Treerats!

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CRAPPIE_SLAYER
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2015/12/26 17:22:09 (permalink)

Treerats!

Although I love to fish, with the mild temps today and the boat not producing much lately I decided to try and put the smack on a few squirrels, the bluegill of hunting. My father and I are both avid squirrel hunters, so much so that he bought a treeing squirrel dog last summer. He was out with the smokepole this morning at another property, so I decided to go sit up by my treestand behind my parents house and thin out the population a little bit. The woods are loaded with hickory trees and there are quite a few treerats.

While walking back the path to my stand, i spotted 1, then another 2 of the little guys in a ravine in front of me. Hit one offhand at 25 yds, and missed another. While at the stand I saw 2 more with the same results. They seemed to be active today, so I went and grabbed the dog to see what she could do.

She's a mountain feist that's 1 1/2 yrs old. Squirrel hunting is natural to her, and she's really getting the hang of it this year. It's fun just watching the dog work as she hangs fairly close scoping everything, then takes off like a bolt of lightning as soon as she spots one. Ended the day with 3 more for a total of 4 greys and 1 fox.

Even though I wanted to stock the freezer up after making squirrel stew last week, hunting squirrels is more about marksmanship anymore. The trusty Winchester lever action .22 delivered 4 out of 5 headshots today and 2 misses. Was really a great day to be out.

Any other avid squirrel hunters out there?
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    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/26 20:30:13 (permalink)
    Crappie_Slayer I enjoyed the read, brings back memories about good times hunting other elusive PA. wild game.
     
    Ever try hunting squirrel with a 'smoke pole' using shot?

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #2
    Big Tuna
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/26 20:59:18 (permalink)
    I went out on Monday and shot two Grey's with the 22. The dog thing interest me where did your dad get the dog?
    #3
    CRAPPIE_SLAYER
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/27 05:05:08 (permalink)
    BTDT, never used a small caliber smokepole to get them, but I've done some reading about it on another forum and it seems like it would be quite a bit of fun. Might have to look into getting one someday.

    Tuna, can't remember the name of the town, but its just a few hours away in Ohio. I can probably get the name of the people from my father if your interested. As I said in my earlier post the hunting pretty much comes naturally to her. When we picked her up last year my father asked the lady what he needed to do for training, and the response was just take her for walks in the woods, she'll know what to do. We did box trap a few to let her run in the backyard, but for the most part its just been lots of time in the woods.
    #4
    Big Tuna
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/27 06:28:09 (permalink)
    Crappie Slayer if you could at your leisure,PM  phone number or Name of kennel or town in Ohio I'd appreciate it. Thank you.
    #5
    Walleye jigs
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/29 15:08:28 (permalink)
    I use a 32 cal tradition percussion with 40 gr of 4f more fun then a barrel of monkeys!
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    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/29 18:21:44 (permalink)
    Jig's are you shooting shot and what size/load?

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #7
    Big Tuna
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/29 21:38:10 (permalink)
    He'd be shooting a round ball out of the 32 cal. Lead shot out of a muzzle loader shot gun.
    #8
    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/29 22:11:07 (permalink)
    We shot number four shot from rifled barrels and it doesn't do too bad at about thirty yards.  Grouping was always tighter than we liked, even when we went to 7 shot for dove hunting.  Don't want to shoot a squirrel or bunny if much closer then that, what with tight groups, wasn't much left to cook.

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #9
    Walleye jigs
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/30 06:24:44 (permalink)
    I use .315 .32 cal lead ball with patch. I miss a lot but it fun. I have used my TC 12 ga shotgun with #4 shot and 65gr of 2F powder but that's way to easy.Gun has a full turkey choke.
    #10
    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/30 09:14:55 (permalink)
    How about shooting a lead ball from a shot barrel, not for small game of course but, for deer hunting?  Would a '20 gauge' not meet the requirements for hunting deer in PA?

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #11
    Walleye jigs
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/30 09:55:23 (permalink)
    Now you have me completely confused, of course that's not really hard! Are you wanting to shoot a round ball from a 20ga black powder shotgun?
    #12
    DarDys
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/30 10:37:08 (permalink)
    One would have to see a deer first for that to even be a legitimate question.

    😎

    The poster formally known as Duncsdad

    Everything I say can be fully substantiated by my own opinion.
    #13
    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/30 12:42:00 (permalink)
    Walleye jigs
    Now you have me completely confused, of course that's not really hard! Are you wanting to shoot a round ball from a 20ga black powder shotgun?


    Yes Jigs, I'm thinking (if ya can imagine that) why bother buying a rifle that ya might use for a couple of days when a guy could use a shot barrel for several months.  With the deer situation as is in my area, I'm about finished spending money on anything related to deer hunting.  Not even sure If I want to continue archery hunting after this year.
     
    DarDys
    One would have to see a deer first for that to even be a legitimate question.

    😎

    That's for sure DarDys, exactly why I'm looking to change my hunting habits.  In as much as I enjoy deer hunting, time and the need to hunt deeper and tougher terrain is taking it's toll on this old bird.  May have to hunt that same turf to find small game but squirrels and bunnies, are by far easier to get out of the woods.
     
