when I got that many in the bag. Also it would usually be about 10 or 11 by then and they would be holed up by that time if the morning as well.

[BilletHead]

                I actually thought about going out again this morning. But then again this could be a Christmas present to them giving those critters a break. 

BilletHead

[Dutch]

9 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Airgun hunting is such a hoot.   I need to find a good woodlot to hunt, we simply have no squirrels anywhere near my place.  Darn few anyway.  

You can hunt in my back yard.  Gray tree rats are crossing it all the time.  I have removed 6 of them from my wife's bird feeder.  There seems to be another one or more every day crossing on top of the board fence.   I only go after the ones that climb up the bird feeder pole. Since I live in town close to the police station I'm using my 40 + year old Sheridan pellet gun.

[tjm]

Find where they roost and get there at day light or just before, I've sat in one place and killed a limit many times in the '60s.  At every shot (with .22LR)  they all hid but they can't stay hid, curiosity eats on them and out they come. Some areas will be community roosting places for many years, not sure why because to me they look just like other places in the woods.

They come and go in almost a migratory fashion, some days/weeks I could take a limit in my yard and then for weeks never see one. Take two flattish rocks and rub-tap them together and you can call them in some times. Takes some practice and cup the hands just so, but I used to do it to entertain the kids.

I need to go find a  fox squirrel for a fly tying skin. Quit hunting them for food long time ago because She don't like to eat them. 

[Johnsfolly]

TJM thats a great tip to get a bunch at one time. I have the best time employing that strategy when the hickories ripen and they draw squriiels from all over.

I have also been lucky enough to stumble onto nest trees as well.

Many years ago I was hunting Davisdale CA in Howard co. I was hunting along a creek bottom and heard one cutting a nut. I looked all over and had a difficult time finding it. Then I saw a tree up ahead of me with a hole at eye level and saw the squirrel sitting in that hole. Since it looked like it opened below the squirrel that it could fall through if I shot it. I shot it with my 22 and it did drop through and to the ground below.  I was heading to get the squirrel when another popped out of a hole higher up that same tree. I shot that one. Then another popped out and I got that one as well. Then another came out. I shot that one but not in the head. It ran down the tree and up under a rootwad along the creek bank. I gathered the three dead squirrels before going to find that last one. I saw its tail and gave it a tug. Fortunately it was dead!