Yes you will buddy. I'm beginning to think my barometer of my backyard squirrel activity being an indicator I should be in the woods is inaccurate. At least in the places I hunt.
-
Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight.
We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.
Use this link to sign up please; https://membership.nra.org/recruiters/join/XR045103
2024/2025 Squirrel Hunting Thread...........
- Thread starter ETipp
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
After looking out my back window yesterday morning, I was surprised to see several of my squirrel meters not only out, but running up in the trees. It was only 30 degrees, so that shocked me. They usually just sit on a limb next to their dens that early and under those temperatures.
Did some chores, got everything together, loaded my squirrel rifle, and drove over to one of my happy hunting grounds. By the time I got in the thicket it was 11:30. By 11:36 I walked up on several squirrels that were on the ground digging and doing their squirrel thing. I said to myself “ole boy, you’re going to have a good squirrel hunt today”. This was on the property line and all the squirrels were between me and a house that was fairly close. One squirrel was within 15 to 18 yards from me but I dared not shoot at it.
Maneuvered my way uphill and around to where I finally found one that I could safely shoot at. Got a rest from a small tree and fired. Rolled the squirrel, leaves flew and it ran kind of whacky straight towards me. It went under a small tree that was down but was about 10 inches off the ground. The squirrel flopped a couple of times then stopped. Great, I already had one squirrel, so I slowly reloaded as I kept looking at a couple other nearby squirrels. Suddenly, my squirrel ran out from under that log and up a nearby tree. Then the others scattered. WTH? There was a dang deer that bolted off about 35 yards away through that thicket. End of hunt in that spot.
Truth be known, I probably should not have shot that squirrel due to how close it was to that house even though it was a safe shot and legal. So, I didn’t mind moving along. My guess is, by looking at how well that little bugger ran up that tree, it survived.
Eased up the gradual incline until I got out of that thicket and into open big woods. Due to my somewhat recent knee replacement, I had to sit a lot. Not my style of squirrel hunting but it was sunny and getting warm so I made the best of it.
I gradually made my way up high but not only was my knee and leg killing me, my entire body began to hurt badly. Even though I saw several more squirrels, I simply could not physically get to them due to steep terrain. It became obvious that my body had gotten weak during the 9 weeks I’ve been lying around recovering from knee replacement surgery.
Usually, I would have been ticked off having to leave a spot like that, under such great weather conditions, and with squirrels out and about. But I fully realized I needed to get out of there, so I headed out. Honestly speaking, I had a difficult time making it back to my truck. To the degree I was tripping over small objects. The last thing I need to do is trip and fall at this stage. I was totally exhausted by the time I arrived home.
So, my first squirrel hunt of 2024 wasn’t the greatest but at least I was able to get away from being under house arrest and get to the woods. And for the first time ever, the way I felt when I got home, I was glad I had no squirrels to clean. I did have to clean Mr. Crockett and that was bad enough.
Iced that dang swollen leg and knee, and bedded down for the night.
So far this morning, it’s rough but I’m surprised things are not worse. So, with a little GOOD luck I might be able to get back out tomorrow. Only 9 days remaining until season closes.
Did some chores, got everything together, loaded my squirrel rifle, and drove over to one of my happy hunting grounds. By the time I got in the thicket it was 11:30. By 11:36 I walked up on several squirrels that were on the ground digging and doing their squirrel thing. I said to myself “ole boy, you’re going to have a good squirrel hunt today”. This was on the property line and all the squirrels were between me and a house that was fairly close. One squirrel was within 15 to 18 yards from me but I dared not shoot at it.
Maneuvered my way uphill and around to where I finally found one that I could safely shoot at. Got a rest from a small tree and fired. Rolled the squirrel, leaves flew and it ran kind of whacky straight towards me. It went under a small tree that was down but was about 10 inches off the ground. The squirrel flopped a couple of times then stopped. Great, I already had one squirrel, so I slowly reloaded as I kept looking at a couple other nearby squirrels. Suddenly, my squirrel ran out from under that log and up a nearby tree. Then the others scattered. WTH? There was a dang deer that bolted off about 35 yards away through that thicket. End of hunt in that spot.
