Failed ambush, but still got my squirrel (2nd of 2 for the day).

[Mole2017]

Well, I had tried to ambush this squirrel this morning. I had settled into a chair after taking care of another, unexpected, squirrel and was watching the northwest corner of my property. I'm expecting a squirrel to come in from the neighbor's yard here, move south through a few trees and start feeding in a big pine that hangs over the property line from my side.

Sure enough, not long after I sit, I see movement in the trees 30 yards beyond my corner. After a few more minutes, the squirrel shows up and heads for the pine. And then the cat shows up and wants to sit in my lap for a while...I oblige the cat as the squirrel isn't in a good spot yet. After 15 or 20 minutes, I decide the squirrel is probably on my side of things such that a fall will drop her on my side of the fence.

I stand and move closer to find the squirrel again. I spot her and begin to raise the gun. I put my eye to the scope and the squirrel is gone ! Lowering the gun, I see my target vacating the property without stopping.

I keep my eyes on this tree, but it isn't until early afternoon that she comes back. I've come out to have a seat for a break, but I didn't bring the rifle (trying to stay on my wife's good side). She shows up on the oak at the northwest corner and heads down the trunk, like she's going for the ground. Once she's low enough, I duck out of the chair and stay low to get into the house--and run into my wife dumping a pumpkin. She tells me she's headed to the store in a moment  .

I hear the car door close, give her a minute or two to get down the street, grab the gun and head out. Coming off the patio, I hear squirrel chatter--busted! Fortunately, the squirrel only moves to the north side of the same tree. I find her there, obscured by a leaf. I shift and she takes off, moving higher up to a big fork in the tree. She's obscured again, and again she takes off when I shift my position. This time she went out a large lateral branch and stopped briefly, but moved again as I raised the gun. But she only goes a few more feet and turns around, looking down this steeply sloping branch to study me...

Again obscured by some leaves, I step back for a line fire and she stays put!.  It's a 32 yard shot that hits hits her above the left shoulder, crosses the chest and abdomen, stopping just in front of the right rear leg. She starts scurrying but is struggling to move well because of her left arm (and internal injuries). She zigzags and circles some (good signs), moving a little further out and up the branch, but then faints and falls in the driveway next to the neighbor's patio. There's nothing to do but step over and pick her up, but I leave all the tools in my yard first and move quick. Still some short breaths when I pick her up, but they don't last long. 

The pellet was recovered under the skin in front of the right rear leg--I've got it between my fingers in the picture. For such a long shot, I'm surprised I got any expansion. This is the Benjamin hollow point (aka CPHP) shot from the R10.

So, overall I've done ok this week--five squirrels in five days. No slump has materialized after that almost two-week long spell of no squirrels at the end of October. In fact, this fall is now holding up well now compared to previous years. If I can keep it up a few more weeks, I might even beat last year's record.

[BenjiHunter]

Great shot, David!

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Good Shootin, David !  You got 2 today !     Sometimes our plans, do fail.. but persistence pays off anyway !       Best Wishes & Happy Hunting - Tom

[Mosin Marine]

Great covert squirrel mission!

[dk1677]

Nice shot David!

[beachgunner]

Nice one David. Don't you love it when the wife goes to the store??

..squirrels hate it.