BARKING A SQUIREL

[Heelerau]

I have a squirrel rifle, but unfortunately down under we only have possums, and they are tough critters to kill. I have not shot a possum with this rifle, which was gifted to me by a late mate and mentor. I first knew this rifle when I was about 15 and it was the first custom long rifle I had ever seen. Douglas barrel .36 straight, Russ Hamm lock which I replaced with an L&R RPL lock from TOW, which I had tuned up by a chap in Minnesota before having it shipped down under. She is at a guess an early Lancaster style rifle.

P1030351 by Gordon Hazel, on Flickr

 

[buford87]

I have a squirrel rifle, but unfortunately down under we only have possums, and they are tough critters to kill. I have not shot a possum with this rifle, which was gifted to me by a late mate and mentor. I first knew this rifle when I was about 15 and it was the first custom long rifle I had ever seen. Douglas barrel .36 straight, Russ Hamm lock which I replaced with an L&R RPL lock from TOW, which I had tuned up by a chap in Minnesota before having it shipped down under. She is at a guess an early Lancaster style rifle.

P1030351 by Gordon Hazel, on Flickr

I don't know about your possums down there but a .36 should be fine for an American possum. I have shot them with a .22 revolver with no problem.

 

[Dr5x]

I have a squirrel rifle, but unfortunately down under we only have possums, and they are tough critters to kill. I have not shot a possum with this rifle, which was gifted to me by a late mate and mentor. I first knew this rifle when I was about 15 and it was the first custom long rifle I had ever seen. Douglas barrel .36 straight, Russ Hamm lock which I replaced with an L&R RPL lock from TOW, which I had tuned up by a chap in Minnesota before having it shipped down under. She is at a guess an early Lancaster style rifle.

P1030351 by Gordon Hazel, on Flickr

THAT'S AN AMAZING RIFLE TO ME. HOW LONG IS THAT BARREL? IT SEEMS TO GO ON FOR EVER.
IT'S GOOD TO HEAR FROM THE DOWN UNDER RIFLEMEN WHO WERE LARGELY STAMPED OUT SOME YEARS AGO BY THOUGHTLESS LAWS.
WE DON'T HEAR DOUGLAS BRRELS MENTIONED MUCH THESE DAYS. I DED TO BE ONE OF THE MORE POPULAR BARRELS.
DUTCH SCHOULTZ

 

[mushka]

The only barking of squirrels I've seen is when I was hunting them in the woods and they took exception to my presence and were giving me hell for disturbing their peace and quiet.

 

[sawyer04]

Barking a squirrel is a skill that is derived from using a large caliber weapon. Sometimes it stuns them, sometimes killing them instantly, and sometimes it knocks them to the ground and they run off. the varmint lays on a limb, sometimes flattening himself with his head flat against the bark. That is the best bark shot. Smaller calibers are available and the squirrel can be head shot without wasting the meat. Even a square shot with a .45 will take the head clean off. Little private neighborly get together a few of us have each year has at least one that is shunned for not making a head shot. All in fun.

 

[Dr5x]

Barking a squirrel is a skill that is derived from using a large caliber weapon. Sometimes it stuns them, sometimes killing them instantly, and sometimes it knocks them to the ground and they run off. the varmint lays on a limb, sometimes flattening himself with his head flat against the bark. That is the best bark shot. Smaller calibers are available and the squirrel can be head shot without wasting the meat. Even a square shot with a .45 will take the head clean off. Little private neighborly get together a few of us have each year has at least one that is shunned for not making a head shot. All in fun.

