Squirrel Hunting with a ML

[BS]

My favorite squirrel gun is my 7ga. loaded with a 7/8s round ball. If they are in a small tree, no too tall, I just shoot the base and BARK them. If the tree is bigger and taller, it just flings them out unhurt. You have to be fast to catch them for they hit the ground. I just use my hat like a catchers glove! Or if there is a bunch of them in a tall tree, [remember barking doesn't work in the tall ones] I use a hand full of buck shot 30-36cal. and get them ALL. Be sure to stand up wind as not to let all the debree fall and get in your eye. You may need to catch one or two of the wounded ones in your hat. Hard to get more than three at a time, maybe if you had a bigger hat! Do ya wonder why they call be BS?

 

[Zonie]

BS Ah can shor tel ye hasn't hunted in Arizonie. Iffen ye's up on the rim whar them Ponderosees are a growin yer 7 gage might work.
Am trees are as tall as a 12 story buildin so's iffen a squirrel falls out o the top then just tha fall will kill um.
Course ye might have all of em earthquake peoples frum Northern Arizonie University down yar neck fer makin thar little needles jiggle 'round on their graph paper too much.

Take care!

 

[Rocky Johnson]

Musketman- You most likely have flying squirrels in your back yard, they are nocturnal. Trying to clean a bluebird box That had a strange nest in it, I grabbed a baby Flying squirrel. Put it back quickly and left them alone..Rocky

[ January 29, 2004, 06:07 AM: Message edited by: musketman ]

 

[Haggis]

Now I feel like a wimp; the rest of us hunt squirrels with a longrifle and Rocky Johnson "counts coup."

[ January 29, 2004, 11:20 AM: Message edited by: musketman ]

 

[Rocky Johnson]

Haggis - Ya lost me on that one, "counts coup" . I was trying to point out that flying squirrels are quite common but you dont see them becouse they feed, move about and make love after dark..Rocky

 

[musketman]

quote:Originally posted by Rocky Johnson:
Haggis - Ya lost me on that one, "counts coup" .Rocky: "counting coup" is a tradition with Native American Indians, it was a greater HONOR to touch your foe instead of just killing him...

The Indians used coup sticks and would dart in and touch the enemy as a sign of bravness, this usually humilitated the COUPee and honered the COUPer with a special feather earned...

I have to chuckle a bit, a fellow named ROCKY talking about flying squirrels...
Where is Bullwinkle when we need him?

 

[TwoShadows]

Hey Rocky, Pardon me for jumping in and answering before Haggis sees this, and I am sure he can do a better job.....

"counting coup" was a native american way of showing his bravery, or degrading his enemy, by touching his enemy in or before battle and escaping from his wrath without being hurt himself. It is considered good form to even use a "coup stick" (or bow, or lance) to ride or run close enough to the enemy to touch or strike him with out harming him(other than his pride). Younger braves regarded this as a way of proving their prowess, and gaining honor among their peers. In some societies it was also considered honorable to be the second to touch a fallen enemy that was known as a great warrior. If your fellow warrior had struck down and enemy, and even though he was beyond retaliation, you could "count coup" by touching or striking him also. This showed that you were close enough to have engaged him next should your own fellow warrior have failed to defeat him.

This is kinda comparable to walking up to the meanest biggest orneriest guy in a bar and thumping him on the ear while he is hoisting his drink....then getting away with your hide intact!

 

[Haggis]

Musketman & Twoshadows have explained "couting coup" so the best I can do is give an example of a fearless man counting coup before shooting.

"It happened, however, during this autumn, that while the main camp was in the valley of the Yellowstone, a party of eight trappers, including Meek and a comrade named Stanberry, were trapping together on the Mussel Shell, when the question as to which was the bravest man got started between them, and at length, in the heat of controversy, assumed such importance that it was agreed to settle the matter on the following day according to the Virginia code of honor, i. e., by fighting a duel, and shooting at each other with guns, which hitherto had only done execution on bears and Indians.

But some listening spirit of the woods determined to avert the danger from these two equally brave trappers, and save their ammunition for its legitimate use, by giving them occasion to prove their courage almost on the instant. While sitting around the camp-fire discussing the coming event of the duel at thirty paces, a huge bear, already wounded by a shot from the gun of their hunter who was out looking for game, came running furiously into camp, giving each man there a challenge to fight or fly.

"Now," spoke up one of the men quickly, "let Meek and Stanberry prove which is bravest, by fighting the bear!" "Agreed," cried the two as quickly, and both sprang with guns and wiping-sticks in hand, charging upon the infuriated beast as it reached the spot where they were awaiting it. Stanberry was a small man, and Meek a large one. Perhaps it was owing to this difference of stature that Meek was first to reach the bear as it advanced. Running up with reckless bravado Meek struck the creature two or three times over the head with his wiping-stick before aiming to fire, which however he did so quickly and so surely that the beast fell dead at his feet. This act settled the vexed question. Nobody was disposed to dispute the point of courage with a man who would stop to strike a grizzly before shooting him: therefore Meek was proclaimed by the common voice to be " cock of the walk " in that camp. The pipe of peace was solemnly smoked by himself and Stanberry, and the tomahawk buried never more to be resurrected between them, while a fat supper of bear meat celebrated the compact of everlasting amity." Joe Meeks, The River of the West