My last squirrel was 12/4/22 and today I got 2. That is unusual for me but it's happened before. They were about an hour apart. It is unusually warm for January here, about 70 degrees, and it rained hard earlier today. It is supposed to gradually cool off. They also both came from the same oak tree. It's one of 7 in one side of my back yard. My dog and I have seen then in the month between these squirrels but they ran towards the front yard where I don't take shots. These decided just to go high up in an oak tree and tried to get far enough on the back side of the limb I couldn't see them or hit them. The first was a 8 ounce male and was 14.5 yards away horizontally but at a 50 degree angle. I held just where I wanted to hit but if it was on level ground I would have had to hold a mil dot over. I would not have been able to see it if it's fuzzy tail had not given it away. Only part of the head was visible but I hit it below the ear and it exited the top of the head. It fell lifeless but did the brain dance. My dog, Cola, picked it up and shook it. Thought it was still alive, The second was a 10 ounce female and was hit almost identically in the same oak tree. It did not run as far up, however. My range finder said it was 16 yards away and at a 45 degree angle. It was not as far around the tree but was still partially obscured. I missed the first shot at the second one but hit it hard with the second. It fell lifeless about 5 seconds after it was hit. Cola did not shake it because it was not moving. I was using my P35 in 22 caliber for both with 21 grain H&N Baracuda Match pellets. Cola is in the picture of the female.
First 2 squirrels with my P35-22
- Thread starter JimD
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60 here in SC Kentucky , have not seen a squirrel all day even on the bird feeder no squirrel,
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I've weighed 31 of the 42 I've shot and the average is right at 12.5 ounces. Strangely the 5 I shot with my P35-177 earlier this fall were all above average and now the first two with the P35-22 are below. Just the way it goes, I guess.
That male was scared or something. He plastered himself to a limb almost to the top of a large oak and then just stayed put. I walked from side to side of the tree trying to get a good angle and just could not. The whole time he did not move. I could see his tail fluttering in the breeze but couldn't see the squirrel without the scope. With the scope I could only see the edge of his body where it was thicker than the limb he was on - it was a little limb. But I could see the top half of his head so that is where he got a pellet. Worked well and undoubtedly was a bit lucky but my P35-22 is my most accurate PCP.
That male was scared or something. He plastered himself to a limb almost to the top of a large oak and then just stayed put. I walked from side to side of the tree trying to get a good angle and just could not. The whole time he did not move. I could see his tail fluttering in the breeze but couldn't see the squirrel without the scope. With the scope I could only see the edge of his body where it was thicker than the limb he was on - it was a little limb. But I could see the top half of his head so that is where he got a pellet. Worked well and undoubtedly was a bit lucky but my P35-22 is my most accurate PCP.
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I got another 10 ounce female a few minutes ago. 25.5 yards and a 34 degree angle this time - was in an oak a little further away. I had a body shot opportunity as she was climbing but it was offhand and I did not feel real steady. Plus she was not stopping long as she climbed. So I moved to where I could lean up against a post and took the head shot opportunity she presented. Went in just over the eye and out the top of the head. She dropped at impact. Same gun, same pellet. I hope they keep stopping by but I won't be surprised if they don't. It takes more little ones to make cooking them worthwhile but they are easier to skin and more tender. Another one or two and I'll need to fire up the pressure cooker.
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Excellent shot on a nutter and when it's to the head, you know what's dead! That's a nice rig you've got there as well and your prize squirrel gitter to boot, what a dynamic duo. I decided to get in a little trigger time in this evening when I placed my cross-hairs on another grey's head but I gave it a break for another day, maybe tomorrow! LOL
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