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

[ETipp]

Upon further thought and research, I believe Fred is correct. It is a beaver. With the nose area deteriorated and no lower jaw, it threw me off. But this suggests it is a beaver. What continues to puzzle me is it was found up in the mountains up high. The closest water that I know of is a couple of miles away at a minimum.

 

[Jim K]

Ed, as you know I’m a taxidermist. I mounted a beaver one time. I have a place I throw carcasses. No deer parts because of cwd but everything else. One day my neighbor showed me this beaver tail he found a good ways from where it was “deposited”. Some critter drug it down there. Lol

 

[snakebit]

Yep. Beaver. Probably one of Fred's demon squirrels drug it out in the middle of the woods, murdered it, devoured the carcase and left the skull there as a warning to others. Keep your head on a swivel Ed.

 

[Mike in FL]

My trick for that is I use just 1 big cube. Pour in enough amber liquid to make it float, sip and enjoy.

Flash back to a couple deer seasons ago, me and one of my brothers were at camp (my other 2 weren't going to make it until the weekend), sitting there one evening he says "damn Tom, we've drank 4 bottles of whiskey this week". My response was, "glad I brought 6 with me". It's always good food, good whiskey, and good times at deer camp. We even manage to load up the freezers most years.

Good friends, food., drink, camp, and hunting. Doesn't get much better.

 

[snakebit]

Good friends, food., drink, camp, and hunting. Doesn't get much better.

My favorite time of the year Mike! Before I retired, it was always my top pick for vacation weeks. We don't get to see each other often, so it's always a good time.

 

[longcruise]

What continues to puzzle me is it was found up in the mountains up high. The closest water that I know of is a couple of miles away at a minimum.

Some predators will make a kill and carry it off and eat it later. I jumped a sleeping coyote early one frosty morning. The yote jumped to it's feet ducked it's head down, picked up a dead rabbit and took off. The frosty ground showed the spot where the yote slept and the spot where the dead rabbit layed. Clear of the heavy frost.

 

[ETipp]

Some predators will make a kill and carry it off and eat it later. I jumped a sleeping coyote early one frosty morning. The yote jumped to it's feet ducked it's head down, picked up a dead rabbit and took off. The frosty ground showed the spot where the yote slept and the spot where the dead rabbit layed. Clear of the heavy frost.

Absolutely that can happen and that was the first thing I though of. The thing that puzzles me is it seems very unlikely anything is going to drag a beaver up a mountain. I did a google map search of the area and the river is definitely at least 1.5 miles if not more downhill from that location.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Absolutely that can happen and that was the first thing I though of. The thing that puzzles me is it seems very unlikely anything is going to drag a beaver up a mountain. I did a google map search of the area and the river is definitely at least 1.5 miles if not more downhill from that location.

BIG hawk or eagle.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Squirrels, skunks, and porcupines will find bone and antlers carry/drag them to a safe spot and gnaw on them.


Skulls and antlers.
Gives them a little extra minerals.
I've seen this happen while hunting and also outback of my house when I lived on the river. Wife put a bull skull out and the squirrels chewed the heck out of it.

 

[yellowhammer]

Local gun dealer told me on the phone he has a trade-in "small TC muzzleloader, he thinks .45, suitable for squirrels". Sounds like a Seneca or a Cherokee. Might look at that, whaddya think? .45 is only .045" larger radius than a .36

 

[ETipp]

Local gun dealer told me on the phone he has a trade-in "small TC muzzleloader, he thinks .45, suitable for squirrels". Sounds like a Seneca or a Cherokee. Might look at that, whaddya think? .45 is only .045" larger radius than a .36

A .45 would work. Might want to download it a little.

 

[yellowhammer]

I almost bought one of those Kibler "quick ships" .36 SMR in walnut that had a big knot in it, but somebody got it while I vacillated.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

A .45 would work. Might want to download it a little.

I agree with Ed.
I'm sure a .45 has put plenty a squirrel in the bellies of hungry folks back in the day.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

I almost bought one of those Kibler "quick ships" .36 SMR in walnut that had a big knot in it, but somebody got it while I vacillated.

Some of them quick ship SMRs had beautiful grained walnut. Knot or others wise they would have finished up nicely.
It would have been a good deal.

 

[Jim K]

Local gun dealer told me on the phone he has a trade-in "small TC muzzleloader, he thinks .45, suitable for squirrels". Sounds like a Seneca or a Cherokee. Might look at that, whaddya think? .45 is only .045" larger radius than a .36

If it’s legal for small game. Here in PA .40 is the largest we can use for small game.

 

[ETipp]

If it’s legal for small game. Here in PA .40 is the largest we can use for small game.

Good point, Jim K.

 

[ETipp]

Well fellas, now down to about 18 days remaining until spring squirrel season here. Now before you say it, Fred, no I am not counting. Definitely not counting.

 

[yellowhammer]

...18 days remaining until spring squirrel season here...

We don't have a spring season down here: [from LINK]

When do the rattlers and copperheads come out up there? Walking around in the timber in warm weather down here looking up and not paying attention to where you're stepping can get you into trouble.

 

[yellowhammer]

 

[yellowhammer]

If it’s legal for small game. Here in PA .40 is the largest we can use for small game.

Any caliber is ok in the Heart Of Dixie: [from LINK}


"...(7) OTHER GAME BIRDS OR ANIMALS:
...(b) Muzzleloaders and black powder handguns of any caliber..."