The last squirrel standing.. (pics)

[only1harry]

has fallen..

Well, I thought I had control over myself and the grey's which are near extinction in my neighborhood, but apparently I proved myself wrong. I have abstained from shooting squirrels the last 2 weeks or so. I even had one in my sights a couple of times and let him go. I kinda felt sorry for him since he seems like a loner and the "last squirrel standing" in the neighborhood. I say that because I see him climbing both my willow tree and disappearing, as well as the big oak tree to bed for the night, where a bunch of now deceased squirrels used to live in both trees. I remember 2 squirrels from the Willow fighting the 2 or more from the oak tree now and then. Now I 've been watching this guy come and go by himself and visiting both trees for a couple of weeks. Probably feeding from multiple stashes of nuts in a few different nets. I had talked myself into leaving him alone until he gets a mate and regenerates the now depleated squirrel population around my house, which I have caused.

The wife went to Walmart around 3pm today so I figured I 'd sneak in some 40 or 50 pellets but since I don't have my indoor silent trap yet, I put up an 8.5x11" outside on my favorite log at 20yds and got started with CP's. Trying to save up on the JSB's since there 's always a shortage.. I was minding my own business shooting paper out my 2nd floor window with the 350 .22, when not 15min. into my shooting session, here comes the resident squirrel to check things out, thinking the noise of the pellet hitting wood could be nuts falling off the tree. It's not the first time.. I ignore him at first, even when he came within inches of my target paper. Too easy, I just finished getting a 1" group at 20yds on Open Sights - I could easily take him, but no I 'm stronger than that.

5min. later he 's still hanging around. He 's now about 20ft up on a branch eating something, out in the open. He keeps going a little further and is on an adjacent tree in the front branches about 25-26yds away (nearest tree trunk is 30yds). I try not to look at him and loose focus. I shoot a couple more CP's at the target but I 'm distracted, not doing well. I hear him again.. Hmm now it seems more challenging. He 's further out.. I give him 2-3 more minutes to clear out. I get some water and slap myself to get him out of my mind. I can't. I walk back to the window.. The suicidal squirrel is still there sitting in a classic position in a small clearing between branches & limbs broadside presenting me with a beautiful shot and tempting me still. I can't take it anymore!! I wait one more minute to increase his odds of survival. The squirrel is now a couple of yards farther, up on a larger branch and sitting totally out in the open broadside still (with a slight angle) and not only that, he 's only about 10 feet higher than my 2nd fl. window. I 'm flushed, sweaty, like going through an addict's withdrawls. I unwillingly raise the rife, put the tip of the front sight on what I 'm pretty sure is his head (at ~28yds they look pretty small) since his arched tail is on the other side. I hope I miss.. No body shot on this guy, I have to make it hard for myself and hopefully I 'll miss. I even pulled the trigger somewhat to increase his odds! Hmm, the 350 seems very smooth lately.. Barely feel the recoil.. hopefully it was a bad CP.. Dang it, he 's down before I even release the trigger! One leg kicks 2-3 times and no more movement. He has joined his other 16 or so friends and relatives. Maybe he 'll be happy there..
Stupid CP went in just under his right ear and exited out a little higher (since I was shooting up at him) just behind the base of the skull/neck severing some big artery, maybe spine. Why can't I miss? Why didn't he just go away and hang out for 10min? I did all I could for him. Why do I feel so bad? Because I think he was the last one that I was trying so hard to leave alone everytime I saw him hop around on my lawn and got between willow and oak. I hope I 'm wrong. I hope there are others..

I have to build that indoor trap soon so I can stay away from that window!  Hey check out the balls on this fella! He did really have some "balls" hanging around while I shot paper!  
Are there therapists for exterminating backyard hunters like me?  I know Ed said there is no cure. I want to believe that's not true..

Oh weird thing is, the POI has a lot more blood than the exit wound.  Strange but it's happened once or twice before.  The pellet struck almost exactly where I was aiming with open sights. I think I'll start shooting flies in the off season :)  

 

[longislandhunter]

Hey Harry,,,,,, sounds like you gave that nutter every chance in the world to head for safer ground.   Nice shot.   As for him being the last survivor........ I doubt it,,,, I'd bet dollars to donuts  (I love that expression) that there's a few more nutters running around.  They may not be in the immediiate area of your yard, but once they discover that your "territory" is no longer being claimed and defended by the former residents, and they will discover this, the new nutters will start expanding their foraging territory and you should have some new targets......   :)

Jeff

[Phil_B]

Great shooting, and I agree with Jeff,I bet in less than a week you will have new tree rats running around thinking they found  squirrel utopia that is until that 350 sticks its head out a window

[shadow]

No control Harry hehehe, great shot!!! and fine pic's. As the other's said, there's more around just give em some time to sniff out the new housing for rent. I sat outside today, no airgun just my squirrel call and called a few in just to see where the new nutter's are in my neck of the wood's. Ed

I wish I had more tree rats around here.  Good eating!

