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

[Gum Slough Muzzleloader]

Any chance you could send her my way to give relationship classes.

I have a chair like that but a flexibility problem in one leg makes it very difficult to get up from it. Wish I could use it cause there's not always a tree handy for the Torges seat.

One must remember, with pros there is always cons. Just something to think about.

 

[snakebit]

Good morning to all.
Going back a good way in this thread Jim K had posted his chairs/seats. There was some discussion about them amongst us guys.
Wife and I have some small fold up stools that we have used for years. They're good for what they are. I recon getting older and a bit stiffer has to do with needing something a little more comfortable.
My wife likes to buy me hunting gear and guns. She'll hear me talking about an item when I'm talking to someone on the phone or I'll show her something on the net. No more said about but with in a few days or weeks she'll say, "Hey, Fred, I saw this today and I thought you might like it, if ya don't I can take it back." Nothing has ever been returned.
So here's my chair. It works great for me. Carries easier than I thought, more comfortable than I thought. The back does help. If I position it close to a tree, sometimes the base of tree or roots will cause it to lean forward. After getting it out there and using it, when it does lean forward I just poke some small branches or a stalk off a palmetto and that levels it out. I can also position it where I can lean backwards and lean against the tree. Yes, I might even nod off for a little in the woods nap.

Take Care Stay Safe

I had one similar to that years ago. Yours is much better made, and a bit bigger. It's a nice one

 

[ETipp]

Wow, that's fancy schmancy right there .

I use a similar rig mostly for elk hunting. If I'm going to set up to call or wait for a while. I like to just sit at the base of a tree but unless the elk or deer is a keystone cops or three stooges fan they will never stick around while I get to my feet. I'll try to post a few pictures later (of the seat, not me getting up).

That looks like a nylon rope. If so you might find it too stretchy. I used it at first but switched to poly rope after my first use.

Cruiser, I made a mistake on the diameter of that rope. I looked at the receipt and it is 3/8" rope.

 

[ETipp]

Good morning to all.
Going back a good way in this thread Jim K had posted his chairs/seats. There was some discussion about them amongst us guys.
Wife and I have some small fold up stools that we have used for years. They're good for what they are. I recon getting older and a bit stiffer has to do with needing something a little more comfortable.
My wife likes to buy me hunting gear and guns. She'll hear me talking about an item when I'm talking to someone on the phone or I'll show her something on the net. No more said about but with in a few days or weeks she'll say, "Hey, Fred, I saw this today and I thought you might like it, if ya don't I can take it back." Nothing has ever been returned.
So here's my chair. It works great for me. Carries easier than I thought, more comfortable than I thought. The back does help. If I position it close to a tree, sometimes the base of tree or roots will cause it to lean forward. After getting it out there and using it, when it does lean forward I just poke some small branches or a stalk off a palmetto and that levels it out. I can also position it where I can lean backwards and lean against the tree. Yes, I might even nod off for a little in the woods nap.

Take Care Stay Safe

Looks good, Fred. Nice and comfy.

 

[longcruise]

Mine is in the back of the car since I've been using it. When it warms up I'll retrieve and photograph it.

 

[longcruise]

Not going to get any warmer!

This really is as simple as it gets. The most basic Torges seat. I strap this to the back of my daypack. Some days it goes many miles so it's made to be as light as possible. The rope is ridiculously long at about 12 feet but it was for use in a place where the trees can be 6 or 7 feet in circumference.

The foam is light and can be doubled to sit on or folded up against the tree.

Looking at the ones you guys have shown mine looks pretty Primitive and amateurish. I'm going to make a new one that is flared on the outer edge for more width between the ropes and the rope holes are going to be moved further out. You guys have inspired me!

The white one has never been used. It was made for winter! The V has headless nails epoxied in to grip the tree.

I've never used this for squirrel hunting but whenever I set up to call blind for elk in the lodge poles it's not long before the pineys are investigating and harassing. Hmmmmm !

 

[ETipp]

Not going to get any warmer!

This really is as simple as it gets. The most basic Torges seat. I strap this to the back of my daypack. Some days it goes many miles so it's made to be as light as possible. The rope is ridiculously long at about 12 feet but it was for use in a place where the trees can be 6 or 7 feet in circumference.

The foam is light and can be doubled to sit on or folded up against the tree.

Looking at the ones you guys have shown mine looks pretty Primitive and amateurish. I'm going to make a new one that is flared on the outer edge for more width between the ropes and the rope holes are going to be moved further out. You guys have inspired me!

The white one has never been used. It was made for winter! The V has headless nails epoxied in to grip the tree.

I've never used this for squirrel hunting but whenever I set up to call blind for elk in the lodge poles it's not long before the pineys are investigating and harassing. Hmmmmm !

View attachment 373595View attachment 373596View attachment 373597View attachment 373598View attachment 373599

That should work just fine. Thanks for posting.

