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

[Jim K]

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.

Nice outfit Boomstick! Where are you located?

 

[BoomStick]

Nice outfit Boomstick! Where are you located?

Montgomery County, not far from King of Prussia. So green here you'd think it was still Spring!

 

[Jim K]

I went out to my honey hole again today with the Crockett. I went in to the hickories and sat til 8. It was dead in there which is hard to believe. They must have the hickories cleaned out. I was amazed.

I went west heading to the thick stuff I did well in the other day. Saw two on the ground. Sat there for awhile. Got two with two shots. I was pretty happy. Swabbed my barrel, reloaded and headed up into the thick stuff. Sat where I had a lot of action Thursday. Got two more with two shots. I can’t believe I’m 4-4. I’m REALLY good at missing squirrel with a muzzleloader.

I moved higher up the ridge and spotted one on the ground. Sat there for awhile. Got another one. 5-5 now. I’m stoked now.

Headed back to the truck and cleaned the squirrels. While cleaning my rifle my ramrod broke. I thought I heard a crack when I had reloaded before. I’m 50 miles from home with no ramrod.

Drove home. Cleaned my rifle and a little later went up in the woods by my place. I was heading for a spot and saw two on a tree. I eased down on the ground and rested on a downed log. Missed!! I really wanted to go 6-6 which is our limit.

Continued on to where I intended to sit. I saw 5 or 6. I had 4 young ones climbing around in a tree behind me. Why are they always behind me?!?

Got turned around and finally got a shot off. Got him.

Ol Jim has never claimed to be a great shot. But today was my best day of shooting ever.

After screwing up my original front sight on my Crockett by trying to install a section of fiber optic on it. A good friend sent me another sight and I managed to get it on that one. Man did that help. I could really see it in the woods.

Here are the obligatory pictures. The picture with the five has three squirrels plus two tails. I forgot to take a picture and remembered after I had two cleaned.

 

[Jim K]

Montgomery County, not far from King of Prussia. So green here you'd think it was still Spring!

My daughter lives down there in Royersford.the leaves here are changing. They were really dropping today.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

I went out to my honey hole again today with the Crockett. I went in to the hickories and sat til 8. It was dead in there which is hard to believe. They must have the hickories cleaned out. I was amazed.

I went west heading to the thick stuff I did well in the other day. Saw two on the ground. Sat there for awhile. Got two with two shots. I was pretty happy. Swabbed my barrel, reloaded and headed up into the thick stuff. Sat where I had a lot of action Thursday. Got two more with two shots. I can’t believe I’m 4-4. I’m REALLY good at missing squirrel with a muzzleloader.

I moved higher up the ridge and spotted one on the ground. Sat there for awhile. Got another one. 5-5 now. I’m stoked now.

Headed back to the truck and cleaned the squirrels. While cleaning my rifle my ramrod broke. I thought I heard a crack when I had reloaded before. I’m 50 miles from home with no ramrod.

Drove home. Cleaned my rifle and a little later went up in the woods by my place. I was heading for a spot and saw two on a tree. I eased down on the ground and rested on a downed log. Missed!! I really wanted to go 6-6 which is our limit.

Continued on to where I intended to sit. I saw 5 or 6. I had 4 young ones climbing around in a tree behind me. Why are they always behind me?!?

Got turned around and finally got a shot off. Got him.

Ol Jim has never claimed to be a great shot. But today was my best day of shooting ever.

After screwing up my original front sight on my Crockett by trying to install a section of fiber optic on it. A good friend sent me another sight and I managed to get it on that one. Man did that help. I could really see it in the woods.

Here are the obligatory pictures. The picture with the five has three squirrels plus two tails. I forgot to take a picture and remembered after I had two cleaned.View attachment 353354View attachment 353355

Congratulations Jim. That a fine mess of squirrels. Glad you were able to get out and get em. We miss them and also get them. Hunts like this make all worth while. Just being in the woods away from it all still works for me when it one of those miss days.

Again Congratulations.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

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.

Ed I looked it up on the net. Yes they do interbreed, where they territories overlap.
You were correct in your beliefs.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

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.

I like that tactic also.
Nice to just get out and be one with the woods.

Real nice set up.

 

[Jim K]

Congratulations Jim. That a fine mess of squirrels. Glad you were able to get out and get em. We miss them and also get them. Hunts like this make all worth while. Just being in the woods away from it all still works for me when it one of those miss days.

Again Congratulations.

Thank you Fred! Your knife was in on the action

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

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

I too miss it Ed. It's been decades since I hunted my home state of Illinois.
I know if Iwas to move back there it wouldn't be long I'd be missing my rivers, swamps, sloughs and hammocks. I've gotten used to it.
The memories are there.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Thank you Fred! Your knife was in on the action

Great, glad your using it.

 

[Duk]

I went out to my honey hole again today with the Crockett. I went in to the hickories and sat til 8. It was dead in there which is hard to believe. They must have the hickories cleaned out. I was amazed.

I went west heading to the thick stuff I did well in the other day. Saw two on the ground. Sat there for awhile. Got two with two shots. I was pretty happy. Swabbed my barrel, reloaded and headed up into the thick stuff. Sat where I had a lot of action Thursday. Got two more with two shots. I can’t believe I’m 4-4. I’m REALLY good at missing squirrel with a muzzleloader.

I moved higher up the ridge and spotted one on the ground. Sat there for awhile. Got another one. 5-5 now. I’m stoked now.

Headed back to the truck and cleaned the squirrels. While cleaning my rifle my ramrod broke. I thought I heard a crack when I had reloaded before. I’m 50 miles from home with no ramrod.

