Awful quiet

[.357 shooter]

With most squirrel seasons opening up. Lets see some pics of your limits and the weapons used....


Bryan

[Jerry Lester]

Are season is nearly here, but I usually wait till at least Late October. I love squirrel hunting, but I despise them nasty warbles!

[single action]

went hunting for about 2 hours sept 28th. I really wasn't planning on hunting for anything other than deer sign. I carried my h&r 12 ga single shot and the 5 shells in the nylon stock cuff. I was lucky I had them! shooting in self defense, I got 5 grays for 5 shots trying to get back to my vehicle. Squirrels were everywhere! 
A few days later I went with a friend to his farm to mow food plots. I brought my .22. I'm definitely too old (at least my eyes are too old) as I was only able to kill 2 squirrels. I saw plenty of them, just couldn't hit them. (head shots) Luckily, it was not quite the self defense situation like it was the previous Saturday! The squirrels were safe, and so was I.
This past Friday I decided for the safety of  everyone in the state of Mo, that I should actually go squirrel hunting. Due to excessive meat damage from the .12g, and my lack of marksmanship with the  .22, I asked my youngest son if I could borrow his .410 singleshot.To my surprise, he let me! As I was driving to my hunting area, it struck me that I had not hunted anything with a .410 since I was about 12 years old ( It has been a while, 35 years or so. ) so the whole hunt became a  bit nostalgic. It took me about 2 hours to get my limit (6) and I had a blast! Why had I waited so long to hunt with a .410? Why had I ever quit hunting with the .410?  I dont know, I guess at some point growing up I had decided bigger was better, or maybe I was too old for a "kids gun". Whatever the case, I was wrong. The .410 seems to be perfect for the job, after a couple of misses I finally figured out the effective range of this shotgun, and was able to make head shots with very few pellets going where I didnt want them, not near as much waste as with the .12ga, and it killed them just as dead. I had a great time, and I am now searching for a good used .410. Just my luck I rediscovered the .410  when local prices on shells have increased to around 8 bucks a box. But, I had such a good time, and remembered so many good times I had as a kid, I guess it will be worth it.
Sorry guys, no pics. I dont have a digital camera, and am too computer illiterate to post pics if I did.

[EVOC ONE]

Went out this morning.  It was a good morning for squirrel hunting.  Temps. about 45.  No wind.  Very quiet. 

I entered the woods at about dawn and made my way to a favorite spot.  Saw and heard nothing for about 90 minutes.  I decided to try another location.  While moving slowly along the trail, one walked up on me.  He came out from under some thick Laurel and was within 10 feet.  Sat up on his hind legs eating an acorn.  Not much chance of a shot that close.  I had heard him, but couldn't see him in the thick brush.  He scurried back into the bushes and disappeared.  I could hear him rustling in the leaves and decided to wait a while.  While waiting, another made his way toward me from the other side of the trail.  I was able to knock him down before he saw me.  Never saw the first one again. 

I moved down the trail about 75 yards or so when one ran across a tree branch that extended across the trail about 50 ft up.  It was obvious we startled each other.  He moved to the opposite side of the tree and hunkered down.  The trail was quiet so I decide to move closer.  While doing so, two more caught my attention.  They were chasing each other around a large Oak about 25 yards to my right.  When the first one stopped, I shot but missed.  The second leaped to another tree and stopped on the side.  I was able to knock him down.  Then the one on the branch across the trail re-appeared and began barking up a storm.  I swung around and knocked him down.

I was disappointed at the miss, but overall it was a nice hunt and a beautiful morning in the woods.

I was using a 12 ga. Mossberg Maverick with old red box Federal Game Loads 7/8 oz #6 shot.

Thanks for looking.

[daddywpb]

Single action:
My daughter and I just had the same experience. Her first shotgun was a single shot .410, and mine was a single shot 20 gauge. I still have both guns. We were going to go rabbit hunting and I happen to spy the .410 in the safe. I haven't fired that old 20 gauge in 30 years, but we took both of them and headed off to the cane fields. It was a good day full of lots of memories.