Had in interesting visit a couple days ago. One of the upper PT guys came to release me from home PT after post knee replacement. After we went over all the important information, he noticed a squirrel book I had on the table, and said “ I see you like squirrels”, me too”. Come to find out, he was raised in east Kentucky and grew up squirrel hunting. He still hunts them today with squirrel dogs. Expense does not seem to be a factor, in terms of his squirrel dogs. He has several mountain cur’s.
Ya know, as interesting as it is, as soon as he sat down at the table and before he even mentioned squirrel hunting, to me he had the appearance of a southern Appalachian man with his tall stature, somewhat long face and short beard. Considering all of my family on both sides were from that region, I reckon it’s simply something that stands out in a person and makes it obvious.
We went over a lot of things about hunting in general but mostly focused on squirrel hunting and squirrels. After looking at my Crockett squirrel rifle he said he would like me to come along on some of their squirrel hunts with dogs and see me shoot a squirrel with it. He knows nothing about muzzleloaders.
If this happens, it will have to be next winter but at least I have finally found someone else that squirrel hunts. Up until now, I’m the only person I knew of that squirrel hunts in Kentucky.
This fella has family where he was born and raised in east Kentucky. Evidently, squirrel hunting is still fairly popular in that part of the state. I knew squirrel hunting is still somewhat common in the Appalachian region but I did not know of any particular location. He assured me that in that area, squirrel hunting is still alive and popular. So much so that his dad turned down $12,000 for one of his squirrel dogs.
He is a Christian man that has taken it upon himself to teach kids from his church how to bow hunt as well. He is a very successful bow hunter. My gosh, you ought to see some of the huge buck mounts on his wall, all taken with a bow. Several that scored 170” plus. He is not a bragger, rather a polite, down to earth, educated successful man.
So yeah, at least I have met a new friend that’s a squirrel hunter. He told me he will get back in contact with me soon because we have much to talk about.
I look forward to our next visit.