     
    Anywho, not meaning to blow out this thread with deer hunting, squirrel hunting or any small game with a muzzle loader just sounds like the thing to do for someone who enjoys hunting.  A/K/A.........  thinking out loud.

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #14
    Walleye jigs
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    Re: Treerats! 2015/12/30 12:56:22 (permalink)
    I've always loved black powder, grandpa got me started. Turkey is my favorite but can't get up and run thur the smoke fast enough any more and to make matters worse I'm suppose to have a babysitter with me.  Another reason I'm considering letting the smoke poles go.
    #15
    CRAPPIE_SLAYER
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/01 15:43:55 (permalink)
    Took the pup out for another run this morning. Pretty windy here, but figured it was worth a shot. 1st woods yielded 2 trees with 2 fox squirrels. Also had a tree come down about 50yds from me while leashing the dog. That was exciting to say the least. Headed to a local gamelands after that. 2 more trees from the dog equaled 2 den trees unfortunately. Still a blast watching the dog do her thing. Think I'm gonna stop at a new property tomorrow to get permission, and hopefully a bushytail or 2. Hope everyone is having a happy new year.
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    Big Tuna
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/01 20:50:42 (permalink)
    Your making me jealous. I talked to the other guy in Ohio that you gave me contacts too. He going to have a couple litters coming soon. $325  for a pup.  I'll buy a male pup and if it turns out right,well your dad and I could be in the squirrel dog business.lol
    #17
    CRAPPIE_SLAYER
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/02 05:58:07 (permalink)
    That's a pretty decent price Tuna. MUCH better than what you told me those finished dogs were going for.
    As for breeding them, if that happens I'm pretty sure I'd have a new roommate after my mom got done with my dad, hahahaha.
    #18
    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/02 21:51:19 (permalink)
    Dad-burn-it yinz guyz...........  I went looking for the elusive PA. White-Tailed Deer today and all I seen was stupid squirrels, thank you very much.  Anybody got a good recipe for squirrel sausage, I'm thinkin about huntin sum them elusive PA. Fluffy-Tailed Critters?
     
    Oh and, I seen, one elusive PA. Fluffy-Tailed Bunny also!

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #19
    Big Tuna
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/03 07:28:04 (permalink)
    BTDT,THERE A LOT EASIER TO DRAG. IT MAY TAKE 5 YEARS TO MAKE A BACTH OF Sausage..I've had fried squirrel and biscuits and gravy,squirrel stew,rabbit stew,rabbit in spaghetti sauce, oven fried rabbit,and rabbit cacciatore this year. Two squirrel or one bunny makes a good meal for one,since the wife and kid would rather starve than eat rodents.
    #20
    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/03 09:18:57 (permalink)
    Now stop that, tain't fair!  
     
    Besides ya forgot Hasenpfeffer (Pennsyltuky style).
     
    Right you are, they're much easier to drag out of the woods.  Problem is, finding my way back outta the woods.  10-4?
     
    Keeep up the reports, enjoying the read.

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #21
    Walleye jigs
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/03 14:06:56 (permalink)
    Didn't see the Amish pickled squirrels!!!
    #22
    BeenThereDoneThat.
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/03 14:27:16 (permalink)
     ewwwww................ they taste anything like pickled pigs feet?

    Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~
     
     
     
      Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
     
    #23
    CRAPPIE_SLAYER
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/04 09:19:39 (permalink)
    Not sure about the dutchman pickled squirrel, but the pulled squirrel BBQ sandwiches I made in the crockpot yesterday were great.
    #24
    Walleye jigs
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/04 10:07:35 (permalink)
    Not as strong as pigs feet. Figured that was because of a red meat being used. My grandmother use to put them up in pt jars.
    #25
    CRAPPIE_SLAYER
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/07 17:21:06 (permalink)
    Had the dog out for a little while today. Treed 2 greys, but they managed to get holed up before I could get a shot. I much prefer the foxes that will hold tight instead of jumping tree to tree :).

    Anyway, came across this track that I have never seen before and wanted to see if anyone could help identify it. Kind of melted out, but was about 2" long.

    #26
    outasync
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/07 18:34:08 (permalink)
    Possibly a racoon? Any other tracks or just those 2?
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    CRAPPIE_SLAYER
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/07 18:49:06 (permalink)
    The toes of it didn't have the skinny look of a coon, and it was a bigger track than a coon. There was a set of coyote tracks on at the other end of the same log that were similar in size. Headed back out there tomorrow morning, so if they're still in tact I'll try to get a better picture.
    #28
    CRAPPIE_SLAYER
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/10 09:31:51 (permalink)
    Was out Friday on some local gamelands with zero results squirrel wise. I did however see 15 turkeys. Don't think the dog knows what to make of them yet. A few deer seen as well.

    My buddy and I got out yesterday and checked out some new country. Was a pretty slow day with the dog only putting up 3, but was nice scouting out new land. Late in the afternoon on the way back to the truck she put this guy up a tree. Was glad he made it up the tree instead of tangling with the dog.

    #29
    BloodyHand
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    Re: Treerats! 2016/01/10 10:12:46 (permalink)
    Look like Fisher tracks. 5 toes, tracks about 2 inches long
     
    BH
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