2024/2025 Squirrel Hunting Thread...........

[yellowhammer]

Spare some for Virginia, please!

Left hand half-stock smoothbore? Very cool. Post some pics and details , weight, etc, for us!

 

[longcruise]

Wondering how our squirrel hunters in Helene's path are faring??

 

[Duk]

Wondering how our squirrel hunters in Helene's path are faring??

I was thinking the same thing. I hope they are all doing good and getting time in the squirrel woods.

 

[snakebit]

Wondering how our squirrel hunters in Helene's path are faring??

Good friend of ours on here, Fred (Gum Slough Muzzleloader), told me the DNR is/has closed a lot of the public hunting areas. I'm hoping round 2 for those folks isn't as bad. I kinda feel like a schmuck, I'm complaining about several days of rain, while folks down there are having their homes flooded. Excuse my poor behavior.

 

[Lead Mosquito]

Left hand half-stock smoothbore? Very cool. Post some pics and details , weight, etc, for us!

Sure thing! It’s my first fowler (it ain’t easy finding left-handed anything). Bought it used off Track of the Wolf. 12 gauge with an integral modified choke. Walnut stock. 6.6 lbs. Been experimenting with loads based on all the forum suggestions. Good results so far with 2F, Corn Meal, #6 shot, over shot card, but open to any and all suggestions. Good hunting!

 

[snakebit]

Looks from the photo, it works pretty good.

 

[yellowhammer]

Sure thing! It’s my first fowler (it ain’t easy finding left-handed anything). Bought it used off Track of the Wolf. 12 gauge with an integral modified choke. Walnut stock. 6.6 lbs. Been experimenting with loads based on all the forum suggestions. Good results so far with 2F, Corn Meal, #6 shot, over shot card, but open to any and all suggestions. Good hunting!

Thanks Lead Mosquito. Very cool weapon. Light, versatile, all business. My next will be a smoothbore.

 

[pete in Wboro]

Sounds like a good day. I'm with you on the eyesight. I've had to either pot fiber optic sights, or paint my irons. I still have just as much fun missing them though. Ever quits raining here, I'd like to get out some more before deer season opens up.

My man Snakebit;
I know all about eye problems. I am 81 and have glaucoma. I have a
n implant in my left eye and 3 stents. This eys has had a total of

Sounds like a good day. I'm with you on the eyesight. I've had to either pot fiber optic sights, or paint my irons. I still have just as much fun missing them though. Ever quits raining here, I'd like to get out some more before deer season opens up.

Mr. Snakebit,
I too have eye problems. I am 81 and have glaucoma. My left eye has an implant and 3 stents, a total of 5 surgeries. It is my good eye. My right eye has 1 implant, 1 stent, 2 surgeries, it is my shooting eye. I can't shoot left-handed because my pacemaker is in the pocket of my left shoulder. I can't line up the sights and a target with my right eye. It is impossible. I had my gunsmith tap the barrel of a .50 cal. Traditions flinter and a .36 cal. Dixie Flinter to install red dot sights. Please don't shout "Stone him. Stone the infidel". I didn't like to do this. I have many modern firearms but no longer want to use them. These 2 rifles and my .62 cal. TVM flint smoothbore will take me too the end.

As we age, we face the most difficult time of our lives. Most solutions aren't pleasant, but they are solutions. Perhaps there is another forum member who is willing to try this solution as opposed to quit shooting. These red dots really work.
Best regards,
Pete

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Good friend of ours on here, Fred (Gum Slough Muzzleloader), told me the DNR is/has closed a lot of the public hunting areas. I'm hoping round 2 for those folks isn't as bad. I kinda feel like a schmuck, I'm complaining about several days of rain, while folks down there are having their homes flooded. Excuse my poor behavior.

Them folks who took a direct hit pretty much lost everything. From the Florida coast all the way to the Carolinas, need help and prayers.
As far as me a little clean up of Spanish Moss limbs and leaves, 12 hours with out power. No big deal at all.
Go to YouTube and type in Drone Footage of Cedar Key, Horseshoe Beack, and Keaton Beach.

I feel it's kinda like "Complaining about not having Shoes until you meet a Man with no Feet"
That's just me.

