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

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

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@AmosBurton Out a little high? Exiting high than you POI is definitely desirable. You probably put her away quickly. That doesn’t look like a straight on face shot.Let’s see a picture of the other side. If you shot at an upward angle you likely went through a portion of the brain exiting close to the ear. Did you shoot it with a .22 or .25 caliber? What type of rifle?
 
Did I mention I work from home?
That equals hunting at lunch.
After a short stroll down the driveway I heard some rustling in the leaves. I dropped to a knee and took aim at the first of three I spotted.
Unfortunately, I made a bad shot (because I rushed) and had to hunt the squirrel down. I did manage to find it and put it out of it's misery.
It doesn't always go to plan but it's important to follow through when the plan goes awry.
 
They are stacking up like cord wood in the fridge!
#5 grey and #1 fox
Got #5 right between the shoulders as he climbed out of his nest and down the tree first thing in the morning.
The fox I saw from my office window and ran out front and made the shot of about 50yds. One reason I love working from home!
Skinning the fox squirrel was very different than the grey. The back legs were easier (maybe because they are bigger thus easier to handle?) but the front half was a real struggle. The skin did not want to let go.
Maybe that's why my neighbor asked why I'd want to shoot one. He said they were only good for stew because they are tough. We'll see what a little slow cooking says about that.

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Here's a pic of the two together to show the size difference. I knew fox were bigger, just didn't realize how much bigger!

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Slug solutions #7 is in the fridge. Just a yearling. 1st shot hit the leg and exited the chest, it probably was enough but I followed up with a headshot to end it quickly.
I've got a possession limit of 10 so time to cook 4 just in case I have a really good day of hunting. Hahaha, yeah right (2 was my biggest day so far).
I love mincemeat pie and might throw some squirrel in there to add some protein. And I won't be telling the kids, mwuahahaha.

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#9 Big Balls Bobby, Billy's cousin caught chasing tail around a tree first thing this morning. His lady friend got away.
Got him with H&N Barracuda Hunter Extreme 27.47gr at around 30yds. I love these pellets. Caught him in the arm and it passed through into the heart and lungs. He just rolled off the branch and crashed to the forest floor dead as a door nail.
I think this is the 5th squirrel taken out of the same tree. It must be part of the squirrel highway or something.

Illinois possession limit is 10, time to take a few out of the freezer and thaw them out so I can keep hunting. Season doesn't end until Feb 15.

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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 ..
 
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#9 Big Balls Bobby, Billy's cousin caught chasing tail around a tree first thing this morning. His lady friend got away.
Got him with H&N Barracuda Hunter Extreme 27.47gr at around 30yds. I love these pellets. Caught him in the arm and it passed through into the heart and lungs. He just rolled off the branch and crashed to the forest floor dead as a door nail.
I think this is the 5th squirrel taken out of the same tree. It must be part of the squirrel highway or something.

Illinois possession limit is 10, time to take a few out of the freezer and thaw them out so I can keep hunting. Season doesn't end until Feb 15.

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

This is how Illinois defines “possession limit”:
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(Source: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1729&ChapterID=43)
 
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