Truth be known, I probably should not have shot that squirrel due to how close it was to that house even though it was a safe shot and legal. So, I didn’t mind moving along. My guess is, by looking at how well that little bugger ran up that tree, it survived.
Eased up the gradual incline until I got out of that thicket and into open big woods. Due to my somewhat recent knee replacement, I had to sit a lot. Not my style of squirrel hunting but it was sunny and getting warm so I made the best of it.
I gradually made my way up high but not only was my knee and leg killing me, my entire body began to hurt badly. Even though I saw several more squirrels, I simply could not physically get to them due to steep terrain. It became obvious that my body had gotten weak during the 9 weeks I’ve been lying around recovering from knee replacement surgery.
Usually, I would have been ticked off having to leave a spot like that, under such great weather conditions, and with squirrels out and about. But I fully realized I needed to get out of there, so I headed out. Honestly speaking, I had a difficult time making it back to my truck. To the degree I was tripping over small objects. The last thing I need to do is trip and fall at this stage. I was totally exhausted by the time I arrived home.
So, my first squirrel hunt of 2024 wasn’t the greatest but at least I was able to get away from being under house arrest and get to the woods. And for the first time ever, the way I felt when I got home, I was glad I had no squirrels to clean. I did have to clean Mr. Crockett and that was bad enough.
Iced that dang swollen leg and knee, and bedded down for the night.
So far this morning, it’s rough but I’m surprised things are not worse. So, with a little GOOD luck I might be able to get back out tomorrow. Only 9 days remaining until season closes.
Last edited:
You are one tough bugger Ed. I admire your tenacity!!!
Sometimes I wonder if it’s tenacity or insanity, and so does my wife.
Just remember the old saying Ed, you don't stop hunting when you get old, you get old when you stop hunting. Glad to read you got out, sorry to read it was physically challenging. Sometimes just being out is good for me, even if I don't kill anything.Sometimes I wonder if it’s tenacity or insanity, and so does my wife.
Might be a fine line there sometimes.lolSometimes I wonder if it’s tenacity or insanity, and so does my wife.
Ya know, I’d like to think so but according to the war department, she contends there’s nothing fine about it.
Women have no sense of humor.
I did have an interesting thing happen yesterday while up in the woods.
True story.
The sun was nice and bright and I was sitting against a tree looking downhill. It is open in that part of the woods so I could see a couple hundred yards. As I was sitting there, I could see a few smaller shadows moving around and I knew it was buzzards circling high above. Then the shadows kept getting larger and larger. There were several of them and as they got lower, their shadows became larger. It got to the point of, I was sure it would spook any squirrels in the area.
After a few more minutes, a couple of shadows became real big, so I looked up and the dang things were at treetop level circling me. I was dressed in tree bark camouflage so I started swinging my arms and they still didn’t leave. Finally I stood up and they flew off.
There’s no doubt they were circling me. My guess is they might have thought I was a wounded or dying animal of some sort.
As I stood up I remember saying “ I ain’t quite to that point yet”.
Never had that happen before.
True story.
The sun was nice and bright and I was sitting against a tree looking downhill. It is open in that part of the woods so I could see a couple hundred yards. As I was sitting there, I could see a few smaller shadows moving around and I knew it was buzzards circling high above. Then the shadows kept getting larger and larger. There were several of them and as they got lower, their shadows became larger. It got to the point of, I was sure it would spook any squirrels in the area.
After a few more minutes, a couple of shadows became real big, so I looked up and the dang things were at treetop level circling me. I was dressed in tree bark camouflage so I started swinging my arms and they still didn’t leave. Finally I stood up and they flew off.
There’s no doubt they were circling me. My guess is they might have thought I was a wounded or dying animal of some sort.
As I stood up I remember saying “ I ain’t quite to that point yet”.
Never had that happen before.
Last edited:
Crockett Rifle is loaded and ready to Go. Tomorrow is supposed to be real nice, some where around 50 degrees + or - and get into mid 70s.
