Squirrel Camp Report

[HuntenNut]

I took my 5 year old daughter out this weekend on a "squirrel camp" adventure. We left Friday after school and drove about 4 hrs north to Gods country and camped out Friday and Saturday nights. We hunted squirrels in the morning and fished for blue gills in the afternoon . We sighted several squirrels but no shots fired. We also spotted a couple of does on Sunday morning. It was difficult to get her to sit still for longer than a few minutes at a time. We still had a lot of fun, and the hunting was more of a hiking trip in the woods than real hunting. We did haul in some bluegill though.

To anyone with little ones, I highly suggest it. I got her some camo clothes and hat and some real hunting boots. She loved just getting all dressed up. I also told her she could carry the spent shells and the squirrels in her game vest if we got one (please pick up your spent shells!!!). We're going to go hunting again this weekend by our house which has many more squirrels due to the habitat, oaks and hickories (up north is more pines, birch and cedars with a few oaks and maples here and there), so I am confident we'll get a couple this weekend.

[scruffy]

Awesome!!!

I'll never forget the hunting experiences with my dad, very important bonding time.

Good luck this coming weekend.  It seem everyday there's fewer and fewer leaves.  I can't wait till most all of them are down and I can see squirrels a ways off and begin a stalk.  It's always fun watching little kids lean over, walk slowly, stalking through the woods.  They really get into it and work hard to do a good job.  And they look like they're going to burst with excitement.  :eek:

later,
scruffy

[gwhilikerz]

Yep, I learned to hunt by following along behind my Dad and uncles. My daughters followed behind me, tho neither of them hunt now. But my grandson has followed me thru the woods since he was about 5. Now he is 11 and is at home in the woods and on the water. I guess you could say I am re-living my younger years thru him. And it's great!

[Moonlitin]

Don't forget your camera.  I still remember the look on my son's face when that first squirrel came tumbling down out of the tree...it was amazement, excitement, disbelief, happiness, and a few more emotions, all wrapped into one!

[3006bluffhunter]

My daughter loves shooting 22 she is 9 years old...Listens very well!! understands that this rifle is dangerous!!! A good shot at are range in the back yard.........but when i looked in the gun cabinet for a 22 to fit her they all had a to long a stock.......I cut down the stock on a remington 597 22LR for her ........she loves it! Went to gander today to look around found a used 17hmr for $119 ....I think she will be tickled........Guys and gals don't forget when you walk into a store that sells guns.......think of the kids needs first small kids small guns......They will end up with them when we are gone so buy for them what might make them happy....

[crow_waxer]

i have had my nephiew out shooting a few times, who is about the same age as your daughter.  i didn't fire a single round, but i think it was the best time i have ever had on the range.  i can't wait to go home to take him squirrel hunting.  i am in the Corps, so i don't get home much, but when i get out i am gunna take him hunting, and i even take him when i come home if something is in season.
times like that also make for excelent memories for both u and u'r kids.

[HuntenNut]

Well, we went out again tonight for about the last 1-1/2 hour of daylight.

We got 2 reds and a grey. We learned about hickory nut shells dropping, the sound of cuttin teeth, and what a mess of nut shells on the ground means.

Also missed a shot at a rabbit on the way out.

We were doing the sneak foot on the path for the last 1/2 hour of light on our way out, which she really thought was fun.