Squirrel limit on public land

[jdh2550]

Had to take time off work or I will lose it at the end of the year. So I took the day off with the intent to hunt squirrels. Picked a state forest I have never been to and made plans to leave early this morning.

Then last night the water heater hose decided to spring a leak. I figured my plans to hunt were gone. But one trip to the store early this morning and a quick replacement had me on the road to hunt by 10 am.

I had read that Michaux State Forest (PA) had good squirrel numbers. It took about an hour to get there and then another 30 minutes driving on stone roads thru the property to find a place that wasn't occupied and looked "squirrelly". 

Within 10 minutes I had my first one and had seen a few others. The morning hunt provided 5 by noon. Was able to eat my packed lunch at the truck, enjoying the weather and then back to hunting for the last one to reach my limit. A quick walk provided a short 40 yard shot and my final squirrel for the day.

All shots were between 20 and 50 yards. There are a lot of leaves on the trees yet.

 

[OldSpook]

Good-looking message squirrels. 

Well done!

 

[bertman77mk2]

What caliber and velocity and pellet? Looks like an awesome day to me

 

[Ezana4CE]

@jdh2550 That second squirrel looks like a fat one. Nice haul. I also like that stock on your Veteran. 

 

[Gerry52]

Is that a Zbroia you're shooting? Those keep piquing my interest. 

 

[Ezana4CE]

Is that a Zbroia you're shooting? Those keep piquing my interest.

@Gerry52 Looks like it is. I thought it was a Taipan. https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/zbroia-kozac-fc-550-first-range-day/?referrer=1

 

[Nutcracker]

Awesome. I have been out about ten times this year & have not got my limit yet



We had snow a couple mountains over this morning. Our leaves r over half gone.

Was below freezing here this am.

 

[jdh2550]

Good call, it's a Zbroia Kozak. I like the looks of the Tiapan too. I was using FX Hybrid slugs (22 grain, .22 caliber) at 972fps (I think). The second one was very fat. The rest were much smaller. All but one dropped right there. The one that didn't drop right away was a chest vital shot and he only went 10 feet and left a decent blood trail.

This is only the 2nd time I was able to get out this season. I need to prioritize my life and get out hunting more.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@jdh2550 Get out as much as you can if you love it. I was out in light rain for about and hour and a half this evening. I wanted to ask you, what’s the undergrowth look like beneath the canopy of that forest? Did you spot and shoot most of your quarry on the ground or in the trees?

 

[JimD]

Looks like a great hunt. Thanks for sharing.

 

[jdh2550]

The forest floor is relatively blocked by vegetation. Only 2 of the squirrels were shot on the ground. Thats just where I was hunting. This state forest is big and has a broad variety of trees and ground cover. If you are close you should take a drive thru it on the stone roads and you will get a good idea of what it's like.

 

[Ezana4CE]

The forest floor is relatively blocked by vegetation. Only 2 of the squirrels were shot on the ground. Thats just where I was hunting. This state forest is big and has a broad variety of trees and ground cover. If you are close you should take a drive thru it on the stone roads and you will get a good idea of what it's like.

Stone roads sound like something to see. I’m in Texas. I was just curious as to how the terrain looked out there. Sounds similar to areas in my neck of the woods. Some areas have dense vegetation beneath the canopy, others are more open due to sparse undergrowth. I’ve driven through some hilly wooded areas in PA and saw some beautiful landscapes, but never hunted there. Lotta oak from what I recall. Anyhow, you got a nice bag today. Sounds like those FX slugs drop em where you hit em. 

 

[Josh7388]

Great job! Do you still hunting is best for squirrel or sitting in place is best?

 

[jdh2550]

I started out still hunting. The trail I walked was damp and the leaves and didn't make much noise. I saw and shot the majority that way. Then after lunch, around 1230, they seemed to be noticeably less active, so I got to a spot with lots of acorns and chestnuts on the ground and sat against a tree. A few minutes later there were 3 within 50 yards. I don't know if other areas in this particular state forest have as many squirrels, but this area had more than I had seen at one area in 30+ years of hunting.

I hope some of you that hunt public lands try new locations. I had fallen into a rut of hunting the same area in a nearby state game land out of convenience and familiarity. New properties are worth a drive, at least once or twice. Who knows, you may find a diamond in the rough like I did.

 

[Bandhunter]

Great shooting. A very nice find indeed on public land. Any specific recipe you have in mind for your haul? I’m trying new squirrel dishes this year.

 

[SteveV]

Thank you for an inspiring post, and way to go!







Vines

 

[jdh2550]

I only had squirrel once and didn't care for it. My friend takes all the ones I can shoot. He eats them and does something with the hide and tail. One of these days I'm going to stick around to try his squirrel dinner. It must be good, because he is always very grateful for them.