Henry Rifle Forums

Time to get out the 410's. Squirrel season comes in next month.

I'm thinking the EXACT same thing.

Well, squirrel season officially comes in tomorrow. May try to set up my 3 chairs at the sites I'll be hunting to start with. No need to hurry, I don't usually hunt them much til around middle October. Still to hot and buggy til then.

Not many squirrels here at the moment. It's coming up on filbert harvest, so the squirrels are off in the orchards gathering and squirreling away all the nuts they can before the humans do.

It's strange that back home, in a relatively urban environment, we have almost more squirrels than I can count. Up here at the cabin though, I think I've only seen one all summer. It's totally wooded up here with virtually no one around, so I don't get it.

markiver54 wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 09, 2023 8:49 am

It's strange that back home, in a relatively urban environment, we have almost more squirrels than I can count. Up here at the cabin though, I think I've only seen one all summer. It's totally wooded up here with virtually no one around, so I don't get it.

Urban, people feed the squirrels, so they stick around that food source. In the woods they are more dependent on having to scrounge/forage around and tend to be more dispersed.

Mags wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 09, 2023 2:12 pm

markiver54 wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 09, 2023 8:49 am

It's strange that back home, in a relatively urban environment, we have almost more squirrels than I can count. Up here at the cabin though, I think I've only seen one all summer. It's totally wooded up here with virtually no one around, so I don't get it.

Urban, people feed the squirrels, so they stick around that food source. In the woods they are more dependent on having to scrounge/forage around and tend to be more dispersed.

Now, that makes sense. Guess I didn't look at it that way because, I personally will not, deliberately feed squirrels.

They will be hitting the pecan trees soon. Will usually get a bunch of squirrels for a couple weeks or so. But only got 1 tree with pecans this time.

They are in season here, but I've yet to look for any. I haven't seen as many around the yard or the bird feeder. I'll get a .410 out soon I hope.

Here's 2 of the smaller pecan trees. Maybe you can see the pecan hulls on the ground. The woods are behind me about 150'. I set up a chair just inside the the woods to get them going and coming. Even though it's still hot and the bugs are biting, I need to start tomorrow afternoon thinning them out.

Good luck.

RP

Yes, good luck. No pecan trees around me. I don't think there are any nut trees in my woods.

Im waiting for a frost to run off the villin ticks, chiggers, and seed ticks...

Know what you mean. Also wolves in them before the first frost. Drs. Office called and wanted me to come in for X-rays. So no squirrels today.

Put the hi viz sight back on the Mossberg 410 Turkey. It's kinda ugly looking, but it works. Shot it to check pattern, then late afternoon, confirmed it on 2 squirrels. Hopefully when I get around to sighting it in with slugs, want have to do any adjusting. Would be nice.

You guys must have bigger squirrels than we have around here. Our's aren't much bigger than the chipmunks, would take several for one serving.

Wife don't want me bringing them in the house anymore, so don't eat them anymore. But used to put in dumplings. Most all we have around here now are Gray squirrels. Hardly ever see a fox squirrel anymore. Squirrel and dumplings was always good.

graywolf wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 22, 2023 8:52 pm

Wife don't want me bringing them in the house anymore, so don't eat them anymore. But used to put in dumplings. Most all we have around here now are Gray squirrels. Hardly ever see a fox squirrel anymore. Squirrel and dumplings was always good.

I don't think Mary would eat any if I got them and cooked them, but my stepson would be over. I think his better half and daughter would have some also. That would take quite few of them for the pot. I haven't seen many so far.

We have solid black squirrels here as well as grey's. The black one's aren't as plentiful, we also have smaller reds running around. Those are the only kind we have.

Good pattern, I hope the slugs work out well too.

Decades ago someone thought it was a good idea to import Eastern Gray, Fox, and California Gray Digger Squirrels to Oregon. If you have a shortage of them in the east come here and take some home with you. Open season on those year round here.

Shot 2 more for the fox today. Been having back problems so drove Utv within 20' of my chair. Still to hot. With short pants and short sleeve shirt, bugs bout eat me up.