A squirrel with a family heirloom
Posted: 22 Aug 2016 02:12
Brian and I along with other friends used to start the "hunting" season with the first weekend of squirrel season the third weekend in Aug. Life got in the way and we missed several years. We restarted the tradition in 2012. Brian's farm is 200 arces split by a dead end county road. His cabin is called the "Lodge" because, well, it looks like a hunting lodge with deer, wild boar, turkey, bobcat and trout mounts. And it's "wife" friendly with solar generators, indoor plumbing and water via a gravity flow rain barrel. If the barrel runs low of water, we just go down the bank to the Cumberland River to refill it.
I love fried squirrel. It's only second to elk as my favorite meat. If I were on death row and requesting my last meal, it would be fried squirrel, squirrel gravy, biscuits, over easy eggs and homefries.
Brian and Mike like squirrel, but it's not their favorite meat. Both of them HATE skinning squirrel. I'd rather clean 10 squirrels as to 1 rabbit. Also, I'm into a Paleo diet. I would prefer to eat meat I've killed rather store bought meat. So the deal is: shoot all the squirrels you can and I'll clean them.
I usually pick a theme for the hunt--that being the firearms we use. This year I wanted to to gather meat we use shotguns but to have fun, we'd carry sidearms for fun. Rimfire handguns just became legal in KY this year.
Brian and Mike would be hunting with Ruger Mark III. I chose to hunt with a S&W model 48 .22 magnum with an 8 3/8 barrel
An impromptu hunt happened. Brian and I are sitting on the deck of the Lodge when squirrels started squacking. Upon Brian's suggestion, we had brought our handguns out to the table on the deck just in case a squirrel wondered by. All the squacking irritated Brian. He thought they were being belligerent. And, they were. So we headed toward the commotion.
The river bank is a steep drop from the flood pane to the water. There are soy beans planted in the flood plane and Brian had bush hogged a path around them. We always argue over who's being the shooter and who's being the driver. It always come down to positioning and practicality. While Brian and I are competitive hunter we are extreme happy with on another's successes.
My position dictated that I should step into the steeps, thick river bank to be the driver. Brian and I have hunted together for 35 years. We don't need to talk, because we know what the other one do in most any situation.
As we're approaching the squacking squirrel, I heard another one cutting on a walnut. So does Brian. He and I make eye contact. I hold up 2 fingers. He nods. Just as I was about to commit to breaking through the thick stuff on the edge of the field, I see the squirrel who's munching on the walnut sitting on a bare limb. Brian, just sensing that something is up, turns to look at me then focuses his gaze to the woods.
The lighting was perfect. I could see the post front sight and the squirrel. I touch off the shot. Much to my surprise the squirrel drops without so much as quiver. When the squirrel thuds on the ground I look to Brian. He gives me a "thumbs up."
This was the first time ever I hunted with my grandfather's revolver. I doubt I'v ever shot more than a box (50 rounds) through it. I knew it was a sweet shooting gun
While Pappy was not a hunter himself, he admired those who loved animal and practice good hunting ethics and conservation. Side note: Pappy hopped (a hobo) a freight to to Wyoming to work with the WPA (initials could be wrong) to develop Yellow Stone National Forest. He was a character. Whom I loved very much. To take game with his firearm will always be one of my most cherished memories.
I love fried squirrel. It's only second to elk as my favorite meat. If I were on death row and requesting my last meal, it would be fried squirrel, squirrel gravy, biscuits, over easy eggs and homefries.
Brian and Mike like squirrel, but it's not their favorite meat. Both of them HATE skinning squirrel. I'd rather clean 10 squirrels as to 1 rabbit. Also, I'm into a Paleo diet. I would prefer to eat meat I've killed rather store bought meat. So the deal is: shoot all the squirrels you can and I'll clean them.
I usually pick a theme for the hunt--that being the firearms we use. This year I wanted to to gather meat we use shotguns but to have fun, we'd carry sidearms for fun. Rimfire handguns just became legal in KY this year.
Brian and Mike would be hunting with Ruger Mark III. I chose to hunt with a S&W model 48 .22 magnum with an 8 3/8 barrel
An impromptu hunt happened. Brian and I are sitting on the deck of the Lodge when squirrels started squacking. Upon Brian's suggestion, we had brought our handguns out to the table on the deck just in case a squirrel wondered by. All the squacking irritated Brian. He thought they were being belligerent. And, they were. So we headed toward the commotion.
The river bank is a steep drop from the flood pane to the water. There are soy beans planted in the flood plane and Brian had bush hogged a path around them. We always argue over who's being the shooter and who's being the driver. It always come down to positioning and practicality. While Brian and I are competitive hunter we are extreme happy with on another's successes.
My position dictated that I should step into the steeps, thick river bank to be the driver. Brian and I have hunted together for 35 years. We don't need to talk, because we know what the other one do in most any situation.
As we're approaching the squacking squirrel, I heard another one cutting on a walnut. So does Brian. He and I make eye contact. I hold up 2 fingers. He nods. Just as I was about to commit to breaking through the thick stuff on the edge of the field, I see the squirrel who's munching on the walnut sitting on a bare limb. Brian, just sensing that something is up, turns to look at me then focuses his gaze to the woods.
The lighting was perfect. I could see the post front sight and the squirrel. I touch off the shot. Much to my surprise the squirrel drops without so much as quiver. When the squirrel thuds on the ground I look to Brian. He gives me a "thumbs up."
This was the first time ever I hunted with my grandfather's revolver. I doubt I'v ever shot more than a box (50 rounds) through it. I knew it was a sweet shooting gun
While Pappy was not a hunter himself, he admired those who loved animal and practice good hunting ethics and conservation. Side note: Pappy hopped (a hobo) a freight to to Wyoming to work with the WPA (initials could be wrong) to develop Yellow Stone National Forest. He was a character. Whom I loved very much. To take game with his firearm will always be one of my most cherished memories.