[Black Mamba]

Good job Harry.

I have to say though....(snicker, snicker) that's the biggest nut sack I've probably ever seen on a squirrel.  You probably killed the most potent squirrel in town.

[longislandhunter]

That's a good one....     LOL

Jeff

[only1harry]

thanks guys.  Yeah those nutter's nuts are huge! :-)  
He was actually the toughest squirrel in the neighborhood.  I watched him fight off a pair of squirrels a couple of weeks ago that came to claim some of his territory and his oak tree.  I 'm watching these 2 climb up the ol' oak tree and then see this guy come down from the top and fight them both.  He chased both of them running from one to the other like lightning, until the 2 invaders left and started coming my way  running.  This fella was a few feet off the ground on the trunk watching them leave.  As soon as the 2 invaders were in my line of fire from my window, I took one down as soon as he paused and posted the pics here a couple of weeks ago.  The other one kept running and never came back.  I have not seen any but this "big" guy since.  Maybe now others will move in and settle.  It 'll be interesting to see what happens.

Ed:
I was thinking of putting some peanut butter or bird food out to see if any of them come from other areas but I 'm afraid I may not be able to control myself again :-)  They need to tie me up in the morning like they do with people at night so they don't turn into a warewolf :-)  What kind of squirrel call are you using and what's the best place to get them?  I have a predator call I bought from MidSouth.  Used it a couple of times but nothing came my way, not that I could see anyway.

[shadow]

Harry here's a pic of my squirrel call. You pop it to imitate and repeat their chatter and by placing your hand over the open tube will muffle the sound like a low chatter or bark. Ed

[only1harry]

Thanks for the info Ed!  

One more (ok 2) question:  Does it work well?  :-)  
Who makes it?

[shadow]

Yes it work's great Harry and I can't remember the the brand off hand but I picked it up a CABELAS. There were several different type's, this was the cheapest, $12.00. But I'm sure that you can find them in most hunting stores. Ed

[cf42fwb]

He is by far NOT the last squirrel standing,there are others waiting in the wings to move in on his territory.

[only1harry]

I hope so.  ok well let me ask you guys this.  How many squirrels have you shot in your back yard or on your property, and they still keep coming?  
I 'm up to 16 or 17 so far and I can tell you it's not like it used to be around here.  I used to see up to 5 of them at the same time in and around my property and at least 2 or 3 once a day.  Since my 350 to a liking to them in mid-September it is rare you see one.  I have only seen this guy in the pics above come out of the walnut tree for the last 2 weeks.  I watch him make his rounds - go up the street and come back 1/2hr later.  Then he goes to the other side of the street and is back within an hour climbing back up the oak tree.  No others.  I did shoot a bunch of them that I 'm pretty sure where not locals.  They came from elsewhere looking to invade after I shot the first 10 or so.  I could tell because of all the fighting and chasing which would end up with a couple of squirrels running up the street and be chased again until they were out of site.  Maybe they 're still out there and will migrate here to Harry's killing fields :)  

BTW, I took this one to the neighbor's house (my wife doesn't want them in the house) yesterday.  We skinned it cooked it at his house.  It didn't taste bad at all!  My first tree rat!  yummie!  Too bad we can't harvest them and keep them in an enclosed area and shoot them and eat them whenever we want :)  I mean it 'd be easy to feed them nuts and pumpkin seeds and stuff.. with a couple of trees in there for them to run around :-)  They 'd make good moving targets too :)  Try and shoot them while they jump from one tree to another, heheh, I know I need help :)

only1harry - 1/21/2008  5:47 PM

... Too bad we can't harvest them and keep them in an enclosed area and shoot them and eat them whenever we want :)  I mean it 'd be easy to feed them nuts and pumpkin seeds and stuff.. with a couple of trees in there for them to run around :-)  They 'd make good moving targets too :)  Try and shoot them while they jump from one tree to another, heheh, I know I need help :)

The proverbial "Fish in a Barrel", ehh Harry? ;~D

Glad you got a chance to have one for dinner; hopefully you can make good use of those nutters in the future, should they decide to overrun your shootin' range again. For future reference, if you didn't already think of it, it helps to soak the dressed squirrel in some cold salted water for a couple three hours prior to cooking, no matter how you cook 'em (I think Ed or Jeff posted something about that a good while back).

Bryan

[longislandhunter]

That's true,,, if you soak them in salted water in the refrig for a couple of hours, or overnight, it will remove any remnants of blood in the meat near and around the wound area....Of course if you take em with a head shot you don't need to do this.....  Nothin I enjoy better than a good squirrel meal   :)

Jeff