I haven't been hunting since November deer season last year, so I did a little squirrel hunt today before the spring season closes in a couple of days. It was steamy hot and muggy, the ground was squishy soft from a lot of recent rains, and thunderstorms were predicted. It never rained on me, but there was so much water dropping from the trees I had to use my cow's knee.
Hoping to keep a little cool, I went primitive, moccasins, leggings, breechclout, linen smock and round flop hat. It didn't work, Kentucky heat and humidity won. I carried my Jackie Brown flintlock smoothbore, 20 gauge, wooden ramrod with no attachments, loaded with 65 grains 2F Goex, tow, 7/8 oz. #5 shot, tow, primed with 4F from my little gourd primer. I pooped out pretty quick from busting overgrown weeds everywhere on the farm and trying to keep from bellyflopping on that slick mud, so I sat down for a rest after 45 minutes or so. After about 15 minutes I moved, but hadn't gone 20 yards before I heard squirrel toenails on bark close behind me and spotted a gray squirrel about 20 yards out. The shot was instant even in the damp, and the squirrel hit the ground with that dead thump you love to hear.
I picked the squirrel up and had a moment's reflection....that's what it's all about, for me. Primitive clothes and gear, old skills, go after them right down where they live....fair chase, we used to call it...and when it works, it's all I need.
Spence
Hoping to keep a little cool, I went primitive, moccasins, leggings, breechclout, linen smock and round flop hat. It didn't work, Kentucky heat and humidity won. I carried my Jackie Brown flintlock smoothbore, 20 gauge, wooden ramrod with no attachments, loaded with 65 grains 2F Goex, tow, 7/8 oz. #5 shot, tow, primed with 4F from my little gourd primer. I pooped out pretty quick from busting overgrown weeds everywhere on the farm and trying to keep from bellyflopping on that slick mud, so I sat down for a rest after 45 minutes or so. After about 15 minutes I moved, but hadn't gone 20 yards before I heard squirrel toenails on bark close behind me and spotted a gray squirrel about 20 yards out. The shot was instant even in the damp, and the squirrel hit the ground with that dead thump you love to hear.
I picked the squirrel up and had a moment's reflection....that's what it's all about, for me. Primitive clothes and gear, old skills, go after them right down where they live....fair chase, we used to call it...and when it works, it's all I need.
Spence