Smoked Sqirrels

[jethro224]

I've been using a .32 Crockett for sqirrels since last year. Get close and head shoot 'em. It's been fun. :grin:
Went out this morning and, at the last minute, decided to take the .56 smoothbore Renegade instead. I had only shot this gun 1 time previously. For the shotgun pattern contest. Came in last. Way open patterns.

After reading the posts in the smoothbore forum, I came to the conclusion that I had been using too much powder. Decided to change a few things but never tried 'em out yet.
So I grabbed the Renegade and all the fixin's and headed out to the forest. Loaded up with 50 grains of Goex 2F/over-powder nitro card/post-it shot cup/1 oz #6 shot/over-shot card and shot a piece of paper.
WOW! Just at first glance, one-shot test, it looks like a 300% improvement in the pattern! I didn't properly pattern it yet, but it was obviously good enough so I went ahead and started huntin'.

Shot 2 squirrels. Both about 30 yard shots. Both dropped right outta their trees. :thumbsup:

 

[Russianblood]

I've had similar results with my .56 Renegade. I was impressed enough with it to buy a 28 bore canoe gun from Jackie Brown. I'm hoping to have similar results in September when small game season opens here in Michigan.

 

[asabai]

After my usually unsuccessful duck hunts I head into the woods to unload, nothing smokes squirrel like a 10 gauge. Trouble is waiting for the smoke to clear and see where they fall. Yes they are still edible, I aim about a 18 inches in front of their noses

 

[Nugget]

I thought this was a thread on recipes!

So, here's mine. Slice several onions, lay the slices in a crock pot or dutch oven. Put in squirrel meat, get it off the bone before cooking. Add cut up potatos and carrots, plus whatever else you like in a stew. In a measuring cup, whip together 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup white wine and 1/4 cup catsup. Cover just the onions and meat with the liquid. Increase in proportion if needed. Cover and cook until the meat is done. Drain broth and thicken. Recombine and serve.

 

[jethro224]

Sounds tasty!
I'll have to give it a try.

 

[shmrck1]

nugget,
You to, I thought I might be the only
one. :rotf: Sounds good mite try it when I get
a batch of tree rats.
snake-eyes :hmm: :thumbsup:

 

[spitfire]

Many moons ago(before the hunting regs changed)I smoked tree rats with a .36 cal BP sixgun.

 

[jethro224]

I thought this was a thread on recipes!

Take 2 or 3 squirrels and add acorns and hickory nuts,
Marinate until late summer,
Pour in 50 grains Goex per squirrel and sprinkle each heavily with number 6 chilled shot.
Squirrels are done when the smoke clears.
Serves 1 person per smoked squirrel.
:rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

 

[Nugget]

I have to admit to using a shotgun before the leaves come down. After that, it's a .36 flintlock. Ohio regs say no rifles other than .22 on public land after Oct 15, but I got a few farms I can hunt all season with the rock lock.

Regarding patterns opening up, my uncle (who got me started in BP) wanted to hunt turkeys with his T/C New Englander and a 12ga barrel. Someone told him he could close up the pattern by wrapping the shot in a piece of card stock. Closed it up, alright! One hole at 25 yards! :rotf: