Lazy Squirrel Huntin?

[Dee]

Some of you guys may have heard me mention my squirrel hunting machine. I have had it about 7 years, and it is almost unstoppable, and almost fool proof. It seldom ever fails although I might occasionaly fail myself. I have decided to take advantage of my squirrel machine and use it in my back yard. I am constantly having to kill squirrels in my pecan trees in my back yard, and usually process them thru my squirrel machine. I have decided recently to process only the waste parts of the squirrel thru the squirrel machine, and process the rest of the squirrel the conventional way, i.e. cleaning and cooking the old fashioned way.
Am I being lazy or practical. I love squirrel, and what difference does it really make where they were harvested?
Did I mention that my squirrel machine is an 8 year old Jack Russell named Huff? He will tree for hours until someone steps out the door, and ends the treeing session. Starting today, he gets the left overs, and I get the good meat. Lazy, maybe. Good eatin, definitely.

[BUGEYE]

even if I had a "squirrel machine" like yours, I doubt if I could kill any.  I have been using a SW 22-A for several years and have yet to hit one.

[Curtis]

Sounds like a great plan, Dee.  Dem back yard squirrels has an easy life and they be tender!  Huff could have told you long ago but he's smarter than that. LOL

Curtis

[Dee]

BUGEYE, I shoot a Model 60 Marlin that is at least 30 years old and worth probably $60.00 even though it's real clean. The secret is, I have a $600.00 Leupold mounted on it. I can count the squirrel's whiskers with it. 

[tacklebury]

Although mine's only got a 4x I transferred from my Glenfield Model 25 (marlin) this is my Model 60.  Paid 60 dollars for it in 1986 and still going strong and shooting nearly moa with factory CCI or Federal ammo.    Definitely does a number on bushytails.    I've never hunted squirrel with a dog, but have heard it's a nice way to go. 

[hillbill]

lol dee treasure that dog! i had a half collie half aussie sheperd dog when i was a kid that would run anything up a tree that could climb.i honestly think he would of treed a bear if he could of found one.never wud mess with a skunk or a cat tho.i got a little rat terrier ill be starting this fall soon on squirrels.hope he turns out as good as yur jr.put them yard rats in the freezer till yu get a mess and pop them in the pressure cooker fer a bit then fry them up!

[Dee]

I boil'em and then chicken fry'em, and use some of the boil water for gravy.

[Dee]

Although mine's only got a 4x I transferred from my Glenfield Model 25 (marlin) this is my Model 60.  Paid 60 dollars for it in 1986 and still going strong and shooting nearly moa with factory CCI or Federal ammo.    Definitely does a number on bushytails.    I've never hunted squirrel with a dog, but have heard it's a nice way to go. 

Mine is identical to yours. A little darker wood, and little lower scope mount, and bigger scope, but like you say it shoots minute of angle.

[mechanic]

Way to go Dee.  Them tender back yard squirrels are good eating.  You ought to throw that dog one every now and then though, as it's hard to get a good squirrel dog.

Try the squirrel in a crock pot one day, and you will find some tender meat.  Cook it on low all day with whatever veggies and flavoring you prefer.  I add a little beef or chicken bullion with some veggies like I would beef stew.

I've had folks eating it like no tomorrow and wondering all the while what it was..........

[tacklebury]

I almost use exclusively iron sights, but when the leaves are still on I like a scope to pick out their little eyeballs!    I had lost a few years ago when I was like 13 because they would lie flat and I couldn't see enough of em to hit with the iron sights at that angle.  It's the only reason I own a scope.  That being said, these are KwikSight rings which let me use my irons if a bunny runs out quick also.    This is my goto bunny .22 also.  Once the leaves are off, scope does too.  I often like to use my crackshot with .22 shorts, because of the quiet report when winter hits.  Seems like .22 LR crack carries a long ways and takes a few for the bushy tails to get back to business, but with the shorts, I've shot my limit from one sitting spot then go and pick them up in about 1 hr.  lol

[Dee]

I too alternate between irons and scope however, my irons are in the form of a Lyman Model 66 receiver site mounted on a Model 92 Winchester clone in 357 magnum. Over the last 40 plus years I have developed a load that shoots about 600fps with a cast bullet. Won't shoot very far, but a load this light in a 38 special case out of a 24" barrel is quieter almost than a 22, and has no crack at all.

[tacklebury]

Nice.    I was trying something like this with my .45-70, but with the 32" barrel, it takes a bit of powder to get it to "whisper" out with any energy.  Now that I have my .45 Colt carbine back, I intend to play with some loads like that also. 

[nova71]

I agree with you tacklebury about the 22 shorts, I use a Rem 552 and 22 short HP. I can go where they are cutting , pick a nice spot and get my limit without ever having to get up.... till it's time to go home and dress them