Squirrel hunt

[shollis]

OK, so I started out deer hunting, but when I saw no recent sign of deer last evening or this morning, I swapped out my Mosin for my Browning .22 Takedown and hit the creek bottom.

I worked harder for the gray than any squirrel, I think. He was crouched up on a snag about 15 yards away grinding on a hickory nut. I sighted the scope on him and...*click*.

Misfire, so I thought, so I chambered another round and...*click*.

I got this sinking feeling. I had recently replaced the barrel lock spring and barrel adjustment spring and got a snug fit. However, I failed to put the barrel close enough to the receiver for the firing pin to make contact.

As I field stripped my rifle, of course the springs fell out on the heavily frosted ground, I managed to find 3 out of the four pieces and put my rifle back together as best I could. I estimate that the whole procedure took 7-10 minutes, all the while this squirrel was still sitting there looking at me and chawing on that hickory nut. I got my rifle together (barrel was a little loose because I was still missing a piece) and taught that squirrel a lesson.

A few hours later I went back to the spot and found that missing spring.

The fox squirrel was fun. I had just put a 3 x 9 scope on my rifle and dialed it up to 9 to make that shot. I stepped off 75 yards, then subtracted 10 because my wife tells me I exaggerate , so that was a 65 yard head shot on the fox. After that, the wind kicked up to about 30 mph and I packed it in.

All in all, it was a good day despite my rifle falling apart in the field.
I'm thankful I was able to find all those small pieces in the litter.

[webs]

Great story and picture shollis.I have a browning rifle just like yours.I killed a lot of Squirrels with that old rifle.I plan on giving it to one of my Grandsons.Thanks for sharing a great story and hunt.Let me know how that Foxey taste.

[jerry]

Nice, thanks for posting.

Small game, the other hunti'n

[ArkansasHunter]

Thanks feller for the story and picture...I'm helping my son move to a State Park
90 miles away and maybe just maybe I can get to the woods this week end.
Fun ain't it...A.H

[shollis]

webs, I love that rifle. My dad gave it to me when I was 14. That was 22 years ago and I have depleted the squirrel population in three states with it.

As far as the foxey, I goofed. Against my better judgement, I tried to cook those squirrels with only an hour or so soak in the refrigerator. I am slowly getting my wife to try various game so she told me she'd be more likely to try it if it didn't "look like squirrel" so I did something I have never done before, I filleted a squirrel. It wasn't hard, but time consuming.

I tried a recipe I found that called for a slow simmer, but I still should have soaked those squirrels. Some of the meat inside was tender, but the back muscles and most of the other meat was pretty chewy. I wouldn't let my wife eat it because I didn't want her to never try game again.

My 2 year old had some of her firs squirrel though, and she liked it.

Steve

[jerry]

Steve, If you pressure cook or boil them, you can pick the meat from the bone with a fork. It generally turns out pretty tender. If you don't over do it too much you can debone th meat and still bread and fry it. I deboned a bunch earlier this season and made squirrell chili with the meat. Everyone I let try it liked it fine.

[shollis]

Thanks, Jerry. I usually boil them for a while before frying them. I was trying to simmer them in cooking wine and water and serve them over rice. I think I cooked them too fast. I felt bad about wasting them, but I'll know not to try that particular shortcut next time.

[webs]

The Young Squirrels cooked slowly will be some good eating,but like Jerry says the older ones need to be pressure cooked.I usually keep my Squirrels labeled as young or old in my freezer, so I will know how to prepare them after thawing them out.Its good to hear that you are sharing your harvest with your wife and your daughter.

[two-70]

thanks everyone for info

[ShawnF]

i like to put mine in the slow cooker till the meat falls off the bone and then mix it with some cream of mushroom soup and a little beef stock, throw in some peas and serve over biscuits.....hey i think i need to go hunting.

[webs]

Good sounding recipe ShawnF.I am going to thaw out a couple old Squirrels and give that a shot.

[ArkansasHunter]

I ordered Marlin mounts for one of my new 22 rifles yesterday and I hope the rings are readily available localy. They should be.
The mounts should be here at 2 pm Friday so maybe I can rig the gun out and sight in and go squirrel hunting Saturday morning.
That is if I don't have to do some work with my son at the state park he's stationed at...A.H

[webs]

Good luck A.H.,let us know how you do if you get to go.

[CZer]

I've been cooking em just like Shawn does in a slow cooker with Cream O Mushroom and the meat is so tender it falls off the bone! Delicious. But now I still like the younguns fried also. I'm hungry for another mess now! Hope you get em A.H.!

[ShawnF]

Originally Posted by webs

Good sounding recipe ShawnF.I am going to thaw out a couple old Squirrels and give that a shot.

Yeah give it a shot, it makes my mouth water just thinking bout it.

[webs]

Hey ShawnF,I tried the recipe and it was great.I cheated a little and used the pressure cooker instead of the crock pot but the results were good.It turned two very old Squirrels into some tender finger looking good stuff...........Thanks for a great recipe.

[elmer fudd]

Good story! what does squirrel taste like?

[webs]

Similiar to the dark meat of chicken but uniquely different.It is hard to describe the taste of squirrel.

[NHmsj]

I agree with Webs, squirrel is similar to the dark meat of chicken. But, perhaps it is best described as being much like a cross between that said chicken and short ribs (pork.) And, like many foods, its taste and "feel" will vary somewhat depending on how its prepared. But I can say this without resveration, I have NEVER had bad squirrel!

msj

[ArkansasHunter]

Today was a sunny blue sky day so I decided to resight in my new 22 rifle and go squirrel hunting.
I got dressed in all the cool camo and put on my hunting boots and then loaded my Hog which is the name of my 4 wheeler in my truck.
Got the new 22 out of the old gun cabinet and a new 100 round box of ammo and off I go to my hunting grounds. I remember I hadn't ate anything today so I pull into a convenence store to see what they have left in the metal and glass box with the light bulbs in the top.
After picking out some super spicey chicken nuggets and a diet coke I'm back on the road again.

After arriveing at my Grand parents old house place I set up my paper plates I use for targets and lucky me I had the rifle sighted in, in no time.
I loaded the gun and myself on the Hog and here we go down an old logging road to a ground blind Deerstand not far from Indian creek.
Settling into the Deer stand I gaze around at how open it is now, because most all the leaves have fell off the trees.
Every direction I look I see where Turkeys have swept the forrest floor in search of a lone acorn, seed or unfortunit bug.
I looked at my watch and it was 3:18 in the afternoon, by 4:15 I was getting a we bit bored so I thought what the heck so I shoot a knot on a pin oak tree I had noticed in my gazeing around for a squirrel.
Finnaly dusk had came and it was time to hike back to my Hog, once there I secure my rifle and then stand there a moment just to enjoy the scenery peace and quiet.
Though I didn't see anything but birds it was a butyful day to be in the woods.
A.H