2021-2022 Hunting Season

[Kent Goldings]

I’ve often debated a 12ga slug in a tree rat, but at almost $5 a round, it’s not worth it. I may get a co2 pellet pistol to help with them.

He who hunts 2 game seldom gets 1.

I used to hunt with a second rifle. It was my Henry H001 loaded with CB shorts. I discovered that the prospect of shooting a squirrel made them more distracting. I ended the practice was the day I was looking at a buck through the sights of the wrong rifle.

There’s plenty if time for squirrel in January and February. It’s a great time to hunt them, if the weather cooperates.

 

[camper4lyfe]

He who hunts 2 game seldom gets 1.

I used to hunt with a second rifle. It was my Henry H001 loaded with CB shorts. I discovered that the prospect of shooting a squirrel made them more distracting. I ended the practice was the day I was looking at a buck through the sights of the wrong rifle.

There’s plenty if time for squirrel in January and February. It’s a great time to hunt them, if the weather cooperates.

I definitely prefer post-season squirrel hunting. It’s way easier with no leaves on the trees.

 

[Blimey]

Not a damn thing today until on the way out I went up to a field that sometimes has deer. It did, but my God the snow/ice was packed and making a damn racket, so by the time I got close they were off.

 

[Bustedknees]

Been out twice now with the TC Greyhawk and have seen plenty of deer , some too late, some to fast, but did have a few shots on a big fat doe with her yearlings. I'd really like to make a kill with it but I'll wait for a decent buck or even a coyote on the holiday hunt. If not I'll touch it off just to smell the blackpowder. I think its been loaded for two or three years now.

 

[Karpteach]

My CVA Optima V2 shoots pretty good. But, I have Wolf for back-up.

BTW, forkie stew is delicious.

View attachment 139495

All you need is some crunchy bread to mop up what the spoon doesn’t!!! Enjoy!!

 

[Kent Goldings]

All you need is some crunchy bread to mop up what the spoon doesn’t!!! Enjoy!!

I did that very thing. The stew was a little loose for my taste. I’m going to modify the recipe.

I used the one from Steve Rinella’s book.

 

[Saltwater60]

Any one going this coming week? I’m going Sunday and money I think. I’ll head out early Sunday and hunt until dark on Monday. Try out my new Christmas gifts. My wife left one out and I thought she put them away so I got some Irish setter neoprene boots. Should get me in and out of the creek quietly and keep my feet warm

 

[Kent Goldings]

Any one going this coming week? I’m going Sunday and money I think. I’ll head out early Sunday and hunt until dark on Monday. Try out my new Christmas gifts. My wife left one out and I thought she put them away so I got some Irish setter neoprene boots. Should get me in and out of the creek quietly and keep my feet warm

I planning to hunt as long as the weather cooperates. I’m a little leery about hunting with the Hawken while it is too wet out. Of course, the Optima is stainless steel.

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

Any one going this coming week? I’m going Sunday and money I think. I’ll head out early Sunday and hunt until dark on Monday. Try out my new Christmas gifts. My wife left one out and I thought she put them away so I got some Irish setter neoprene boots. Should get me in and out of the creek quietly and keep my feet warm

Wow. You're sleeping in the woods? Dedicated.

 

[pjzwtl]

Any one going this coming week? I’m going Sunday and money I think. I’ll head out early Sunday and hunt until dark on Monday. Try out my new Christmas gifts. My wife left one out and I thought she put them away so I got some Irish setter neoprene boots. Should get me in and out of the creek quietly and keep my feet warm

Sunday will be the first time in years I will be out with all 3 of my sons at the same time.

 

[Saltwater60]

Th

Sunday will be the first time in years I will be out with all 3 of my sons at the same time.

ays fantastic. Good to hear.

 

[Saltwater60]

Wow. You're sleeping in the woods? Dedicated.

I’ve actually contemplated it this year. If I get my raised stand built this year maybe I will next year. I’m planning a 4’x8’ raised stand.

 

[Kent Goldings]

Roast back-strap of yearling forkie for Christmas Dinner. Hope you can your are having a merry one.

 

[Saltwater60]

Roast back-strap of yearling forkie for Christmas Dinner. Hope you can your are having a merry one.

