Guys, I went back out chasing gray squirrels this morning. I came home empty handed. However, I was able to establish this. Squirrels are there but..........
As I have have suspected, there has been a shift in the dynamics in this neck of the woods, on several fronts. As I have previously stated, squirrels have dispersed more. I have not seen more than 2 squirrels in one tree for about 2 weeks now. And whenever two or more get close to each other, the fight is on. In other words, the food source is reduced to what it was a few weeks ago. What I have observed is there are still squirrels out and about, but the ones I have been observing are scattered and they remain in one tree for shorter periods of time. In short, they are most definitely on the go more. This makes it much more difficult to get a shot. I have chased a many of squirrel in the last week or so where as soon as they get up into the top of a tree and start cutting, and I work my way over to them, they head out somewhere else. Definitely on the go.
Also, I have found they are cutting on beech mash now, along with what hickory nuts remain on the trees. So, as the Bob Dylan sang goes, "Times are a changen".
It won't be too much longer until the leaves begin to fall. Many trees are already getting a little thin, mostly due to dry conditions. In about 3 more weeks I predict squirrels will be on the ground much of the time in search of storing up on nuts for the winter. As of now, IMO, they are still just trying to get a meal and fattening up for winter, but they are definitely working harder for it.
With that said, and considering the above, I plan on taking a little time off from chasing squirrels and focus on getting a couple of deer for the freezer with my crossbow, which is most important. If/when I accomplish that, then its back after gray squirrels with my Crockett squirrel rifle. I look forward to when I have to just about throw rocks at them to get them out of the way, like they do while I'm deer hunting.