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

[emery]

Got my first two squirrels of the season today with my 25 caliber flintlock. Lots of leaves still on the trees. Hard to get a clear shot.

 

[longcruise]

Congrats on the kill but what the heck kind of squirrels do you all have in ND? Looks like half fox squirrel and half gray squirrel………It’s a Fray Squirrel by golly! Whoda thunk it?

When I lived in Wisconsin for a few years I had access to some great squirrel hunting. There were grays and Fox squirrels in the same territory. We occasionally killed obvious mixed heritage squirrels. They were always big and the colors were mixed on the bodies. All the squirrels in that area were the biggest I've ever seen.

I'm still hoping for the best in the long run.

It seems like it's going well for you. I'm thinking that you are going to end up with renewed vision.

Been a while, but #20

 

[snakebit]

Got my first two squirrels of the season today with my 25 caliber flintlock. Lots of leaves still on the trees. Hard to get a clear shot.

Wow. 25 caliber! That ol girls gotta be zippy! Very nice.

 

[snakebit]

When I lived in Wisconsin for a few years I had access to some great squirrel hunting. There were grays and Fox squirrels in the same territory. We occasionally killed obvious mixed heritage squirrels. They were always big and the colors were mixed on the bodies. All the squirrels in that area were the biggest I've ever seen.

It seems like it's going well for you. I'm thinking that you are going to end up with renewed vision.

Been a while, but #20

View attachment 353201

Think you've caught the whole tribe Cruiser? Or is the Intel finally out there to avoid your place at all cost?

 

[longcruise]

There's one more of the hard to catch young ones.

Efforts have paid off. I have more pears than ever. Last year I got a total of 5 pears.

 

[Jim K]

Got my first two squirrels of the season today with my 25 caliber flintlock. Lots of leaves still on the trees. Hard to get a clear shot.

That’s cool. Way to go with a .25 caliber! What powder charge do you use?

 

[Jim K]

Yesterday finally had some nice weather. I was gone for the day. Got home around 8 last night. I got one for two shots in the morning. Then moved several hundred yards to a spot I had marked with a purple x on Onx one time for the afternoon hunt. My note on the purple x said “ try this spot”. I don’t remember why I marked it as there aren’t that many hickories there. It’s a little thicker than I like too. But if Ed can hunt the thick stuff so can I.

In I went. Squirrels were chattering so I sat up and wound up getting five shots in there and killing two.

I’m going back out there tomorrow. I believe I might hunt some more in the thicker stuff.

So this morning I went on another lengthy trip to a spot I tried last year at the end of the season. I was told there are fox squirrels there. I had the Crockett with me this morning.

This place is a state game lands and is loaded with oaks and hickory’s. Unfortunately, not too many squirrels. I don’t know why. I got one shot and missed.

I heard a fox squirrel barking behind me. They’re definitely different calls and I knew it was a fox when I heard it. Of course it was behind me. I got turned around and did get to see it which made my day.

I no longer wish to shoot a fox squirrel. I’ve shot enough of them over the years. I’d rather eat grays. But I love to see them. They sure are a pretty squirrel.

Anyhow, I’m loaded up and heading to my honey hole in the morning with the Crockett again. If I don’t get any taxidermy calls, I’ll stay all day again.

 

[Duk]

Got my first two squirrels of the season today with my 25 caliber flintlock. Lots of leaves still on the trees. Hard to get a clear shot.

Congratulations on the first two of the year

 

[Duk]

We've been getting down into the low 50's overnight. I thought about deer hunting until late morning, switching out weapons and hunting squirrel after. Just don't want someone to accidentally break out my window and my bow or rifle run off on me

Yeah it been in the low 40's here. I don't blame you I wouldn't leave my stuff in a vehicle either.

 

[Duk]

Update:

Today was report card day for ETipp and my right eye. Tested first with that weird mirror on the wall chart thing that's changeable. Last week at this time I was at 20/40. Today I'm at 20/25 for distant vision. So, it is coming along.

Next I was checked with the handheld printed chart. Under the usual poor light conditions in those rooms, I tested out to 20/30 at about 2 feet away. Lucky for me, I had brought my small LED flashlight with me. I asked for a retest, which was granted. After reaching into my back pocket and pulling out my light, I shined it on the chart, I tested out to 20/20 near vision. So, as of now, poor light conditions and/or in-room lighting definitely has a negative effect on my vision.

Next, the surgeon came in the room and looked into my eye with one of those goofy looking things. He said everything looks good. Surgery on left eye is still on for this coming Thursday.

This was a huge relief for this ole boy. Yesterday, I had to drive myself over there to do pre-surgery paperwork. For whatever reason, I couldn't see squat. It was a real chore driving home and they had hinted that perhaps left eye surgery would be delayed. It was extremely difficult to drive home. In fact, it was so bad that I made a couple of wrong turns. It was all I could do to see anything at all. This was in both eyes so I knew it had to have been dry eyes, most likely due to lack of sleep.

As it is now, I am down to 5 days remaining to wait. I am certain that if the left eye turns out anything like the right eye, I'll be seeing well by Friday, one week from today. Its pure hell not being able to wear badly needed glasses on the left eye with right eye vision still not up to par. I do not know what my I test out to in my right eye without glasses but its bad, really bad. The two eyes and the brain are fighting each other big time. An eyepatch doesn't work and neither does removing one lens from my glasses work. Makes no sense but it is what it is. I hope I don't have to drive any more until after next Friday. The normal wait between both eyes getting done is one full mouth for this guy. I was able to sweet-talk the gals in the office to get mine changed to 2 weeks. I'd probably wind up in trouble if I had to wait for one full month.

I'm still hoping for the best in the long run.

Glad your doing good brother in a couple weeks you'll be in the squirrel woods again.

 

[ETipp]

They call them fox squirrels and their big like a fox squirrel but in the riverbottoms where i hunt they have a lot of gray fur. We do have grays here but not many and mostly in the eastern part of the state. I don't know if they interbreed, "maybe ". Whitetails and mule deer do on occasion.

That's interesting. Now this is only my personal belief as I have not found anything to confirm it, but its to my belief that they very well might interbreed. I killed one very large gray squirrel last year that was noticeably bigger than any gray squirrel I have ever killed. It had a lot of fox squirrel color on it. I have seen a couple of fox squirrels less than 1/2 mile away from there.

 

[ETipp]

Walk in the woods and sit for a while

That old tried and proven tactic can often be the most enjoyable for sure, especially of one locates a spot near some very active nut crop trees.

Thank you for your input.

 

[ETipp]

Got my first two squirrels of the season today with my 25 caliber flintlock. Lots of leaves still on the trees. Hard to get a clear shot.

Well done, and with a .25 caliber, too. Now that is interesting.

Well done, emery.

 

[ETipp]

Glad your doing good brother in a couple weeks you'll be in the squirrel woods again.

I sincerely hope so. This ole boy is about to go stir crazy.

 

[ETipp]

Yesterday finally had some nice weather. I was gone for the day. Got home around 8 last night. I got one for two shots in the morning. Then moved several hundred yards to a spot I had marked with a purple x on Onx one time for the afternoon hunt. My note on the purple x said “ try this spot”. I don’t remember why I marked it as there aren’t that many hickories there. It’s a little thicker than I like too. But if Ed can hunt the thick stuff so can I.

In I went. Squirrels were chattering so I sat up and wound up getting five shots in there and killing two.

I’m going back out there tomorrow. I believe I might hunt some more in the thicker stuff.

So this morning I went on another lengthy trip to a spot I tried last year at the end of the season. I was told there are fox squirrels there. I had the Crockett with me this morning.

This place is a state game lands and is loaded with oaks and hickory’s. Unfortunately, not too many squirrels. I don’t know why. I got one shot and missed.

I heard a fox squirrel barking behind me. They’re definitely different calls and I knew it was a fox when I heard it. Of course it was behind me. I got turned around and did get to see it which made my day.

I no longer wish to shoot a fox squirrel. I’ve shot enough of them over the years. I’d rather eat grays. But I love to see them. They sure are a pretty squirrel.

Anyhow, I’m loaded up and heading to my honey hole in the morning with the Crockett again. If I don’t get any taxidermy calls, I’ll stay all day again.

