Well, with deer season ready to start, I decided to try and good one more good day in of squirrel in with the boy.

I took out my Browning Auto-5 Sweet 16 in case we ran into a grouse, which has a better chance to anchor the birds if I run into one. Never saw a grouse, but we did get another grey squirrel, called him in and dropped him from about 30 yards out or so when he got onto the lower branch of an old dead pine. The Browning does good with #6 shells, but I think I am going to ramp up to #7 1/2's even though it patterned well with it. I like the advantage of having a few more pellets in the mix. Still, another squirrel for the stew later on. A good start to hunting season with a pair of greys in the freezer, hopefully deer season turns out as well, then I can get back to the tree rats before the snow gets too deep.

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Vaya con Dios

A-5 and a day spend with your son! Squirrels for stew. Memories for years to come! God bless you both! Sincerely. bruce.

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<><

Squirrels that have been shotgunned should be used in stews. Just the though of chomping down on shot makes the hair on my neck stand up.
I have buddy that uses #7.5 target 12s for everything. He has Rem 1100 and empties it every time he shoots at game. Squirrels are not killed with the shot. He puts so much weight under their hide they fall out of tree and break their neck.

I do love hunting the tree rat!

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Forum consigliere

Great looking A-5. The Sweet-16 is a classic.

And a fine looking young man.....it's great the two of you are enjoying hunting together.

Don

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Laus Deo! <><

The Sweet Sixteen was everyone's darling I think.

Like the A-5. Such a classic. I've got a hand me down 12 gauge that had a Poly Choke installed. Came from a cousin who didn't want it. All I know beyond that it is Belgian and made in 1930. Someone else thought a lot of it at one time.

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Got one with the car yesterday.

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Its just more fun than laughing. I have been blasting the tree rats as they raid two beautiful pecan trees here. Using an old rusty LeFever "Nitro Special" 12 gauge. Its a killer. The only 26" open choked LeFever ive ever run across. Skeet 1 and improved cylinder chokes. Bought it expressly for woodies in the swamp, but it does yeoman service on squirrels.

Sure you are not undergunned?

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

We use 22s on squirrel. Some times just the old K22. Head shoot or middle of back, no meat loss and no chew’n shot. We got Greys and fox. Them Fox make a nice thud when they hit rhe ground.

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Perfect for squirrel fritters!

The old Remington Model 12C makes about as fine an old walking around rifle for squirrels as there is. Don't shoot any for the pot anymore, no one else in the house eats 'em. So one every couple of years or so to get a tail for the fly tying box is enough.

I do remember back when Mepps gave a dime for a tail. Some kids around Antigo, Wisconsin made a little cash that way.

Seems like they still do. Sell Your Squirrel Tails to Mepps for Fishing Lures | Mepps

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I also choose a .22 (Marlin 99m1 with weaver k4) for eatin squirrels, but the 12 gauge is for killin squirrels, and the falling shot doesnt injure the workers in the field diggin sweet taters or any of the church folk next door.

I've always enjoyed squirrel hunting and in a past life always used a rifle but because of urban sprawl I now use a shotgun. I use #6 because I think it kills better and less chance of missing a piece of shot when cleaning. I put a Briley 28 ga. skeet choked tube in the bottom barrel for close shots and screw in a full choke in the top barrel for longer shots. Larry

You killed the Geico squirrel!!! Larry