It's that time of year. Let's see those kills.
- Thread starter hogpatrol
- Start date
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
That is why its called hunting, not gathering!Not exactly the post you'd expect. There's a patch of woods owned by a friend of mine. It's out in farm country, and the patch is only 200x300 yards, but it's been good for squirrel hunting. One problem, is there's a house on one corner, so because of that, I use a 22. No shotgun or 17hmr because of the noise. I don't know who lives in the house and no sense creating a potential problem. And I always have to make sure I'm not aiming in the direction of the house.
But this was my first time in this patch this year. Leaves are all off, but they're wet, so no crunching when I step. I see two squirrels chasing each other...about 80+ yards away. I start making my way over there when I hear a barking 180 degrees in the opposite direction. At least it's confirmation there's 3 squirrels this year! The two playing squirrels seem to vanish. I see another over 100 yards away. I pick a spot and wait, and wait, and call and call. I finally hear leaves rustling behind me, and I can tell something's rather close. (but let's face it, I know it's a squirrel) I can tell it's well within gun range. I slowly turn around and I see a fox squirrel on the ground. I unsling my gun, and I think it sees me. It jumps up onto a tree, then runs up the tree. I brace against a tree, and for a moment, I get the squirrel in the crosshairs....but it moves up the tree. Then finally it runs into a nest. I wait 20 minutes and it never comes out.
So all you get today is a picture of the nest. (and this is a bit zoomed in)
IMG_20231222_130105 by John Doe, on Flickr
Back in the woods yesterday to a public 'wildlife area' near my home. I figure since it's early January, it's probably been hunted quite a bit already. I haven't been in this section this year, and maybe only once or twice last year.
Leaves we relatively silent when trying to walk. But the place is not an overly dense woods and not whole lot of ground brush, so I'm rather exposed and pretty much in full view when I move/walk. I didn't have high hopes for this place, but I figure I'll give it a chance this year. This section of woods is only about 150 yards wide by 300 yards long. I've got the 17hmr, as I felt I would be longer distance shooting today.
I make my way about 50 yards in before I stop and wait. I finally hear a squirrel barking, but it's a long way off...I estimate maybe 80 yards away. Do I try calling, or do I try getting closer? I chose to get closer. At least I can move silently...but not invisibly. It takes a while to move closer, and all the time the squirrel is constantly chattering. But I can't spot it. The chatter finally stops and I wonder if I'm busted. I finally see two fox squirrels chasing each other, but I'm still over 50 yards away. It's good that they're busy playing and not looking out for me. But as I get even closer, I see a THIRD fox squirrel in the tree. THREE! This is a very big/tall tree. The 'third' squirrel grabs a spot on a branch to sit, while the other two sporadically play. I don't know if the third squirrel is sitting so it can keep an eye on me, but I'm in his field of vision. I move from tree to tree, as I know I must have a tree next to me to brace and steady myself when I'm ready to shoot. The third squirrel moves from it's spot and I'm thinking I'm busted. Strangely, the two that play often disappear then come back into view, so my best bet is the (mostly) stationary third one. All three are at the top of this very tall tree. With the elevation/angle factor, I'm probably pushing a 50 yard shot. At that distance, whether I take a shot or not will mostly depend on how good my bracing against the tree will be. The third squirrel sits, I think it's time, unsling the gun, brace against the tree. I think the amount of wavering I'm experiencing is 'acceptable' but not optimal. I fire and....MISS. It runs off, I'm busted. But I wait, and within 5 minutes the two playing squirrels start playing again. They're either too busy running, or not in view long enough to take a shot. I wait and wait. But finally, one stops moving, but all I can see is it's head. Literally nothing else. I brace against the tree (but now I'm spooked because of my miss), it seems ok. I'm basically leaning against a tree offhand, trying to hit a quarter at 50 yards. Wobbling seems minimal and I fire. The squirrel doesn't run, doesn't jump, doesn't hang on...rather, it drops like a rock. I waited a few minutes to see if the other squirrel would show, but nothing.
You can see in the pic, just below the eye, the dark dot that is the entrance point. It may seem low, but considering the upward angle I was shooting, it was appropriate. The other side of the head confirmed this...not pretty. You can see a 17hmr round on the shoulder to give it scale. The fox squirrels locally seem so big this year.
IMG_20240103_122542 by John Doe, on Flickr
Leaves we relatively silent when trying to walk. But the place is not an overly dense woods and not whole lot of ground brush, so I'm rather exposed and pretty much in full view when I move/walk. I didn't have high hopes for this place, but I figure I'll give it a chance this year. This section of woods is only about 150 yards wide by 300 yards long. I've got the 17hmr, as I felt I would be longer distance shooting today.
I make my way about 50 yards in before I stop and wait. I finally hear a squirrel barking, but it's a long way off...I estimate maybe 80 yards away. Do I try calling, or do I try getting closer? I chose to get closer. At least I can move silently...but not invisibly. It takes a while to move closer, and all the time the squirrel is constantly chattering. But I can't spot it. The chatter finally stops and I wonder if I'm busted. I finally see two fox squirrels chasing each other, but I'm still over 50 yards away. It's good that they're busy playing and not looking out for me. But as I get even closer, I see a THIRD fox squirrel in the tree. THREE! This is a very big/tall tree. The 'third' squirrel grabs a spot on a branch to sit, while the other two sporadically play. I don't know if the third squirrel is sitting so it can keep an eye on me, but I'm in his field of vision. I move from tree to tree, as I know I must have a tree next to me to brace and steady myself when I'm ready to shoot. The third squirrel moves from it's spot and I'm thinking I'm busted. Strangely, the two that play often disappear then come back into view, so my best bet is the (mostly) stationary third one. All three are at the top of this very tall tree. With the elevation/angle factor, I'm probably pushing a 50 yard shot. At that distance, whether I take a shot or not will mostly depend on how good my bracing against the tree will be. The third squirrel sits, I think it's time, unsling the gun, brace against the tree. I think the amount of wavering I'm experiencing is 'acceptable' but not optimal. I fire and....MISS. It runs off, I'm busted. But I wait, and within 5 minutes the two playing squirrels start playing again. They're either too busy running, or not in view long enough to take a shot. I wait and wait. But finally, one stops moving, but all I can see is it's head. Literally nothing else. I brace against the tree (but now I'm spooked because of my miss), it seems ok. I'm basically leaning against a tree offhand, trying to hit a quarter at 50 yards. Wobbling seems minimal and I fire. The squirrel doesn't run, doesn't jump, doesn't hang on...rather, it drops like a rock. I waited a few minutes to see if the other squirrel would show, but nothing.
You can see in the pic, just below the eye, the dark dot that is the entrance point. It may seem low, but considering the upward angle I was shooting, it was appropriate. The other side of the head confirmed this...not pretty. You can see a 17hmr round on the shoulder to give it scale. The fox squirrels locally seem so big this year.
IMG_20240103_122542 by John Doe, on Flickr
Last edited:
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
Where ya located (generally)? Heck of a rifle, and heck of nice buck!
Southwest Montana
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
Last night I called in 3 got one.
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
Texas heart shot?
Headshot
another thermal kill reel
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