KrisB
Ten Pointer
I went to that WMA in Virginia this morning to try my luck, even though I only had about an hour and 15 minutes to hunt, since I was expecting company by 10:00 am. Left the house at 6:30, got to the WMA at 7:15 and went walking down a gravel road where I saw a lot of squirrels last time.
Wasn't having any luck (saw 3 squirrels, but I wasn't quick enough to get on them) and it was almost time to go and I was about to turn back, but I decided to see where the road went and see if there were any squirrels further down.
I came around a curve in the road and there was a big weedy field on my right and a small strip of woods on my left. I heard a squirrel moving and saw a branch move. So I got closer and saw where the squirrel was in a tree a little ways off and I took a shot, but I missed. Something heavy fell to the ground from a tree that was right near me though. It was really weird. I didn't have a chance to look, because I was reloading and looking for where the squirrel I'd shot at had gone.
Then I saw a branch move and I saw the squirrel. I don't know if it was the same one or another, but it was sitting on a branch eating. I took aim and fired. I hit it!!! The squirrel fell from the branch, but hung upside down for like 5 seconds, but was completely still. Then it fell to the ground. I fished it out of the brush beneath the trees.
I had to leave by 8:30 and I shot that squirrel at 8:27! I was so excited, but I had to leave, so the celebration was short and then I hurried back to my car with the first squirrel of 2020.
My company arrived a little late, but it was fine. It's my Dad visiting and he hasn't skinned a squirrel in 60 years, but I was having trouble skinning this one with the gambrel, so I asked him how he used to do it and he told me. He would cut a line up the belly and then peel the fur back, using the knife to separate the skin from the meat. Same thing for the arms and legs. So I finished skinning the squirrel that way and it was MUCH easier for me. Definitely going to skin all my squirrels like that from now on.
Now the squirrel meat is soaking in some water and I'm going to find a nice simple recipe for it. Baked some cornbread this morning. I think that will go good with whatever I end up doing with the squirrel.
EDITED: The WMA was in Virginia, where small game season opened Sept. 5. I have a Virginia hunting license.
Wasn't having any luck (saw 3 squirrels, but I wasn't quick enough to get on them) and it was almost time to go and I was about to turn back, but I decided to see where the road went and see if there were any squirrels further down.
I came around a curve in the road and there was a big weedy field on my right and a small strip of woods on my left. I heard a squirrel moving and saw a branch move. So I got closer and saw where the squirrel was in a tree a little ways off and I took a shot, but I missed. Something heavy fell to the ground from a tree that was right near me though. It was really weird. I didn't have a chance to look, because I was reloading and looking for where the squirrel I'd shot at had gone.
Then I saw a branch move and I saw the squirrel. I don't know if it was the same one or another, but it was sitting on a branch eating. I took aim and fired. I hit it!!! The squirrel fell from the branch, but hung upside down for like 5 seconds, but was completely still. Then it fell to the ground. I fished it out of the brush beneath the trees.
I had to leave by 8:30 and I shot that squirrel at 8:27! I was so excited, but I had to leave, so the celebration was short and then I hurried back to my car with the first squirrel of 2020.
My company arrived a little late, but it was fine. It's my Dad visiting and he hasn't skinned a squirrel in 60 years, but I was having trouble skinning this one with the gambrel, so I asked him how he used to do it and he told me. He would cut a line up the belly and then peel the fur back, using the knife to separate the skin from the meat. Same thing for the arms and legs. So I finished skinning the squirrel that way and it was MUCH easier for me. Definitely going to skin all my squirrels like that from now on.
Now the squirrel meat is soaking in some water and I'm going to find a nice simple recipe for it. Baked some cornbread this morning. I think that will go good with whatever I end up doing with the squirrel.
EDITED: The WMA was in Virginia, where small game season opened Sept. 5. I have a Virginia hunting license.
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