Squirrel nemesis bites the bullet

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squirrel_getter

squirrel_getter

Member
Dec 11, 2021
177
18
Alabama, United States
Finally squirrel # 1 for 2022. This squirrel nemesis has been hanging around for a few days feeding on pine cones in a pine tree that is visible from one of my sniper windows. I spotted it hunched up near the top of the pine tree eating a pine cone. It was at a distance of 49 yards and a 15 degree angle with a negligible wind of 3 mph. It was only about 10 minutes of daylight left. I shot him with my .22 Huben K1 2021 using a JSB MRD. I decided to take a lung shot because the head was partially obscured. The pellet passed through and came out behind the opposite front leg I believe it was dead on impact. See attached pictures.



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squirrel_getter, 

Nice shooting!! They can sure make a damn mess all over the place when they eat those pine cones. 

It's great to see that you have "Cujo- the close quarters combat specialist" to wring any residual life out of the carcass with his jaws, too!

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If the squirrel is still kicking when it hits the ground...it won't be for long. He goes into squirrel mode when he gets in the yard. LOL he goes crazy when he looks out the sniper window and sees a squirrel.
 
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Another pine cone squirrel is down. I took another one with the .22 Huben from the sniper window this morning. He was in the same tree but a little higher. The pine cone thief was also hunched up eating a pine cone. This time I had to thread the JSB MRD through some limbs for a head shot. It was lights out! The pellet passed through his head under the ear and came out just below the ear on the opposite side. See attached picture. This squirrel will be squirrel n dumplings for lunch. YUM!

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Another pine cone squirrel is down. I took another one with the .22 Huben from the sniper window this morning. He was in the same tree but a little higher. The pine cone thief was also hunched up eating a pine cone. This time I had to thread the JSB MRD through some limbs for a head shot. It was lights out!
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Nice shot!! I have a feeling we’re going to see you continuing to post “got another one” for a while with that Huben. I’m here for it! When you make squirrel and dumplings, can you post a photo? I’d like to see it. That’s a dish I haven’t made yet, but I intend to try. Are they eating the seeds out of some of the older brown pine cones? 
 
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I will PM you the recipe. It is simple. I just use my chicken n dumpling recipe but substitute the boiled de-boned squirrel for the chicken. If you don't tell anyone they will not know the difference.

Nope they de-petal the cones that have not opened up and dispersed the seeds. They then eat the seeds and spit out the petals and drop the core when finished. They make a mess underneath the pine tree LOL. Look for trees that still have the unopened cones ..the greener the better.
 
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I will PM you the recipe. It is simple. I just use my chicken n dumpling recipe but substitute the boiled de-boned squirrel for the chicken. If you don't tell anyone they will not know the difference.

Nope they de-petal the cones that have not opened up and dispersed the seeds. They then eat the seeds and spit out the petals and drop the core when finished. They make a mess underneath the pine tree LOL. Look for trees that still have the unopened cones ..the greener the better.
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I have a couple of recipes. I like to see how other’s dishes look compared to mine. It kinda lets me know if I’m on track. 

I see hear squirrels eat green cones every year. They leave evidence all over the place. I just don’t see any green cones left right now. All I see in my neck of the woods are brown pine cones. That’s why I asked. With all of the acorns and hickory nuts I still see on the ground around here, my next question was going to be is it a preference thing when they eat pine cones if there’s still acorns on the ground? That is if they’re still obviously abundant in your area.
 
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Basically they eat what they have available. The cones are no longer green...rather they are brown but still closed and tight (with the seeds inside) like the one the squirrel is eating in the video. They are after the seeds. Look for these trees and observe for closed cones. They are a squirrel magnet. LOL when I have fruit available on my trees they think it is a free buffet! Squirrels love to eat song bird babies and eggs when available. They are an opportunist.
 
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Same topic /different scene . getting rid of

If you have Squirrel in your attic and do not want to shoot holes in your house , Buy 100 % peppermint oil @ a health food store . ( NOT found in the cooking section ) and put a few drops in cotton ball's and toss around the attic it burns their eyes . . carefull not to use to much or the whole house will smell strongly of peppermint . 

P.S. wear rubber gloves 
 
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<img src="View attachment UGluZQ== Tree.1641397874.JPG" />//www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20210%20140%22%3E%3C/svg%3E

See attached picture of a pine tree with closed cones. This is a squirrel buffet.

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That looks a lot like the loblolly pines that are all over the woods in my area. Is that what that is in the photo?
 
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Yes the particular pine pictured is a loblolly. They bloom in the middle of summer. The cones take about 26 months to mature and disperse seeds. The cones usually begin to disperse seeds in the fall of the second year and the dispersal is usually complete by late December. You will observe seeds falling by the dozens. So you will have older and younger (immature 1st/2nd year) cones on the same tree. As previously stated, in the older cones, the petals will be open in about 26 months to allow seed dispersal. The squirrels are eating the younger maturing cones. These cones have tightly closed petals with seeds between them. They are actually eating the seeds and spit the petals out and drop the core when through. That actually is the mess observed under an active squirrel pine tree. Look for this! Most of the pine cone eating is in the safety of the tree although they occasionally eat a cone on the ground if they find one. Most of the time they will attempt to climb the tree with the cone to gain safety. Thus you see the squirrels hunched on a limb eating the cone. Hope this helps.
 
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@squirrel_getter That’s actually very helpful. After you posted the video I noticed some younger, tighter, and more narrow looking pine cones towards the top of a few pines. I was in the woods and finally heard some activity where is sounded like claws on a pine tree. I stalked up to it over a 20-30 minute period (had to work my way through brush, vines, and saplings across a floor covered in dried leaves and twigs. The scraping noise was going on for so long that it dawned on me that it was a squirrel eating a cone. When I got close enough to see it, it either saw or heard me and hopped away. By the time I got an opportunity for a half decent shot, I missed. Then it ran across a property line before returning. I think this is the same squirrel I’ve been after for over a month in one particular location.


Understanding this sort of feeding behavior is helpful. I’m used hearing them strip cones in the spring. One thing about it, it’s very difficult to spot them in pine trees. Their tails are very well camouflaged with the pine needles. Glassing trees for squirrels is an art unto itself that I’m still learning.
 
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