MY DAUGHTER ONCE OWNED A PIECE OF PROPERTY AJACENT TO ONE OF THE SEVERAL MARK TWAIN STATE PARKS IN <ISSOURI DOWN WHERE THE TRAIL OF TEARS CROSSED THE STATE. THE PROPERTY WAS FENCED OFF FROM THE PARK BY A WIRE FENCE, POSSIBLY BARBED, AND FOR A WHILE AFTER HUNTING SEASON DEER WOULD BE FOUND HANGING IN THAT FENCE. DEAD FROM THE RESULTA OF HORRIBLE NON IMMEDIATELY FATEL WOUNDS THAT WERE EXTREMELY EXACERBATED BY INFECTIONS.
IT WAS OBVIOUS SOMEONE WITH LITTLE OR NO ACCURACY HAD CAUSED THE WOUND AND THE GERMS AND VIRUSES HAD TAKEN OVER THA TASK.
MY INTEREST IN ACCURACY STEMMED FROM THAT DISCOVERY. IF DEER HUNTERS WERE MORE ACCURATE THEY WOULD NOT JUST BE WOUNDING THE POOR ANAL IN THE BUTT AND ALLOWING IT TO DIE IN PAIN OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
I HOPE I MAY HAVE HELPED THAT SITUATION.HUNTING A DEER PRESENTS A TARGET ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE AVERAGE MOTHER-IN-LAW WHICH PRESENTS A NUMBER OF PLACES TO HIT TO CAUSE A QUICK DEATH.
REAL TIGHT ACCURACY IS REQUIRED IN HUNTING SQUIRRELS AS HE TARGET IS APPRECIABLY SMALLER WITH THE ADDITIONAL COMPLICATION OF HAVING USUALLY TO FIRE AT SOMETHING WAY ABOVE NORMAL HEAD LEVEL. (AIM A TAD LOWER I WAS TOLD).
THE MEAT PRESERVING HEAD SHOT GIVES YOU A TARGET ABOUT THE SIZE OF A CRAB APPLE AND ITS LOCATED35 FEET OR MORE AWAY AT A 30 TO MAYBE 45 DEGREE ANGLE UP.
THAT'S NOT AN EASY TARGET EVEN IF THE TAIL FLICKER IS KIND ENOUGH TO HOLD STILLFOR YOU
I HOPE I MIGHT HAVE HELPED SQIRRELS AND RABBITS END THEIR VISITATION EARTH WITH NO LINGERING PAINS.
DUTCH SCHOULTZ

 

[rbrown1950]

Barking was all that the old guys talked about years ago. I did do it by accident one time , but it did not end up killing the squirrel. However, it did in fact totally upset him, and he run up the limb above me turned cross ways and proceeded to relieve himself. It sounded like a hard rain all around me for about a minute. lesson learned, head shots are best unless you wore your rain gear.

 

[Dr5x]

Barking was all that the old guys talked about years ago. I did do it by accident one time , but it did not end up killing the squirrel. However, it did in fact totally upset him, and he run up the limb above me turned cross ways and proceeded to relieve himself. It sounded like a hard rain all around me for about a minute. lesson learned, head shots are best unless you wore your rain gear.

ZTHAT'S A PRIZE WINNER STORY.
MAYBE THE SQUIRREL THOUGHT HE HAD AIDS.
THERE WAS A COMMERCIAL, THE POINT OF WHICH ESCAPED WHERE GENT WAS THROWING THINGS AT TEED SQUIRREL AND SUDDENLY THAT SQUIRREL AND THE REST OF HIS GANG ALL STARTED THROWING ENOUGH THINGS BACK TO DRIVE THE GUY OUT OF THE WOODS. I HAD MOMENT WHEN I WONDERED IF SUCH A THING COULD HAPPEN THEN I REALIZED WHEN THE SQUIRRELD HAD BANDED TOGETHER IN REVENGE THERE ALSO HAD TO BE A CAMERAMAN UP IN THE TREE WITH THEM.. I BELIEVE THENEUSSE GEHIDEN FLICKENTAILERS MUST HAVE BEEN MEMBERS OF THE UNION.
DUTCH

 

[SDSmlf]

As a kid always told to ‘bark’ squirrels when hunting with a rifle. Traditional. Barking would not ruin any meat. Barking was how Daniel, Davy and others did it, or so the story was told. Just had to make sure a miss wouldn’t put a shot into unknown territory, had to have a solid backstop (hill, valley, whatever). Never had success with a 22 rimfire, and I did try. Took a few squirrels with my 54 while deer hunting when things were slow. ‘Killed’ more branches and trees than squirrels. Few were what I would call barked and most took direct hits.

Squirrels relieving themselves on you, maybe not a big deal. Now when a treed bear does it..... something to think about. And as a side note, barking a bear is not something I believe is a good strategy, nor have I ever considered it.

 

[tenngun]

I don't know about your possums down there but a .36 should be fine for an American possum. I have shot them with a .22 revolver with no problem.

I had a small cabin when my wife and I got married. It was in the woods and my bath tub was on a second story deck. One night my wife was taking a bath when she called for my help. A ‘possum had come up on the deck and was hissing at my wife. I grabbed a pistol, .22 mag revolver. Stood up hissing I shot him twice and he just charged me, my wife made a run for the house, I gave the feller a good kick, and sent it across the deck. I went in and got my horse pistol. .62 with ball and forty grain 3f charge.
‘Possum was at the edge turned to the side bleeding all over my deck. I gave him a ball from ten feet right through the chest.
He rolled off the deck and on to a stone wall I had by my front yard under the deck. It was about a ten foot fall.
I grab a .50 CVA, likewise 40 grain charge behind ball. To go out and make sure he was dead. There was a bit of tissue all over my fence. And a blood trail out in to the woods. I went back in and got a flash light, went and followed him till I lost his trail about six hundred feet from my house (I knew the distance as it was near the road that ran to my property six hundred feet from my cabin). Never did find him.
Tough puppy.