View attachment 140062

Yum. Looks like Christmas dinner, but from a cow because I didn’t connect…. Yet!!

 

[Saltwater60]

Had two bleat back today, but never laid eyes on them. Tomorrow and then I’m done for the season. Maybe go a few times for small game and trapping, but I’ve got stuff to do.

 

[Xae289]

May be the last day I get to hunt deer this year (I might go out to Long Island once for their special January season) and I only went out 3 other times during rifle season.

The whole day has been foggy and wet. The woods are dead silent. Pretty eerie but very cool. Didn't see anything from the stand this morning. Around noon I packed up and still hunted my way across the property for a couple of hours, making my way to the stand I'm in now. The wet leaves made it very easy to stalk quietly. I came up within 15 yards of a fox, which was pretty cool. He was digging through the ground, locked eyes with me while I was reaching for my phone to take a picture, and trotted off before I could bring the phone up. I'd never seen a fox while hunting before or ever been so close to one, so that was fun.

I'll give it another hour or so in this stand before I call it a day.

 

[Saltwater60]

Weather by me sucked on Monday. Very snowy and windy. I hunted in my blind until about 10:30am and saw nothing. I have regularly been seeing deer pass through that area, but saw nothing. I then took a walk and rustled up the fox I’ve been seeing on my camera, but no deer and not one sign, not a single track. So I headed up the old logging road to another logging road and no signs at all. I have no feeding spots on my hunting property so I just left. I’m done for the season.

 

[Kent Goldings]

I took a short walk into the woods to “unload” the Hawken. I saw a few squirrels, but I didn’t feel like taking a shot.

The last duty was a thorough cleaning and oiling before long-term storage.

 

[nortatoga]

A Ron White Classic!!

 

[Kent Goldings]

It was unseasonably warm and wet this morning. I took a chance and went out hunting for squirrel. I walked though the drizzle for about an hour. I snuck about the primitive campsites that litter the west shore of Onteora Lake here in Ulster County. I saw two squirrel, I took the first off-hand at 20-yards with a head-shot. The second was a clean miss, off-hand at 30 yards. I should have found a rest, but I was a little arrogant after the first kill. I heard another barking, but the overcast made visibility poor. I’m using my ears as much as my eyes these days.

My primary squirreling rifle is an Anniversary addition Ruger 10/22 that I’ve modded with a Green Mountain 20-inch sporter barrel and a Boyd’s Rimfire Hunter laminate stock in the traditional nutmeg color profile. The combination has an appealing heft and balance.

Purchased early in 2015, This rifle has been through thick-and-thin and is always reliable. Thousands of rounds and dozens squirrel have made some lasting memories.

The rifle mounts a venerable Nikon Prostaff Rimfire 3-9x40 Nikoplex. This is my favorite rimfire hunting scope. But, I’ve noticed that the eyepiece lens has come loose in the setting. The scope cost $120 new in 2015 and is no longer made. I never liked the Nikon Prostaff 2 rimfires that replaced it and Nikon doesn’t even make scopes anymore.

I’m not looking forward to having to replace it.

 

[squib]

Nice job. Big deer.

Had Big Louie scored today.

 

[Kent Goldings]

The weather was brilliant today. It was sunny and just above freezing. This is the right time to remind the local squirrel that I still exist.

Score 2 for the Stoeger Condor 20g. The best O/U built under license in South America by a subsidiary or an Italian company.

I bought the gun about a year ago for May Turkey. But, it’s a great small game gun. This is the first kill for the second barrel. I took the two from the same tree, one barrel each.


There were dudes ice-fishing in the lake. I really admire people with that level of commitment.

 

[Saltwater60]

The weather was brilliant today. It was sunny and just above freezing. This is the right time to remind the local squirrel that I still exist.

Score 2 for the Stoeger Condor 20g. The best O/U built under license in South America by a subsidiary or an Italian company.

I bought the gun about a year ago for May Turkey. But, it’s a great small game gun. This is the first kill for the second barrel. I took the two from the same tree, one barrel each.
View attachment 146398

There were dudes ice-fishing in the lake. I really admire people with that level of commitment.
View attachment 146399

I love ice fishing. Thanks for the admiration, but it’s sure not roughing it. I have an insulated tent and a heater. It’s probably 70-75 degrees in my tent with two vents open and the small door 1/3 the way open. Food, snacks, comfy chairs, and two cameras now to see what’s going on down there. It’s fun.

