Good morning hunt today

ADVWannabee · 12-30-2010, 05:57 AM

I grew up small game hunting but switched to deer hunting in my early 20's. I have only been out for squirrel a handful of times since.

Since I haven't been seeing any deer in weeks but plenty of squirrel, I broke out my Ruger Red Label O/U 12 ga shotgun and went for the tree climbing rats. I started the morning with 2 shots to get 1 squirrel. Ok, I am rusting with the scatter gun. I continued through the woods and got 2 more squirrels and 2 more misses.

I was just about done when I heard some movement in a big narly pine. It was a squirrel near the top. I switched to the bottom barrel with the modified choke, the top has IC, and put the bead on him. I hit him hard and he fell about 5 feet and hunt up on some branches. He was holding on to them and after a few seconds let go and fell to the ground. It was only when he started falling that I could see it was a fox squirrel. He is my first fox squirrel. I see them when deer hunting, but never when squirrel hunting.

I had forgotten how much fun shotgunning is. I am in my early 40's and was giddy as a school girl with the mornings hunt, especially ending the hunt with my first fox squirrel.

I can't give up deer hunting but I must get back after the squirrels again.

Well, enough of the jabber, and on with the pictures.

patman75 · 12-30-2010, 07:35 AM

Nice!

Blackradio · 12-30-2010, 04:44 PM

It is fun. I use my .22 though. Haven't really thought about using my 12ga. Maybe I should give my old 16ga Save a job! How did you cook them up?

Ridge Runner · 12-30-2010, 05:08 PM

I grew up small game hunting also, to this day at 50 years old I still enjoy squirrel hunting the most, don't get me wrong I like deer hunting but its work!RR

ADVWannabee · 12-31-2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackradio

How did you cook them up?

They are in the freezer right now. Will probably roll them in flour and pan fry them in butter. Anyone have a better recipe?

Big Uncle · 12-31-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADVWannabee

They are in the freezer right now. Will probably roll them in flour and pan fry them in butter. Anyone have a better recipe?

My wife uses a pressure cooker and then I believe that she fries them. I don't know much about cooking, but somehow this makes them very tender and tasty. She also makes a wonderful gravy.

I enjoy hunting them with a .22 better than I do many big game animals.

Blackradio · 12-31-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADVWannabee

They are in the freezer right now. Will probably roll them in flour and pan fry them in butter. Anyone have a better recipe?

I butcher them into pieces (about 2 or 3 squirrels), brown them on all sides in a cast iron pan with a little oil. Then add chicken stock, veggies (potatoes, carrots, celery), and spices. Let come to a boil and simmer for 2 hours. Serve over rice.

patman75 · 01-01-2011, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADVWannabee

They are in the freezer right now. Will probably roll them in flour and pan fry them in butter. Anyone have a better recipe?

First let them soak overnight in very cold salt water to take some of the gamey taste out of them.

Lemon BBQ Squirrel or rabbit

Then marinate them for 4-24 hours in
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 cup water
1-2 tbs salt
1 clove garlic
1 tsp tyme
1 onion chopped up
1tsp pepper
Juice from one lemon and zest
Squirrels or rabbit

Pour everything in a baking dish, cover it and put in oven at 350 for 1-2 hours until meat is faling off the bone.