Drove home. Cleaned my rifle and a little later went up in the woods by my place. I was heading for a spot and saw two on a tree. I eased down on the ground and rested on a downed log. Missed!! I really wanted to go 6-6 which is our limit.

Continued on to where I intended to sit. I saw 5 or 6. I had 4 young ones climbing around in a tree behind me. Why are they always behind me?!?

Got turned around and finally got a shot off. Got him.

Ol Jim has never claimed to be a great shot. But today was my best day of shooting ever.

After screwing up my original front sight on my Crockett by trying to install a section of fiber optic on it. A good friend sent me another sight and I managed to get it on that one. Man did that help. I could really see it in the woods.

Here are the obligatory pictures. The picture with the five has three squirrels plus two tails. I forgot to take a picture and remembered after I had two cleaned.View attachment 353354View attachment 353355

Excellent shooting! I'm still trying to get two in one day.

 

[ETipp]

I went out to my honey hole again today with the Crockett. I went in to the hickories and sat til 8. It was dead in there which is hard to believe. They must have the hickories cleaned out. I was amazed.

I went west heading to the thick stuff I did well in the other day. Saw two on the ground. Sat there for awhile. Got two with two shots. I was pretty happy. Swabbed my barrel, reloaded and headed up into the thick stuff. Sat where I had a lot of action Thursday. Got two more with two shots. I can’t believe I’m 4-4. I’m REALLY good at missing squirrel with a muzzleloader.

I moved higher up the ridge and spotted one on the ground. Sat there for awhile. Got another one. 5-5 now. I’m stoked now.

Headed back to the truck and cleaned the squirrels. While cleaning my rifle my ramrod broke. I thought I heard a crack when I had reloaded before. I’m 50 miles from home with no ramrod.

Drove home. Cleaned my rifle and a little later went up in the woods by my place. I was heading for a spot and saw two on a tree. I eased down on the ground and rested on a downed log. Missed!! I really wanted to go 6-6 which is our limit.

Continued on to where I intended to sit. I saw 5 or 6. I had 4 young ones climbing around in a tree behind me. Why are they always behind me?!?

Got turned around and finally got a shot off. Got him.

Ol Jim has never claimed to be a great shot. But today was my best day of shooting ever.

After screwing up my original front sight on my Crockett by trying to install a section of fiber optic on it. A good friend sent me another sight and I managed to get it on that one. Man did that help. I could really see it in the woods.

Here are the obligatory pictures. The picture with the five has three squirrels plus two tails. I forgot to take a picture and remembered after I had two cleaned.View attachment 353354View attachment 353355

That's some of the best news I've heard in a few days. Well done my friend!

Maybe your Crockett is trying to tell you something. "Oh James, don't forget about me next time".

 

[Jim K]

That's some of the best news I've heard in a few days. Well done my friend!

Maybe your Crockett is trying to tell you something. "Oh James, don't forget about me next time".

I was thinking that too. Maybe I’m a percussion guy after all!!

Thanks Ed

 

[ETipp]

I was thinking that too. Maybe I’m a percussion guy after all!!

Thanks Ed

A Crockett with a good front sight, thick hunting grounds and some straight shooting........everything worked out just like it should have. That's where Crockett's really shine. IMO, its like they were almost built for such.

In terms of the squirrels that like to sneak up from behind.............they are cowards who do not play fair. They sometimes make me wish I had a set of eyeballs in the back of my head.

 

[Jim K]

And for a guy with a herniated disc in his neck, I think they know it And do it on purpose. Evil buggers!!

 

[ETipp]

And for a guy with a herniated disc in his neck, I think they know it And do it on purpose. Evil buggers!!

Im sorry to hear about that, Jim. I’m sure that has to be painful at times. I have to agree, it’s almost as if they know it.

My entire neck is fused except for the bottom disc and top disc. That was two years ago. It really caused a lot of pain while squirrel hunting last year. Luckily, it hasn’t been as bad so far this year. So I do understand what you mean.

However, we are tough and can take it, eh?

 

[yellowhammer]

Hammer, how is the assembly going?

Squirrel Rifle Update #2:

Jax Black I need to finish barrel out for delivery, so I should get that done this evening.

I have a blank rear sight I'm going to make into a peep, that's really the only fabricating left. Maybe darken some screws, etc.

The 600 pound gorilla in the room is the stock: Dang it, will you hurry up and dry already? Sheesh...

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Squirrel Rifle Update #2:

Jax Black I need to finish barrel out for delivery, so I should get that done this evening.

I have a blank rear sight I'm going to make into a peep, that's really the only fabricating left. Maybe darken some screws, etc.

The 600 pound gorilla in the room is the stock: Dang it, will you hurry up and dry already? Sheesh...
View attachment 353849

She's looking good Hammer.
It will be nice to see complete.
Then the results from shooting.
I know my SMR shoots good.
Also curious to see peep sight.

Keep her going Brother.

 

[longcruise]

In terms of the squirrels that like to sneak up from behind.............they are cowards who do not play fair. They sometimes make me wish I had a set of eyeballs in the back of my head.

Catch those and send them to me. I'll put them in The Colony for a few weeks and they will be properly re-educated. Then back to you. Do paint their tails so as not to shoot them after release. They will be invaluable as teachers and envoys. Soon your locals will confront you head on. They will be a challenge to your marksmanship. In the end, better squirrels and sharper hunter.

 

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Catch those and send them to me. I'll put them in The Colony for a few weeks and they will be properly re-educated. Then back to you. Do paint their tails so as not to shoot them after release. They will be invaluable as teachers and envoys. Soon your locals will confront you head on. They will be a challenge to your marksmanship. In the end, better squirrels and sharper hunter.

Good one Cruiser