 

[Kent Goldings]

I love ice fishing. Thanks for the admiration, but it’s sure not roughing it. I have an insulated tent and a heater. It’s probably 70-75 degrees in my tent with two vents open and the small door 1/3 the way open. Food, snacks, comfy chairs, and two cameras now to see what’s going on down there. It’s fun.

You don’t see it, because your in it. Those dudes dragged that gear at least a half a mile from the parking area on Route 28. That’s a level of commitment admire.

 

[Saltwater60]

You don’t see it, because your in it. Those dudes dragged that gear at least a half a mile from the parking area on Route 28. That’s a level of commitment admire.

Oh the trek in last Saturday sucked big donkey balls. Snow was deep, parking lot wasn’t plowed so no parking there. I had to walk about a half mile last Saturday. My son said dad it gets better here where the snow is packed down and was previously plowed. Yeah for him it did. He weighs 50-60 lbs less and he wasn’t dragging the 140 lbs of gear. Every step for a few hundred feet the snow was up to my balls. It was a widow maker walk. Then snow was in my boots since the snow was so deep, feet were wet and cold until I got the heater going. Socks were smoking then.
I’m hoping the trek out tomorrow is way easier. I bought more gear so the sled will be even heavier. No new snow so I should be able to park closer.

 

[Kent Goldings]

I was able to get a walk near Onteora Lake before the rain swept through. Bagged two squirrel with the Condor. First was a five yards trying to hide on a branch. The second was at 40 yards cracking a nut.

Two seems to be my limit these days. The overcast sky gives a better quality of light for photos.

 

[Saltwater60]

I was able to get a walk near Onteora Lake before the rain swept through. Bagged two squirrel with the Condor. First was a five yards trying to hide on a branch. The second was at 40 yards cracking a nut.

Two seems to be my limit these days. The overcast sky gives a better quality of light for photos.

View attachment 146637

Busting a nut at 40 yards, you don’t say?

 

[Kent Goldings]

Busting a nut at 40 yards, you don’t say?

That joke is the first thing that I thought of when I saw the acorn still in his mouth. This is only the second time I’ve caught a squirrel mid-nut.

 

[Kent Goldings]

I made a promise to myself to go squirrel hunting whenever the temperature goes above freezing. Today it was 41 degrees at sunrise.

Returning to the woods with the Ruger 10/22 Green Mountain Sporter. I recently replaced the Nikon Prostaff Rimfire 3-9x40 with a Prostaff P3 6-18x40. The latter is a centerfire scope with an adjustable objective and I was hoping it would serve as a replacement for the older scope after the eye-piece lens came lose. Still, the 6x made target acquisition more difficult and the AO had difficulty providing sharp focus at closer than 50 yards. I have a more suitable replacement scope being shipped. I’ll post about that, if February allows.

The first squirrel was taken from a tree at about 20 yards. It was off-hand so I opted for heart and lungs. The target was only still for a moment, but the 36 mini-mag HP made short work of it.

However, a second squirrel was no so graceful. The target was on the ground partially obscured by rocky rubble and downed branches.

The image was not sharp and the shot was bad. I opted for a second shot, but the first case had stove-piped as it ejected. This happens occasionally with autoloaders. It is extremely rare with mini-mags, but the chamber in the green mountain barrel has lower tolerance for ammo variation.

I prefer autoloaders for hunting and the 10/20 is s particularly good choice with the 10-round flush detachable magazines. Swapping Ruger mags to a reload on a cold morning is much more pleasant than reloading a tube magazine.

The trade-off is marginally lower reliability than a bolt-action and more complicated cleaning regimen.

I cleared the malfunction and pulled the bolt to chamber a fresh round. But, the squirrel had crawled off. I found blood trace, but no obvious trail. I probably winged it and it crawled off to die. I haven’t had a crawl-off in a while. It is not a good feeling.

I continued to hunt for another 90-minutes or so. I spotted a few, but never had a good shot. There were also chipmunks and sparrows to add to other distractions.

If the warm weather continues, I’ll head out tomorrow before work.

 

[nortatoga]

Squirrel on the hood....