My 100 challenge, not fins but fur

[BilletHead]

              I decided to challenge myself to see how many squirrel I could harvest this season with my air rifle. No real goal had been set until I got into it a bit then I said I would try for 100. Season started on May 23 2020 and it will end on February 15th 2021. I shot the first on the 24th of May.  Then off and on as I seen them around the house. When they began to cut walnuts in our yard I knew it was time to get serious. Locating new places and some nice walks as weather dictated. I was very picky in my shots not getting into a hurry and if I had no shot to my liking I passed it up. I have a thing about bad shots and loosing game of any kind. I literally hate to waste things and a gift of food in particular. Aim small miss small. I actually took pictures of all I shot and have them dated in folders on this confuser (computer). I will share the last three hunts and give you the totals and shot results. This has been fun and I feel very accomplished. 

   Getting close to my goal last the 24th of January morning I went for a short walk as Pat did things here at the house. Found a single gray and got it. After cleaning it Pat said I want to go. She is a good shot too and has shot some years before with her air gun but not this season. She just likes to go. I tease he and call  her my squirrel caddy. Carries the shooting sticks and my take if we get any. I rely on not only my sight but mostly hearing as they scurry the forest floor. Lately I had been struggling some not thinking I was going to complete the goal. Taking Pat that day was the deal. As I listened and scanned close she was looking far. Stop she would say there is one right there. Where? Way up there I seen it go around that tree. it took me awhile to spot it. Sat up and round the tree it went. Pat slowly circled the tree and it came around to my side. Kerwhop as the pellet hit its mark and just then another came to my side, Kerwhop and second one down. What a hoot. Every time I shoot one Pat just giggles like a kid.  Kerwhop you all wonder? Well it is the best sound I can relay as a 25.39 grain pellet from a .25 caliber air gun hits the mark. Walked a bit more up a tree row. Pat finds a couple deer sheds from last year then again there is another. Makes me wonder how many I have been missing? Same thing it rounds the tree out of our vision. She circles the tree and kerwhop again and down it came from an extreme height. Good walk and good time,

     Weather changed and I did some walks with nothing spotted. It gets to a certain temp and they hole up and do not move much. I just tried to wait for the right day. I want no or light wind and warmer. Drizzle is fine but this time of the year sun is better. So on the 1st of February the forecast was cloudly and low wind in the AM. I decided to go for a drive and check out two closer small conservation areas. A couple walks there and zero seen? Dang Got home and ate a late lunch and all of the sudden the sun started peeking through. Got dressed warm again and off I went walking again. Soon I heard the cutting of a walnut scrape, scrape, scrape. I began to scan in the area I had heard it. Soon I seen it and kerwhop again. Got it and walked some more until I heard the sound again. This time it was hard to locate. Finally in a brush pile I could see it. No shot there so I moved a bit more. It ran to a tree and up and around. I just took a seat and waited. Soon it came around for another peek at what had scared it, kerwhop another one down. I was happy this goal could happen! Seen two more which vanished. I suspect a hollow tree. The furry guys do not venture far from dens this time of the year. I crossed a fence into a junction of three big tree rows. Never hunted this spot before. As I got closer there were squirrels running in all directions. Holy crap I was not expecting that. Seen six as I sat there. Got the shot I wanted and kerwhop number three for that walk down. My 100 squirrel goal was made. Unreal I thought. Picked up my prize and added it to the stringer and headed home.    Got them cleaned and just reflected in the season. Next morning had things to do in town got home and wind had completely died. Sunny again and actually warm feeling. I couldn't stand it. Grabbed the gun deciding to do a victory lap. Headed to same place and in 15 minutes seen five and got three! That's it I'm done for the season. 103! 

    So lets talk about a couple of things. Like I said I am a stickler about my shots. I go for the head. In this 103 harvest I lost six front legs to damage. Due to exit holes on extreme angles. This gun is accurate as long as I do my part on the trigger end. At 50 yards I can do quarter groups easy and have had pellet on pellet days at same yardage. My shots at squirrel this season ranged from 15 to 58 yards. I take the time to use a rangefinder when I can. Here is my mil dot table.

 Yards. 10 + 5 mil dots 20 -0, 30-1, 40-0, 50+2, 60+5, 70+7.  I found no need to shoot past that 58 yard mark just thought I would try it.  Did I miss a few shots? Yes but not many. 

      All 103 squirrel were cleaned. Many were eaten some are still froze. I am leaving the season with our possession limit of 20 each in the freezer. Yes we have eaten 63. It is pretty easy to do. I get some funny remarks form some and some smart arse remarks for some on this forum. Pat has taken some of what we have cooked to work. Two of the doctors and one Nurse practioner are believers and ask when are you bringing more? 

   All of the 103 tails minus two stubby ones will be goin to Mepps for their program. Who knows you all might have one my tail hair on your dressed treble hooks someday?    have a friend who sent me another 65 tails he has accumulated over the years to go with mine and another friend 20 more. Not trading for lures but a check .

    Thanks for letting me share this with you. Everyone has hobbies. I have too many.

[fishinwrench]

Of all the hunting I've ever done, I think it's safe to say that I've gotten more enjoyment out of stalking and sniping squirrels than anything else.   Doing it with today's airguns just makes it even more cool. 

The only thing better would be popping rabbits, long range, across a snow covered field, cuz they are easier to clean and they taste better.  But bunny's are rare around here, thanks to all the protected raptors. 🙄

[Johnsfolly]

Congrats Marty! A great accomplishment. I have a bunch of those photos from your many hunts. Like yourself I love small game hunting. It's  great to be out, game is typically plentiful, they can be challenging, and the rewards are that these guys are flat out delicious😉

[Ham]

That’s crazy that you managed to pull that off. 

[BilletHead]

12 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

Congrats Marty! A great accomplishment. I have a bunch of those photos from your many hunts. Like yourself I love small game hunting. It's  great to be out, game is typically plentiful, they can be challenging, and the rewards are that these guys are flat out delicious😉

                I could send more:) 

[Johnsfolly]

19 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

                I could send more:) 

Still have a few days left! Good luck if you get out again.

[curtisce]

I even got to try some fried legs form his harvest, good bits. Keeps him out of the grocery store too.

[BilletHead]

                      183 tails boxed up and ready to go, destination Mepps. Antigo Wisconsin