Nice write up, Jim. Best of luck on the hunt with the Crockett in that thicker stuff. Gets my "want bumps" to itching just thinking about it.

 

[ETipp]

When I lived in Wisconsin for a few years I had access to some great squirrel hunting. There were grays and Fox squirrels in the same territory. We occasionally killed obvious mixed heritage squirrels. They were always big and the colors were mixed on the bodies. All the squirrels in that area were the biggest I've ever seen.

It seems like it's going well for you. I'm thinking that you are going to end up with renewed vision.

Been a while, but #20

View attachment 353201

Number 20, well done.

You sir, are the squirrel trapper master. Ole Trapper Master Cruiser. Kind of a "catchy" name, eh?

 

[ETipp]

Uh, oh. Read on the bottle of the Permethrin my wife picked up for me. It states it is made from Petroleum Distillates. For squirrel hunting I don't care. However, my camo will be used for bowhunting as well. I refuse to apply anything on my camo that a deer can smell. Its hard enough to outsmart those noses as it is.

EDIT: After some research I have found that it is not advisable to use petroleum based Permethrin on hunting clothes. Looks like I'll be trying to find some nonpetroleum based Permethrin somewhere local. I had planned on returning the petroleum based Permethrin I have now but after some consideration, I think I'll keep it and use it to spray down my work boots, work pants, etc that I often ware when I cut firewood and/or work out in the woods with. That would make sense and be the cheapest option.

Even though I have a life-long medical condition due to RMSTF years ago, I do not fear ticks in general. They are a common part of living here. However, with the somewhat recent Alpha Gal illness from the Lone Star Tick has me concerned. That one is the only one I fear. So its time I begin to protect myself year round, not just while hunting.

FWIW, a friend of mine, which is actually my former healthcare provider, recently came down with the Alpha Gal illness. She picked up a tick from one of her horses. Besides becoming quite ill, she can no longer eat any red meat of any kind. That is my biggest fear.

 

[Duk]

Uh, oh. Read on the bottle of the Permethrin my wife picked up for me. It states it is made from Petroleum Distillates. For squirrel hunting I don't care. However, my camo will be used for bowhunting as well. I refuse to apply anything on my camo that a deer can smell. Its hard enough to outsmart those noses as it is.

EDIT: After some research I have found that it is not advisable to use petroleum based Permethrin on hunting clothes. Looks like I'll be trying to find some nonpetroleum based Permethrin somewhere local. I had planned on returning the petroleum based Permethrin I have now but after some consideration, I think I'll keep it and use it to spray down my work boots, work pants, etc that I often ware when I cut firewood and/or work out in the woods with. That would make sense and be the cheapest option.

Even though I have a life-long medical condition due to RMSTF years ago, I do not fear ticks in general. They are a common part of living here. However, with the somewhat recent Alpha Gal illness from the Lone Star Tick has me concerned. That one is the only one I fear. So its time I begin to protect myself year round, not just while hunting.

FWIW, a friend of mine, which is actually my former healthcare provider, recently came down with the Alpha Gal illness. She picked up a tick from one of her horses. Besides becoming quite ill, she can no longer eat any red meat of any kind. That is my biggest fear.

That's one good thing about living up north, in July when it starts to get hot and dry the ticks go away. And between hot, dry and the the wind we get these days the mosquitos haven't been a problem this year.

 

[ETipp]

That's one good thing about living up north, in July when it starts to get hot and dry the ticks go away. And between hot, dry and the the wind we get these days the mosquitos haven't been a problem this year.

Lots of good things to living and hunting in the north. I miss it a lot. Every region has its strong points for sure.

 

[BoomStick]

I've always been careful about ticks, but will be even more so as I had Lyme's and just completed treatment that I hope has cured me of it. If you're not taking precautions you should, and if you are still be careful. I never saw a tick attached and often the bite doesn't leave any marks or the red rings that warn of a possible infection.

Went to the woods yesterday afternoon. I'm not too far from Jim K and the temp was near 80 and the woods was very green and hard to see through the leaves of the canopy and on the ground. Missed a couple, one of them threw a sapling to block the shot. But good to walk and sit -as that's the tactic I think works well.