GTA

All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: jonnnyboy on August 15, 2013, 10:28:01 AM

Title: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: jonnnyboy on August 15, 2013, 10:28:01 AM
Nine days until Tennessee Fall Squirrel Season opens!

I got the opportunity to slip down to the favorite spots this morning and just listen to the squirrels cutting.  Imagine, as I was walking into the woods it was a crisp 59 degrees here in muggy ole Tennessee.  It's normally in the low 70's at daybreak this time of year but we are having a wonderful little spell of fall weather right here in what is usually the hottest part of the year!

As I moved closer to the woods, I noticed a squirrel bailing out of a big hickory right next to where I parked the truck.  I just watched his exit knowing that soon I would try to bushwhack him along his escape route.  As I was leaning on the truck enjoying the early morning, I noticed movement above and there was another adult gray slipping down the side of the same hickory meandering his way toward the exact same route the earlier squirrel had used.  I love it when they use the same highway.

I decided to move a little deeper toward a sound I had been hoping to hear.  If you have squirrel hunted for very long, you will know the sound of a gentle rain in the woods as multiple squirrels are cutting nuts in the same tree.  Sure enough, as I moved through the woods toward that enticing sound, my ears brought to me the wonderful announcement that at least one more hickory was not only loaded with ripening nuts but the voracious appetites of numerous squirrels were causing them to gorge themselves.  I guessed that there were at least 5 or 6 squirrels in this next tree!  I stopped and didn't move any closer other than to work my way to a little clearing so I could see the swaying tops as the squirrels scampered from branch to branch in search of their next tidbit.

It was at that moment I made two decisions.  The first was to leave the woods with as little noise as possible so the feeding darlings would not know they only have 9 days to enjoy those nuts unmolested!  Secondly, it dawned on me that I had not shot my hunting rifle in a few days with full intent of doing a final, pre-hunt dialing in of its favorite pellet.  It appears that after getting all my home chores and grunt work done this weekend, I have some serious shooting to do!  AND then, the following weekend I will have some even more serious-er shooting to do!!

More to come . . .
joe
(one of last year's squirrels)
(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/jonnnyboy2007/wildlife/db4a14be.jpg)
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: jonnnyboy on August 15, 2013, 10:42:48 AM
What dreams are made of!

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u132/jonnnyboy2007/Hunting/DSCF5079-1.jpg)
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: Bicycleman on August 15, 2013, 10:51:09 AM
Aw stop, jonnyboy.  You are making me salivate like Pavlov's dog.  hehe

Mike
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: dk1677 on August 15, 2013, 07:57:03 PM
Yup get ready Joe! Good hunting!
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: only1harry on August 16, 2013, 12:30:39 AM
Nice story Joe, and thanks for reminding me that Squirrell season is only 2 weeks away here in NY! ;D  I need to clear out some brush so I can see the squirrels on the ground on the small hill behind the house.  I let it go the last couple of years and now it's like a small jungle back there, hehehe.  I can hardly see the ground and the base of the trees for that 40yd stretch where I shoot.  I have a lot of work ahead of me.  I shoot most of them on the ground (not too safe shooting up at trees with the passthroughs from powerful PCP's), or a couple of feet up near the base of the tree where they stop a lot to see if it's safe to touch ground.  I will start clearing that area this weekend but I know it's at least a 2-3 day job.   I can't even see my 30yd targets any longer :(

I also need to get a bag of black oil sunflower seeds to get them used to coming in, because I don't really have any nut trees.  Just some Maples, but I do have a Cherry tree on the property line which gets nuts or some kind of fruit up high.  But it's only every 3yrs or so it produces that, so it's not guaranteed.  But when it does, I can easily have 5-10 squirrels on that tree at same time.  I can't see them most of the time, but like you said, you can hear them! :)  I just ambush them on their way to that tree, or on their way back :)

2 weeks and counting! ;D

Harry
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: Rico14 on August 16, 2013, 12:37:23 AM
Season doesn't open until Sept 14 here in California. Hope it starts to cool down, it's been pushing 100〫every day for the past few weeks.
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: Gordon_SC on August 17, 2013, 10:07:35 PM
It is close for TN, our home there has Apple and Pear trees and a wood line behind the house. 
The Limb rats come every day and carry apples and or pears off across the road and some do not make it.
Shame of it is, I am still a resident of SC so no hunting in TN, the nonresident price is steep.
There is a local possum and a skunk that make their rounds almost every evening. 
Rabbits like the apples and pears as well.  I now have a peach and plum tree there so maybe next year the wildlife will pick up. 
Yes Joe, the house is in the county which makes it very tempting.
Of course the SC season is not until the middle of Nov. 

