Squirrel hunting with the traditions 50 cal.

[Fatboyz]

I've been hunting deer with my dads CVA big bore Mountain rifle (I have a thread on that already) but my daughter and S.I.L were up this weekend. We were unsuccessful in getting her a deer though. It was a beautiful Nov. day here in Alberta and it has been unseasonably warm. My S.I.L. never grew up hunting or doing to much in the outdoors other than boy scouts. He is very keen and really likes the muzzleloaders. I bought him a used Traditions deer hunter for Christmas last year. He is a cabinet maker and aspires to scratch build a long rifle.
Anyway we went for a woods walk yesterday afternoon before they returned home. I packed the 58 in case we got a chance at a deer, he packed my Traditions 50 cal loaded with shot. I have had good luck with rabbits and grouse with this in the past. The day before my daughter and I hunted this area and we saw 8 ruffed grouse and a rabbit so I thought we'd have a good chance for some. Alas no grouse seen this day but there were some squirrels chattering when we were getting back near the truck. Here in Alberta you can only shoot squirrels on private land, unless you are a trapper on your line. He got one squirrel with the 50 to end the day. I skinned and stretched it to start my trapping season off! It was a blue bird day, a new Muzzleloader hunter is hooked!

 

[Fatboyz]

FYI, how I load this for shot is 50 gr. FF, paper shot cup, 7/8 oz. of 6 shot, and a felt wad over shot. It works great for grouse and rabbits at 10-12m normal distances for grouse here.

 

[Spikebuck]

I skinned and stretched it to start my trapping season off!

Was a trapper for many years but never heard of squirrels classified as furbearers. Are they used for fishing flys? Curious as to why the effort to stretch it, but I'm probably not understanding the end game for the pelt. Can you enlighten me?

Also, is "unseasonably warm" above zero F in Alberta this time of year???

Glad the SIL had a good time. As a cabinet maker he should have a fun time building a longrifle from scratch.

 

[Fatboyz]

Was a trapper for many years but never heard of squirrels classified as furbearers. Are they used for fishing flys? Curious as to why the effort to stretch it, but I'm probably not understanding the end game for the pelt. Can you enlighten me?

Also, is "unseasonably warm" above zero F in Alberta this time of year???

Glad the SIL had a good time. As a cabinet maker he should have a fun time building a longrifle from scratch.

Unseasonably warm for end of Nov. would be 0 F or so. it was 0 C , so about 30 F. Almost no snow either. Squirrels are actively trapped here and are sold like all other fur. Ours are sold through the North American Fur Harvesters auction. It's used for glove trim. I trap lots of them on pole sets with wire snares.

 

[Edm]

Ok, since I’m not familiar with it, how well does shot work in what I am assuming is a rifle? And sounds like a great time!

 

[azmntman]

That rifle in photo is a Traditions .50 KY? I'm guessing the shot cup negates the rifling creating a donut hole? GOOD day. Now get that deer!

 

[Fatboyz]

Yup a traditions 50 rifled barrel. it actually shoots a real decent pattern at up to 15m. Definitely good enough for close grouse and rabbits.

 

[Hiopun7]

Sounds like a fantastic time outdoors! Even though you didn't get a deer, the walk with your daughter and son-in-law was great. Shooting a squirrel with the Traditions 50 cal made it memorable, and introducing someone new to muzzleloader hunting on a sunny day was fantastic!