 

[snakebit]

My man Snakebit;
I know all about eye problems. I am 81 and have glaucoma. I have a
n implant in my left eye and 3 stents. This eys has had a total of

Mr. Snakebit,
I too have eye problems. I am 81 and have glaucoma. My left eye has an implant and 3 stents, a total of 5 surgeries. It is my good eye. My right eye has 1 implant, 1 stent, 2 surgeries, it is my shooting eye. I can't shoot left-handed because my pacemaker is in the pocket of my left shoulder. I can't line up the sights and a target with my right eye. It is impossible. I had my gunsmith tap the barrel of a .50 cal. Traditions flinter and a .36 cal. Dixie Flinter to install red dot sights. Please don't shout "Stone him. Stone the infidel". I didn't like to do this. I have many modern firearms but no longer want to use them. These 2 rifles and my .62 cal. TVM flint smoothbore will take me too the end.

As we age, we face the most difficult time of our lives. Most solutions aren't pleasant, but they are solutions. Perhaps there is another forum member who is willing to try this solution as opposed to quit shooting. These red dots really work.
Best regards,
Pete

No judgement here Pete. Rather, I say God bless you. I can only hope to be shooting at 81. Whatever you need to do to keep in the game. Scopes, red dots, lazers, whatever, just keep going. The only person you have to please is you Pete. Someone may read your post and be inspired to try a red dot and continue shooting again. Keep banging away buddy. Just make sure you post pictures of all them squirrels lined up on a log after one of your successful hunts.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

No judgement here Pete. Rather, I say God bless you. I can only hope to be shooting at 81. Whatever you need to do to keep in the game. Scopes, red dots, lazers, whatever, just keep going. The only person you have to please is you Pete. Someone may read your post and be inspired to try a red dot and continue shooting again. Keep banging away buddy. Just make sure you post pictures of all them squirrels lined up on a log after one of your successful hunts.

Well said.
My feelings also.

 

[10 spot]

It appears that right eye surgery went well yesterday. I could see fairly well when I got out of surgery. Not great but not bad. Couldn’t help myself so after I got home I took a peek with Mr. Crockett. I could see the front sight fairly well but the tang peep was a blur.

Had to be at the surgeons office first thing this morning. He checked me out and said everything is good and I’m right where I’m supposed to be at this point. Tested out to 20/40. He said things will slowly improve. Might take 2-3 weeks.

A few minutes ago I thought I’d give it another try so I shouldered Mr. Crockett. I’m pleased to report that both sights are clear even though I’m testing to 20/40, or did earlier this morning. Even though it’s cloudy out, I could clearly see the small pearl bead on my front sight. That’s never happened before. It had to be in sunlight in order for me to see that pearl bead.

Next I grabbed my GPR. Same kind of front sight with a different style peep. Both were basically clear with the peep being a tad fuzzy. It is completely doable, however.

I cannot explain how or why I can see those pearl white front beads now when before it had to be in the sunlight, even though I was testing out to 20/20 with corrected lenses. The only thing I can think of is it had to have been the cataract.

Also, due to not being able to wear glasses with this new lens installed, now lm finding that every time I look at my desktop screen or this cell, my vision in my left eye is obscured big time afterwards. Definitely cataract related. Left eye surgery in 2 weeks.

I hope this information helps anyone that may be experiencing the same issues. I will update as things progress.

Hello Mr ETipp

 

[10 spot]

Hello Mr ETipp

ETipp, you spoke of a pearl bead site
Did you paint the bead or is there a pearl bead front site out there?

 

[ETipp]

ETipp, you spoke of a pearl bead site
Did you paint the bead or is there a pearl bead front site out there?

Hello 10 spot. It is a pearl bead front sight from made by Marble Arms. It is a fine/smaller front sight/bead which I much prefer to use on squirrels. After purchasing and installing them on my Crockett Squirrel Rifle and my GPR, my vision took a turn for the worst, due to cataracts. Before, it had to be good light conditions in order for me to see the finer, top, pearl bead. Now, after at least my right eye has been repaired, I can see them even during cloudy conditions. I do use peep sights on all of both ML's.

I have tried painting front sights white for years. Still have the original front sight on my New Englander painted white. It just maybe helped a little, marginally at best.

I ordered mine from Midwest Gun Works for $12.95 each.

https://www.midwestgunworks.com/marble-arms.html?page=2

 

[ETipp]

Wondering how our squirrel hunters in Helene's path are faring??

Not sure but in terms of squirrels, since last week I've been hearing a few strange, newer sounding squirrels here in KY. For some reason, they have a real, long, southern Georgia, NC or SC like drawl to their voices. Can't seem to figure it out. Its a real head-scratcher for sure.

In terms of people, many of the east of here have had a bad way to go. It was like that 2-3 years ago in east KY. I wanted to take my small boat over to help but read that they would not allow it. Only EMS personnel could do that.

 

[Tn poor boy]

Wondering how our squirrel hunters in Helene's path are faring??

It has been dad east of Knoxville tn where I live lot folks have got killed. I was thinking if some of our black powder folks have shots make money up send this people would be nice a lot of homes lost. I worked in this area lot of them have nothing.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

No judgement here Pete. Rather, I say God bless you. I can only hope to be shooting at 81. Whatever you need to do to keep in the game. Scopes, red dots, lazers, whatever, just keep going. The only person you have to please is you Pete. Someone may read your post and be inspired to try a red dot and continue shooting again. Keep banging away buddy. Just make sure you post pictures of all them squirrels lined up on a log after one of your successful hunts.

Hello I am 81 too, fairly fit and healthy but got 4 tumours under control with tablets , makes me lithargic and my toes hurt I always think outside the box , and see no reason why reproduction muzzle loaders should not have a red dot or scope as it make them more accurate . My friend has to put a pistol scope halfway down the barrel or he cannot see a thing , point is it’s your gun so do whatever makes you happy , or go hunting with a shotgun . I put a scope rail on one of my .5 ml 1885 Swiss rifles .
Just enjoy your life, you are lucky the police took away my working guns as I might shoot an intruder . All I have now are wall hangers, pcp airguns and bow and arrow , that’s life in this green and pleasant land across the pond

 

[10 spot]

Hello 10 spot. It is a pearl bead front sight from made by Marble Arms. It is a fine/smaller front sight/bead which I much prefer to use on squirrels. After purchasing and installing them on my Crockett Squirrel Rifle and my GPR, my vision took a turn for the worst, due to cataracts. Before, it had to be good light conditions in order for me to see the finer, top, pearl bead. Now, after at least my right eye has been repaired, I can see them even during cloudy conditions. I do use peep sights on all of both ML's.

I have tried painting front sights white for years. Still have the original front sight on my New Englander painted white. It just maybe helped a little, marginally at best.

I ordered mine from Midwest Gun Works for $12.95 each.

https://www.midwestgunworks.com/marble-arms.html?page=2

Hey, ETipp, thanks for the reply and site info, I seen those on the Midwest
Site, 3/8 dove tail, and as always a problem, my investarms 36cal front
Is a smaller dove.tail . I'll have to file
To a 3/8 in order to work, or may try
Some of Mama's white enamel nail
Polish, I found in bathroom cabinet
Could be risky messing with her stuff. I wanting to ask, what height
Did you get? Right now I'm hitting POI
As POA, at around 25/26 yrds. I too
Have bought a peep from TomA Hawk, my front site falling at bottom
Of peep, out of adj, downward thinking of a larger peep hole 1/8
And see if it centers my front site
In the peep better. If you have any
Solutions please send it my way.
Thank and have a great day. Tin spot.

 

[Griz 54]

Well said.
My feelings also.

Reading this made me want to say, I'm 80 and was having problems seeing my sights. Last winter I decided to try fiber optics. I'm back in the game. Not HC but they work.

 

[ETipp]

Hey, ETipp, thanks for the reply and site info, I seen those on the Midwest
Site, 3/8 dove tail, and as always a problem, my investarms 36cal front
Is a smaller dove.tail . I'll have to file
To a 3/8 in order to work, or may try
Some of Mama's white enamel nail
Polish, I found in bathroom cabinet
Could be risky messing with her stuff. I wanting to ask, what height
Did you get? Right now I'm hitting POI
As POA, at around 25/26 yrds. I too
Have bought a peep from TomA Hawk, my front site falling at bottom
Of peep, out of adj, downward thinking of a larger peep hole 1/8
And see if it centers my front site
In the peep better. If you have any
Solutions please send it my way.
Thank and have a great day. Tin spot.

10 spot, I'm shooting the .50 (1/2") tall sights. I had to do a fair amount of filing on the dovetails to get them to fit my Crockett and my GPR. Completely doable. This will give you the additional height needed for your peep.

FWIW, on my last order I got a little larger aperture on my last Tom Hawks peep. Its okay and helped me before due to bad vision. After my next eye surgery on 10-10, I'll revaluate that aperture. If all is well, I will most likely want to go back to a little smaller size again for squirrel hunting. Just have to wait and see..........literally.