I'll be heading out pre dawn hours, get settled in. And hopefully get me a Squirrel!!!! March 3rd is last day, and supposed time be rainy Saturday and Sunday next week. It's gotta happen this weekend.
I will report back tomorrow evening, maybe a good post.
To All Take Care Stay Safe.
Fred
I'll be heading out pre dawn hours, get settled in. And hopefully get me a Squirrel!!!! March 3rd is last day, and supposed time be rainy Saturday and Sunday next week. It's gotta happen this weekend.
I will report back tomorrow evening, maybe a good post.
To All Take Care Stay Safe.
Fred
Good luck to you buddy and enjoy the day. Looks like I may be shut down untill September when the season re-opens. Ours closes the 29th, and extended forecast is calling for rain. Shoot straight and be safe Fred.
Have fun Fred! I’m going tomorrow about an hour away to try a new spot.
Good luck to you fellas.
Repeat, repeat, and repeat.
Guys same report, beautiful day, saw total of 3 squirrels.
1 hauling butt, in very tops of the trees, 1 creeping very slow up a tree back to me, but about 50 plus yards. 1 popped up out of now where. About 15+ yards out, couple feet up off the ground staring at me, soon as I seen him he took off.
Went up a tree knot hole, never to been seen again.
I didn't start seeing any until after 9:30.
I will try later today. Maybe around 10:00
I'll keep y'all posted one way or the other.
Take Care Stay Safe
Fred
Guys same report, beautiful day, saw total of 3 squirrels.
1 hauling butt, in very tops of the trees, 1 creeping very slow up a tree back to me, but about 50 plus yards. 1 popped up out of now where. About 15+ yards out, couple feet up off the ground staring at me, soon as I seen him he took off.
Went up a tree knot hole, never to been seen again.
I didn't start seeing any until after 9:30.
I will try later today. Maybe around 10:00
I'll keep y'all posted one way or the other.
Take Care Stay Safe
Fred
Good luck Fred. I saw two and missed one. Season ends Thursday. I’m going to go tomorrow morning for the last time this year. 
Good luck Jim. Monday and Tuesday look like the best 2 days this week in my part of PA. I'm hoping to get out Tuesday. Thursday is a maybe. I'll have to keep busy with Turkey season and fishing until September/October.Good luck Fred. I saw two and missed one. Season ends Thursday. I’m going to go tomorrow morning for the last time this year.
Glad it was a good day in the woods for you Fred. I'm beginning to think I may have to use my squirrel recipes on chicken
. Regardless, it's always a pleasure to get out to hunt. Even if I just sit on the tailgate and drink coffee. My poor KBar small game knife probably thinks I forgot about it.Thanks, Jim.Good luck Fred. I saw two and missed one. Season ends Thursday. I’m going to go tomorrow morning for the last time this year.
I'll keep trying til end of season.
The FWC is voting on year round for squirrels here in Florida. Should know by May or June. Not saying I'll go hunting squirrels when it's 95+ and 100 percent humidity..
Good luck tomorrow.
Take Care Stay Safe.
Yes Tom is was a good day.Glad it was a good day in the woods for you Fred. I'm beginning to think I may have to use my squirrel recipes on chicken
I'll have to do the same with recipe..
Yard Bird should tastegood cooked with that recipe.
Later Buddy
longcruise
70 Cal.
Another plan foiled by weather! 
Wind 35 mph +. I guess I come across as a namby pamby with the weather but it's too long a drive to be miserable! I can hunt any day of the week but I'm trying to get out with the grandson. Thursday the 29th is the last day. Going to aim for Tuesday and go alone.
Wind 35 mph +. I guess I come across as a namby pamby with the weather but it's too long a drive to be miserable! I can hunt any day of the week but I'm trying to get out with the grandson. Thursday the 29th is the last day. Going to aim for Tuesday and go alone.- Joined
- Nov 12, 2018
- Messages
- 278
- Reaction score
- 953
Similar threads