Have fun and get the cooking pots ready.
Gordon

Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: jonnnyboy on August 18, 2013, 12:39:19 AM
Gordon, if they were carrying my apples and pears off I would call that depredation and deal with the pests!  Lol!  I admire your patience. I'm down to six days now.

Joe
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: Gordon_SC on August 18, 2013, 11:19:01 AM
OK Joe,
I suppose that the season actually starts on the legal 24th which means that on Saturday you will fill your daily limit and have good eating for a few days.

I was told by a slaes person at Walmart that all I had to produce was my power bill and he would issue me a license, but the regs say different, tempting but still not legal.

I can do the fishing (no Trout) for $41 a year but the hunting is still way to much for me.
If in time it comes to pass that we sell the house here in SC then I would be a resident of TN and the price drops way down.

Did you get your rifle checked out?
Good luck and have fun.

Gordon
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: jonnnyboy on August 18, 2013, 11:32:03 AM
Gordon, have you checked out license number 71 "non-resident small game only"?  I think it is $91. The others are extremely high, over 250$. 91 may still be more than you want to pay and if you don't get to hunt often it wouldn't be worth it.

Next Saturday is the day. I'm taking a few days vacation this week to get ready. I've got some dialing in on my primary gun and I want to change the scope on the backup. Lots of shooting this week with a little fishing thrown in for good measure I hope!

Joe

Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: ShakySarge on August 18, 2013, 12:05:54 PM
I can hardly wait myself!!! I have been watching 4-6 daily in my backyard eating hickory nuts and am itching to get some gravy on em!!!!

Matt
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: fgwhite on August 18, 2013, 06:47:01 PM
i looking for ward to the 24 also all ready got them eating corn from a deer fedder
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: umpreacher on August 18, 2013, 11:51:25 PM
Go get'em jonnnyboy. You're the squirrel slayer. I bet they are trembling in their nest even now thinking about jonnnyboy the squirrel slayer. I hope you get the limit.
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: jonnnyboy on August 19, 2013, 12:09:04 AM
Looking forward to a couple days playing with the FX and dialing her in.  I wish we could make another trip to Mr. Genes backyard to do some shooting. I'd meet you there, Randy!  Maybe Dez would bring some more bbq!

Matt, Fred it's going to be a good season.  It's hard to wait.

Joe
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: umpreacher on August 19, 2013, 10:52:46 PM
Jonnnyboy  I'm all for that if Mr. Gene will invite us. It would be nice of dez to bring the bbq. I could grill some hamburgers. You have come up with a great idea. please please Mr. Gene   lol
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: fgwhite on August 20, 2013, 12:51:19 AM
johnney i bleave you are right here where i live they are hiding but they are so thick in some places they are geing on the porch sealing apples and paires lol gosh i wish the owners would let me shoot them lol
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: Gordon_SC on August 20, 2013, 11:01:15 AM
Good Morning Joe, Fred, Matt and everyone, yes I looked at that and at this time I need to spend a lot on the house.
The house is a HUD sale and needs lots of $$TLC$$.  Maybe next year or so.
Lets see today is Tuesday the 20th and Saturday the 24th is it. 
Joe you should have that FX ready now, go get'em.
Fred they ain't coming on the porch, the trees are below the house near the property line.
Only one coming to the porch is the Skunk, some nights  his smell is very strong.

I went to the first GTA shoot and did not make any others since, whish I could have been there and met some of you.


Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: Rescue35 on August 20, 2013, 08:12:36 PM
I'm getting ready myself. I have a new WMA to use also...just 5 minutes from the house.

Gordon, you do not need a licensee to hunt on your own property in many cases.
Title: Re: It's so close! Not long now! Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: jonnnyboy on August 21, 2013, 12:05:23 AM
Shot the FX some this evening.  Still one-holing at 20-25 yards. It's one of the most amazing guns I've ever shot. Let it sit for a month and first shot is still perfect. Saturday morning, here I come!

Still a couple days to play with it.  I'd like to stretch her out to some 30-50 yard fun.

Joe
Title: Squirrel season in Tennessee!
Post by: Gordon_SC on August 24, 2013, 10:41:44 PM
Everyone, I hope that the hunting was good and that there are squirrels in the pot cooking.

Rescue35, I do not qualify for the landowner thing, the purpose of the property must be agricultural and the residency requirement is there also, yes I have looked at it.

I am a home owner in both states, I have a Homestead exemption on my wife's home in SC.
Of course I pay tax and utilities in TN, and SC.
And my father -in-law is in assisted living facility in TN, and we are there every month.
Three years of Motel bills, so we bought a home there. 

So Lets hear the hunting stories and luck or not but the excitement of being there on the first day.
Gordon