 

[Dr5x]

I had a small cabin when my wife and I got married. It was in the woods and my bath tub was on a second story deck. One night my wife was taking a bath when she called for my help. A ‘possum had come up on the deck and was hissing at my wife. I grabbed a pistol, .22 mag revolver. Stood up hissing I shot him twice and he just charged me, my wife made a run for the house, I gave the feller a good kick, and sent it across the deck. I went in and got my horse pistol. .62 with ball and forty grain 3f charge.
‘Possum was at the edge turned to the side bleeding all over my deck. I gave him a ball from ten feet right through the chest.
He rolled off the deck and on to a stone wall I had by my front yard under the deck. It was about a ten foot fall.
I grab a .50 CVA, likewise 40 grain charge behind ball. To go out and make sure he was dead. There was a bit of tissue all over my fence. And a blood trail out in to the woods. I went back in and got a flash light, went and followed him till I lost his trail about six hundred feet from my house (I knew the distance as it was near the road that ran to my property six hundred feet from my cabin). Never did find him.
Tough puppy.

THAT IS A HECK OF A STORY.THE IMAGE I HAVE ALWAYS HAD OF POSSUMS WS OF A QUIET RATHER PASSIVE ANIMAL THAT WOULD. WE WERE TOLD, PLAY DEAD WHEN DISTURBED.
WHAT AN OPERTUNITY TO BE THE HERO IN FRONT OF YOUR YOUNG BRIDE.
WOLD IT BE POSSIBLE THAT YOUR BELLIGERANT POSSUM HAD RABIES OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF MADENING ILLNESS?
SOUNDS MORE LIKE AN EX WIFE THAN A POSSUM.
THANKS FOR A GREAT STORY. I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THEM.
MY FRIGHT IN THE NIGHT STOERY INVOLVED NO GUNFIRE AND WAS MUCH SHORTER IN DURATION
THE PROPERTY MY DAD HAD PURCHASED ON A MINNESOTA LAKESHORE HAD A NICE HOUSE WITH MOST OF THE AMENITIES BUT NO TOILET. JUST A ONE HOLER OUT HOUSE AT THE END OF A NARROW PATH THAT LED SOME DISTANCE
INTO THE TREES.
WHILE COMPLETELY ENGAGED IN THIS SMALL BOX OF A BUILDING I SUDDENLY HEARD THE FOOT STEPS OR HOOF BEATS OF WHAT HAD TO BE A LARGE HEAVY ANIMAL THAT WAS POUNDING UP THAT NARROW PATH TO WHERE I WAS ENTHRONED.. THE WOODS WERE SO DENSE I KNEW THERE WAS NO GOING AROUND WHERE I WAS AND I MUST HAVE DIED A HUNDRED MENTAL DEATHS AS THIS IMAGINED GIANT COULD BE GOING NO WHERE BUT WHERE I SAT. WE'RE TALKING A BRIEF MAYBE 7 OR 8 SECONDS
AS T THUNDERED RAPIDLY CLOSER AND I KNEW THE END WAS NEAR WHEN IT WHIZZED BY.
THIS OCCURRED IN PITCH DARKNESS. THE NEXT DAY IN BETTER FOREST LIGHT I CHECKED THE AREA AND LARGE POLICE DOG WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ABLETO RUN THROUGH THAT WOODS. CONSIDERING WHAT I WAS ENGAGED IN, THIS MYSTERY MONSTERHASTENED THE PROCESS.
I LIKE YOUR POSSUM STORY BETTER.

DUTCH SCHOULTZ

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Shoot 1/2 a ball under the squirrels head , sometimes it stuns them but they are usually dead when they hit the ground . Best way to kill them with the big balls .

 

[Icemanxxxv]

Arizona Tree rat 30 feet up on a branch about 4 inches in diameter. 100 grains .490 ball through the branch and into the pot. Saved the tooth picks for after dinner!

 

[Dr5x]

Shoot 1/2 a ball under the squirrels head , sometimes it stuns them but they are usually dead when they hit the ground . Best way to kill them with the big balls .

YOU SAY THAT SO COOL.
WHAT DEER HUNTERS HAD HIT A SPOT THE SIZE OF A CRAB APPLE. THERE WOULD BE A LOT MORE WOUNDE DEER LIMPING ABOUT.?
DUTCH SCHOULTZ

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Dutch,
If more deer hunters would take the time to lean to reliably bark a tree rat there would not be any deer limping about ! I'm 62 and my pap taught me when I was 10 so with 52 years experience barking them I guess I have earned the right to a bit of cool .

