Late season squirrels

Steve Milbocker · Mar 8, 2021

I have an 1873 Winchester (Miroku) that I dearly love. It’s chambered in 45 Colt. It’s quieter than a 22LR with Cowboy loads. I’ve been thinking it’s a shame I don’t use it for anything but deer so I decided to take it for a walk today. My experience with slow moving hard cast bullets is they don’t seem to tear up much meat so I thought I’d give it a try. If I can make head shots I figured it would be a moot point anyway. I wasn’t fortunate enough to get a shot today but I’m going to keep trying. The squirrels on the island where I live are stripping the smaller maple trees completely of the bark. There are literally thousands of trees being killed here. Have any of you ever seen this? I’ve lived in Michigan for 65 years and this is the first time I’ve ever witnessed something like this.

Steve Milbocker · Mar 8, 2021

Afternoon hunting might be more fruitful. Just a clean hole not too bad

Barbaroja · Mar 8, 2021

That’s really interesting. Was there a mast failure this year? Aka poor acorn crop?

earlthegoat2 · Mar 8, 2021

I had to brush up on my MI small game firearms laws.

I thought a centerfire rifle could not be used for small game but sure enough it is quite legal.

Cool use for a neat rifle you have there. Shouldn’t destroy too much meat with a mild load of 45 Colt.

MacAR · Mar 8, 2021

Steve Milbocker said:
Just a clean hole not too bad

Awesome blackie! We rarely see those here in the Ozarks. As a matter of fact, me and my hunting buddy chased one for 2 days earlier this year, but never got a shot at him. Pity, as he wanted to have it mounted! Also, that is one gorgeous rifle. I've lusted after a .357 version for some time, but alas, not enough coin. And even if I could afford it, centerfire rifles aren't permitted for small game unless deer season is in, in which case I'll be hunting deer and not squirrel. Oh well.

This year, I used my Remington 572 and CCI HP shorts almost exclusively for small game. Sure does make it a bit more challenging. I'm thinking by next year, I want to find either a .32 or .36 muzzleloader, or a muzzle-loading shotgun, for my small game gun.

Mac

Steve Milbocker · Mar 8, 2021

The mast crop was decent but this island is overrun by squirrels, I’ve never seen this many anywhere else. You wouldn’t know it today though! Mac, the squirrels here are 99%
Grays/ blacks. I’ve got a 32 caliber Flintlock but my buddy has it. I’ll be trying it next season.

Steve Milbocker · Mar 8, 2021

In light of the good results I got from the 45 Colt I have another favorite rifle that may see the squirrel woods. An 1885 Winchester
(Browning/Miroku). It’s chambered in 44 mag. I don’t currently have any 44mag light loads but I do have a batch of 44 Special loaded for a couple of my revolvers that might work. Maybe I’ll see how they do.

Barbaroja · Mar 8, 2021

Steve Milbocker said:
The mast crop was decent but this island is overrun by squirrels, I’ve never seen this many anywhere else. You wouldn’t know it today though! Mac, the squirrels here are 99%
Grays/ blacks. I’ve got a 32 caliber Flintlock but my buddy has it. I’ll be trying it next season.

Sounds like it’s time to do a bit of delicious conservation work and thin Those squirrels out!

MacAR · Mar 8, 2021

Steve Milbocker said:
Mac, the squirrels here are 99%
Grays/ blacks. I’ve got a 32 caliber Flintlock but my buddy has it. I’ll be trying it next season.

That's pretty keen, Steve. In my area, squirrels are mostly greys with about 15% fox in the mix. We treed a fox this year with a solid black face, but he got in his hole before we could get a shot off. My buddy wanted to cut the tree! As to the flintlock, I'm hesitant to try one vs a caplock. The reason being the humidity here in Arkansas. Its pretty bad, even in the fall, and I'd imagine itd play hob with your priming. Anywho, hopefully you'll have better luck thinning your squacks out tomorrow. Wish me and my dog lived closer. I'd let her put a few up for you!

Mac

Axis II · Mar 9, 2021

Steve Milbocker said:
View attachment 983170 View attachment 983171 View attachment 983172 View attachment 983173 I have an 1873 Winchester (Miroku) that I dearly love. It’s chambered in 45 Colt. It’s quieter than a 22LR with Cowboy loads. I’ve been thinking it’s a shame I don’t use it for anything but deer so I decided to take it for a walk today. My experience with slow moving hard cast bullets is they don’t seem to tear up much meat so I thought I’d give it a try. If I can make head shots I figured it would be a moot point anyway. I wasn’t fortunate enough to get a shot today but I’m going to keep trying. The squirrels on the island where I live are stripping the smaller maple trees completely of the bark. There are literally thousands of trees being killed here. Have any of you ever seen this? I’ve lived in Michigan for 65 years and this is the first time I’ve ever witnessed something like this.

Steve, what part of Michigan are you in? I'm suprised there is still snow.

Armored farmer · Mar 9, 2021

Those old-timey rifles you're showing sure have some nice stove wood on their hind ends @Steve Milbocker

Steve Milbocker · Mar 9, 2021

Axis,I’m on Beaver Island in Northern Lake Michigan

bearman49709 · Mar 15, 2021

Your "barking" up the wrong tree. That's porcupine's eating that bark not squirrels. I've seen them do it many times over the years.
They kill thousands of trees every year by girdling the bark, it's one reason you can kill them year round with no bag limit.

Late season squirrels

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