Finally fellas...... A successful hunt.

[ghostsniper1]

Nothing super special that would require me posting pics like you guys when you get a nice buck or whatnot. But either way, I've been posting here about my trials on my squirrel hunts and how the woods seem to be dry on game lately (which I'm wondering if the droughts are to blame.) but anywho. Finally got a nice fat gray squirrel this afternoon. Drilled him with a 40grain .22LR that was not a HP so I wouldn't destroy the meat. Upon skinning and gutting, I was able to see the wound which was a through and through that severed the spine in the neck. I'm guessing he was dead before he hit the ground. The shot was about 40yards with my scope set on 4x. Another fun part of this was that my dad showed me how to skin and gut him just as his father taught him, and his father taught him. I did it all but he guided me through it. Went from being oddly disgusting to being a hunk of dinner in my hands lol. Either way, he's soaking in salt water in the fridge to be fried tomorrow for dinner.

[5280 shooter II]

Yaaaaaaay! You finally got one! Don't forget the dumplings and gravy!

[CaliFFL]

Congrats on the success!

Sounds like you are getting an education to boot!

[ghostsniper1]

Yeah I'm learning a lot on different animals behavior and when they are more active due to weather, feeding, wind and all that. Was actually surprised to see the squirrel activity today as there were pretty high winds at times but I decided to wait it out and stay still. I was using a blind this time and it surprised me at how much more the squirrels come out and "play," when they don't see you. I took two shot at two other squirrels before I scored the one and realized that my scope needed rezeroed. Took two sighting shots and I was ready to go. The next squirrel provede right. Now I'm trying to convince the wife that its good eats. She said she would at least roll him in flower and fry him on the skillet. Now to get her to try it.

[timc]

Congrats on the tree rat irradication! and you are wrong any successful hunt deserves a picture.

[Ernie Bishop]

Good for you.
More importantly now, you know how to carry on the skinning heritage and pass it down yourself at the proper time.

[ghostsniper1]

Good for you.
More importantly now, you know how to carry on the skinning heritage and pass it down yourself at the proper time.

My boy is 2 and my daughter 6, but I can't wait to pass the process on to them. Was fun just spending time with my dad too.

[orchidman]

Congrats on the tree rat irradication! and you are wrong any successful hunt deserves a picture.

I agree with the above. Any hunt deserves a pic, even if the hunting gods didnt smile and allow you to take an animal. Hunting success doesnt necessarily mean you come home with something...........the success is in being out there and enjoying the great outdoors.

Anything else is a bonus.

Congrats on finally scoring and especially for learning new skills to pass on to the next generation.

[snake284-1]

I tell ya what ghost, I would almost rather have a mess of squirrel, gravy, and biscuits as deer. Well, that's a close one I'll admit, but Good young squirrel is just too damn hard to beat.

[Wambli Ska]

Congrats on the tree rat irradication! and you are wrong any successful hunt deserves a picture.

Agreed!!! It's not the size or how fancy the game is. It's about continuing our traditions!!! Congtas brother!

[Buffco]

Ghost,

I have found that the best teacher in ANYTHING, but most importantly in hunting, is to going and doing it yourself. I have always been a voracious reader and was subscribed to multiple fishing magazines when I was 12, cutting yards during the summer to buy lures, line, and mag subscriptions...(this was prior to the days of the internet) However, even with all that knowledge passing through my optic nerves to my brain, I got my best education by just ...... going and doing.

The deer, the fish, the squirrels.... They'll teach you, if you'll learn how to listen.

Good job!!

[Buffco]

Nothing super special that would require me posting pics like you guys when you get a nice buck or whatnot.

Ha... HAHAHA.... Did you not see that spotted fawn I shot a few weekends ago? The one that I killed as he was dropping out of his mother's birth canal?

Don't let the size (or lack thereof) keep you from posting pics. If I went by that, I'd never get to post pics!

[timc]

Ha... HAHAHA....

Don't let the size (or lack thereof) keep you from posting pics. If I went by that, I'd never got married!

There fixed it for you!

[ghostsniper1]

Lol. Thanks fellas, that means a lot. I gotta say that although I'm starting out small, being an adult now and going out in the woods has really brought a lot of fun opportunities in my current days. Nothing like anticipating the morning to get to go hunting.

[Buffco]

There fixed it for you!

Haha, funny man. :D

[NN]

I guess those Yankee squirrels are big, Clean has to cook 3 down this way.

[5280 shooter II]

Of course Yankee squirrels are bigger....they're livin' high off the hog from the government teat......"entitled squirrels"! You call 'em gray squirrels....but they're really kinda blue-hued.......

[Teach]

Just a suggestion- - - - -if that squirrel is fully-grown, parboil it a while before you flour and fry it. If they're less than a year old or so, they're pretty tender. Older than that, and they'll be so tough you can't stick a fork in the gravy! The older ones either get pressure-cooked and used in recipies like squirrel and dumplings, or at least they need an hour or so of simmering in just enough water to cover the meat after it's been cut into quarters. Save the pot likker to add to the gravy as it's thickening.
Jerry

[bisley]

Congratulations. If you master squirrel hunting with a .22, you will have most of the basics of 'spot and stalk' down pat.

And if you learn to cook them so that they are tender and tasty, you will have probably acquired the perserverance needed for making other types of game tasty.

[snake284-1]

I wish I woulda paid more attention to my Grandmother and my ex mother in law when they cooked squirrel. Both those women could make squirrel manna from heaven. But unfortunately, they are both now in heaven and St. Peter is reaping the benefits.