 

[tenngun]

THAT IS A HECK OF A STORY.THE IMAGE I HAVE ALWAYS HAD OF POSSUMS WS OF A QUIET RATHER PASSIVE ANIMAL THAT WOULD. WE WERE TOLD, PLAY DEAD WHEN DISTURBED.
WHAT AN OPERTUNITY TO BE THE HERO IN FRONT OF YOUR YOUNG BRIDE.
WOLD IT BE POSSIBLE THAT YOUR BELLIGERANT POSSUM HAD RABIES OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF MADENING ILLNESS?
SOUNDS MORE LIKE AN EX WIFE THAN A POSSUM.
THANKS FOR A GREAT STORY. I KNOW THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THEM.
MY FRIGHT IN THE NIGHT STOERY INVOLVED NO GUNFIRE AND WAS MUCH SHORTER IN DURATION
THE PROPERTY MY DAD HAD PURCHASED ON A MINNESOTA LAKESHORE HAD A NICE HOUSE WITH MOST OF THE AMENITIES BUT NO TOILET. JUST A ONE HOLER OUT HOUSE AT THE END OF A NARROW PATH THAT LED SOME DISTANCE
INTO THE TREES.
WHILE COMPLETELY ENGAGED IN THIS SMALL BOX OF A BUILDING I SUDDENLY HEARD THE FOOT STEPS OR HOOF BEATS OF WHAT HAD TO BE A LARGE HEAVY ANIMAL THAT WAS POUNDING UP THAT NARROW PATH TO WHERE I WAS ENTHRONED.. THE WOODS WERE SO DENSE I KNEW THERE WAS NO GOING AROUND WHERE I WAS AND I MUST HAVE DIED A HUNDRED MENTAL DEATHS AS THIS IMAGINED GIANT COULD BE GOING NO WHERE BUT WHERE I SAT. WE'RE TALKING A BRIEF MAYBE 7 OR 8 SECONDS
AS T THUNDERED RAPIDLY CLOSER AND I KNEW THE END WAS NEAR WHEN IT WHIZZED BY.
THIS OCCURRED IN PITCH DARKNESS. THE NEXT DAY IN BETTER FOREST LIGHT I CHECKED THE AREA AND LARGE POLICE DOG WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ABLETO RUN THROUGH THAT WOODS. CONSIDERING WHAT I WAS ENGAGED IN, THIS MYSTERY MONSTERHASTENED THE PROCESS.
I LIKE YOUR POSSUM STORY BETTER.

DUTCH SCHOULTZ

Maybe rabies, but I had lots of aggressive opossum around our land, and that one of my hardest to kill.
Opossums are more reptile then mammal and pretty nasty. I’ve seen them tear in to coons, cats and armadillos. Though dachshunds make short work of them.

 

[rodwha]

There’s a video on YouTube where a possum is beaten badly by a raccoon and he just keeps coming back for more over and over again.
They are not known for being fighters or being aggressive. And though this one sought out the engagement several times it was a poor fighter, and certainly didn’t have rabies as it wasn’t that kind of aggressive (unless that’s how it manifests itself in such a pathetic form).

 

[Dr5x]

Dutch,
If more deer hunters would take the time to lean to reliably bark a tree rat there would not be any deer limping about ! I'm 62 and my pap taught me when I was 10 so with 52 years experience barking them I guess I have earned the right to a bit of cool .

W ELL IF YOU HAVE BEEN A SUCCESSFUL BARKER THAN NOT I WOULD AWARD YOU THE COOL BADGE. THAT WOULD INVOLVE SOME KIND OF ACCURATE SHOOTING.
A LOT OF THE DEER HUNTERS ONLY SHOOT AT "MOVEMENT" WHICH IS WHY HUNTER'S ORANGE IS SO NECCESSARY.
AT THE RANGE. IN THE FALL. WHEN THESE NOBLEMEN WOULD ARRIVE AT THE RANGE, ALREADY OBVIOSLY DRUNK. WAVING A RIFLE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO KILL BUICKS I WOULD DO ALL I COULD TO GET THEM ZEROED IN AND AWAY FROM THERE. I WAS INCLINED TO STAY OUT OF THE FORESTED AREAS.
DUTCH

 

[Carbon 6]

Why on earth would I even try to bark a squirrel when I can just shoot it in the head ?
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

 

[Dr5x]

Why on earth would I even try to bark a squirrel when I can just shoot it in the head ?
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

I THINK BARKING IS A WAY TO SHOW OFF TO YOURSELF.
DUTCH