Christmas mincemeat pie ingredients are piling up....and I'm not telling!

[AmosBurton]

look at that guy . i think there was more than a 'squirrel highway' goin on in that tree lol .. probably took out the entire breeding population in the area .. something to think about ..its nice to take them right in the yard now and then but hows it gonna be for the next 7 years when theres nothing lol .. guess theres always paper targets ..

I don't think I'll run out of squirrels anytime soon, lol. If I wipe out the local population I'm sure the neighboring properties will provide some.

Wouldn't possession limit stop applying once the squirrels are gutted and in the fridge? Doesn't make sense to me that you couldn't freeze all your squirrels through the season?

I wish, my understanding is anything I possess counts towards the limit. If gutted in the fridge didn't count I'd just keep filling the freezer. That being said I will go back and check the DNR website.

 

[UCChris]

@UCChris Maybe the definition varies from state to state. In Texas it’s defined as follows:
View attachment 315623
(source: https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/general-regulations/definitions)

This is how Illinois defines “possession limit”:
View attachment 315626

(Source: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1729&ChapterID=43)

So Illinois definition means you can't have more than 10 squirrels in your freezer, despite the daily bag limit being 5. I would expect nothing less from this $&@!hole state. Despite my feelings towards Texas, Texas' definition makes way more sense.

 

[AmosBurton]

Yeah, would be nice if it were 20 total.
I can't really see anyone coming to check my freezer.

 

[Simplyhooked PCPs]

So I was trying to be enthusiastic about decorating the Christmas tree but it was overcast and still. Perfect squirrel hunting weather! I was itching to get in the woods.
Fortunately I've got windows to the woods on 3 sides because while hanging ornaments a freaking nutter had the gaul to sit there like a Crossman squirrel target!!!
I just couldn't abide that. Especially since I've been practicing on that Crossman squirrel target a bunch! I stepped outside, braced against the corner of the house, found the target, zoomed in and then I let it fly. It went in a little low, and out a little high, she never felt a thing.

H&N Baracuda Hunter Extreme 27.47gr @ 890 fps - 30yds

View attachment 308866

When it's to head head and like that, it can only be dead. When we aim small, we have the tendency to hit small or we miss completely! Great shooting by the way!

 

[AmosBurton]

When it's to head head and like that, it can only be dead. When we aim small, we have the tendency to hit small or we miss completely! Great shooting by the way!

Thanks!

 

[AmosBurton]

I mentioned I was almost at the possession limit for squirrel to my wife. I came back in from running the dog and there were two squirrel defrosting on the counter.
She knows the game.

I forgot to post the pellet post mortem, as it were.
It has some fur and white chunks of bone but is not as deformed as I thought it might be. Especially after going through a front fore leg, in and out of the chest cavity, and through the shoulder to stop under the skin.

 

[AmosBurton]

No hunting today.
Squirrels were riding this day out in their dreys, too cold and windy.
While the squirrel on the counter defrosted I took Amos out for a run in the -30ºF weather (really 1ºF but with the wind, brrr...and I spent the last 20+yrs in NH). After the stint outside he was happy to nap the afternoon away.

My wife made the squirrel on the counter into Sqwirrel Pot Pie, served with a Schlafly Coffee Stout or 2 or 3, ahem.
So dang good! Leftovers for tomorrow!

It's not going to be much warmer tomorrow morning but I'll be out before sunrise, waiting for some nutter to leave the nest for a "quick" trip to the stash.

 

[AmosBurton]

I gave the squirrels a pass on Christmas but today was another story...
#10 - a big fat Fox squirrel. Currently I have 6 of my 10 possession limit in the fridge identifiable as squirrels.

Boy what a little bit of snow can do! It felt like I finally had the advantage in spotting them before they spotted me.

Fox squirrels are funny, unlike a grey that would just run up the far side of a tree, this one just ran 10' up the tree and stopped to look around.
It was about a 50yd shot. She ran but didn't get 10' from the tree.