 

[ScottK]

Snow squalls here tonight, 20's tomorrow. I'll just wait and hear about your adventures buddy

My hunting can be like that in October

 

[ScottK]

The folding, padded seat cushion stows nice and neat and is easier on the back when on stand. Beats the heck out of just the tree.

The seat is easily packed around using one side of the rope. I have given consideration of installing some thin, light weight shoulder straps from an old climber.

That looks like a great bit of home engineering Ed!

 

[ScottK]

We had a very productive scouting trip. As usual, the area I initially identified was not so good, but the investment in shoe leather paid off. I found a way into an area of the WMA that borders a huge farm and apple orchard. I’m going to ask the owners permission to hunt the back edge of the property, but even if they say no I can hunt the other side of the edge and it should be loaded with rabbits. I will take some pics next time I’m there.

A bit further back into the woods I found this old dried out wash. You can see the colonial era rock wall in one of the photos.

There is more sun here which is a huge attractor for squirrels in this cold climate. I glassed plenty of holes in the trees with signs of recent occupancy. We are going to hit both the field edge and this area on Saturday. We have 4 days of arctic cold and then it warms up into the 30s during the day on Friday. Hoping the “warm up” will create some activity on Saturday.

We are also very unusually snow free which makes assessing new areas a bit harder. Nothing like tracks in fresh snow to let you know that you are in the right place.

 

[ETipp]

We had a very productive scouting trip. As usual, the area I initially identified was not so good, but the investment in shoe leather paid off. I found a way into an area of the WMA that borders a huge farm and apple orchard. I’m going to ask the owners permission to hunt the back edge of the property, but even if they say no I can hunt the other side of the edge and it should be loaded with rabbits. I will take some pics next time I’m there.

A bit further back into the woods I found this old dried out wash. You can see the colonial era rock wall in one of the photos. View attachment 373796View attachment 373797

There is more sun here which is a huge attractor for squirrels in this cold climate. I glassed plenty of holes in the trees with signs of recent occupancy. We are going to hit both the field edge and this area on Saturday. We have 4 days of arctic cold and then it warms up into the 30s during the day on Friday. Hoping the “warm up” will create some activity on Saturday.

We are also very unusually snow free which makes assessing new areas a bit harder. Nothing like tracks in fresh snow to let you know that you are in the right place.

Nice looking area there, Scott. That would be a great place to sneak around looking for squirrels. Not too open and just enough thickness to help keep concealed.

 

[ScottK]

Nice looking area there, Scott. That would be a great place to sneak around looking for squirrels. Not too open and just enough thickness to help keep concealed.

Glad it looks good to you as well. It’s hard to see from the pictures, but it’s a football field sized area surrounded by denser woods. We should be able to work the perimeter of the entire area in decent cover.

 

[Kev308]

I finally got a chance to get out for a day in the woods. And doesn’t it figure the wind is blowing like mad? I should have turned around but I had a full canteen and a sandwich packed, so off I went. No squirrel to be seen, the tree tops were swaying back and forth. I have never had any luck in those conditions. I did however find this deer skull.
Anyone else find themselves going empty handed when the wind is blowing?

Can’t seem to get the other photo to load

 

[longcruise]

I finally got a chance to get out for a day in the woods. And doesn’t it figure the wind is blowing like mad? I should have turned around but I had a full canteen and a sandwich packed, so off I went. No squirrel to be seen, the tree tops were swaying back and forth. I have never had any luck in those conditions. I did however find this deer skull.
Anyone else find themselves going empty handed when the wind is blowing?
View attachment 373816
Can’t seem to get the other photo to load

The wind seems to wreck my chances no matter what I'm hunting. My degree of tenacity would probably be influenced by the contents of the canteen.

Surprised that the rodents haven't done more damage to those antlers.

 

[Kev308]

The wind seems to wreck my chances no matter what I'm hunting. My degree of tenacity would probably be influenced by the contents of the canteen.

Surprised that the rodents haven't done more damage to those antlers.

Well the canteen was simply water, And the rodents had started nibbling the tips on the right side.

 

[Greg Selner]

I finally got a chance to get out for a day in the woods. And doesn’t it figure the wind is blowing like mad? I should have turned around but I had a full canteen and a sandwich packed, so off I went. No squirrel to be seen, the tree tops were swaying back and forth. I have never had any luck in those conditions. I did however find this deer skull.
Anyone else find themselves going empty handed when the wind is blowing?
View attachment 373816
Can’t seem to get the other photo to load

Nice Find

 

[ETipp]

I finally got a chance to get out for a day in the woods. And doesn’t it figure the wind is blowing like mad? I should have turned around but I had a full canteen and a sandwich packed, so off I went. No squirrel to be seen, the tree tops were swaying back and forth. I have never had any luck in those conditions. I did however find this deer skull.
Anyone else find themselves going empty handed when the wind is blowing?
View attachment 373816
Can’t seem to get the other photo to load

You are not alone in that one. I’ve never had good luck squirrel hunting during windy conditions.

 

[Jim K]

Me either. If the forecast says 5-10 mph I’ll hunt. 10-15 I’m staying home.