Minnesota's squirrel season ends in a couple of weeks so I decided to get out yesterday as it was a beautiful abnormally warm and sunny day for mid-February.
As usual, I was dressed in my 1700's attire with wool fall front pants, moose hide mocs, a wool pullover shirt, a canvas hunting frock, and a wool voyagers hat. Skipped a capote...too warm!
I was carrying my "Early Virginia" smooth rifle in .62/20 ga loaded with 50 grs 2fg bp, two 1/8" lubed felt wads, an oz of #6 chilled lead shot, topped off with two overshot cards.
My morning started by busting 20 whitetails out of one of the landowner's food plots. They only ran about 75 yards into the woods, stood there looking at me...probably cursing me for disturbing their morning meal. I would see 11 more on that property and something more than 80 in the neighbors fields when I left late afternoon.
160 of the property's 800 acres was logged of much of it's mature oak and the loss of mast has affected the squirrel population. I was finding minimal squirrel sign, but it was great to be out.
About an hour into the hunt I stopped for a bit to rest and take a drink of water. After a few minutes I heard the faintest of squirrel chatter and about 40 yards away a giant fox squirrel jumped up a an oak stump and just sat upright facing away overlooking his domain. I had to get closer. I was able to cut the distance in half without spooking him.
I always clean my squirrels asap in the field. MAN...this big fox squirrel was a chore to skin. Big fox squirrels are always harder, but this guy was extra tough.
After cooling the carcus in some snow and bagging him, I worked my way down the south side of the ridge as the snow was clear.
By the time I got to the end of the ridge it was time to have a little lunch at an overlook where the remains of a picnic table still sit. Natural casing weiners and cheese.
I worked back around the snow covered north side of the ridge and crossed over the dry wash at the head of a ravine to the beginning of another ridge. It was then I heard a squirrel barking and chattering a ways ahead. I finally spied him on a low branch on one side of an opening about 60 yards ahead. Rather than barge ahead through the opening which would have sent him scurrying up the tree and becoming a game of "round the rosie," I decided to circle and stalk him from the woods on the other side. My plan worked and I got within 15 yards, but he had moved into a thick bush eating its seeds. I just contently waited and in time he had his fill and moved back up onto the branch.
I hunted another hour and kicked out a few deer, but no more squirrels. I pushed some excellent rabbit habitat, but nothing doing.
The sun was sinking fast so I made my way down an old field road the mile back to my pickup. Seeing tons of deer in the neighbor's fields as I drove away was just icing on the cake to a perfect day.
As usual, I was dressed in my 1700's attire with wool fall front pants, moose hide mocs, a wool pullover shirt, a canvas hunting frock, and a wool voyagers hat. Skipped a capote...too warm!
I was carrying my "Early Virginia" smooth rifle in .62/20 ga loaded with 50 grs 2fg bp, two 1/8" lubed felt wads, an oz of #6 chilled lead shot, topped off with two overshot cards.
My morning started by busting 20 whitetails out of one of the landowner's food plots. They only ran about 75 yards into the woods, stood there looking at me...probably cursing me for disturbing their morning meal. I would see 11 more on that property and something more than 80 in the neighbors fields when I left late afternoon.
160 of the property's 800 acres was logged of much of it's mature oak and the loss of mast has affected the squirrel population. I was finding minimal squirrel sign, but it was great to be out.
About an hour into the hunt I stopped for a bit to rest and take a drink of water. After a few minutes I heard the faintest of squirrel chatter and about 40 yards away a giant fox squirrel jumped up a an oak stump and just sat upright facing away overlooking his domain. I had to get closer. I was able to cut the distance in half without spooking him.
I always clean my squirrels asap in the field. MAN...this big fox squirrel was a chore to skin. Big fox squirrels are always harder, but this guy was extra tough.
After cooling the carcus in some snow and bagging him, I worked my way down the south side of the ridge as the snow was clear.
By the time I got to the end of the ridge it was time to have a little lunch at an overlook where the remains of a picnic table still sit. Natural casing weiners and cheese.
I worked back around the snow covered north side of the ridge and crossed over the dry wash at the head of a ravine to the beginning of another ridge. It was then I heard a squirrel barking and chattering a ways ahead. I finally spied him on a low branch on one side of an opening about 60 yards ahead. Rather than barge ahead through the opening which would have sent him scurrying up the tree and becoming a game of "round the rosie," I decided to circle and stalk him from the woods on the other side. My plan worked and I got within 15 yards, but he had moved into a thick bush eating its seeds. I just contently waited and in time he had his fill and moved back up onto the branch.
I hunted another hour and kicked out a few deer, but no more squirrels. I pushed some excellent rabbit habitat, but nothing doing.
The sun was sinking fast so I made my way down an old field road the mile back to my pickup. Seeing tons of deer in the neighbor's fields as I drove away was just icing on the cake to a perfect day.
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