Author Topic: EYES and EARS! (Read 31080 times))

Bicycleman · « **on:** October 03, 2015, 01:28:48 PM »

Here I go with my 2015 Fall/Winter Squirrel Season. For those of you that missed an earlier thread, I recently got new lenses for my eye glasses. And this past week, I started wearing hearing aids. So I decided to focus your attention on my enhanced hunting tools and away from my hunting "skills".

This morning dawned cool (58º F) with a slight breeze that increased the whole time I hunted. (Excuse #1)

I arrived in the woods just before sunrise and discovered the expected dense foliage had not thinned any yet. (Excuse #2)

As I entered the woods to hide my bicycle, I heard the leaves crunching underneath my boots sounding something like walking on corn flakes. (Excuse #3)

The Fox Squirrels started moving almost right away. From the spot where I was sitting, I could hear one dropping Hickory nut pieces; but I could not see it. Finally it moved to the next tree, and the next tree, and the next tree; and then it disappeared. About 30 minutes later I moved on and saw one galloping through the trees toward me. When it stopped, I took the shot. MISSED! But it did fall or jump out of the tree and scampered away. I looked around where it landed and found no blood. Oh, well! I saw several more over the next several hours but all were far and high in the canopy.

Sorry, no pictures of the one that got away. lol

WolfyW · « **Reply #1 on:** October 03, 2015, 03:13:49 PM »

Now this is what I call the "most wonderful time of the year"! Thanks for sharing.

Tater · « **Reply #2 on:** October 03, 2015, 03:19:08 PM »

I bet it was still nice to get out there though.

BenjiHunter · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2015, 03:24:00 PM »

Sounds like a great way to spend some time.

HatsanPhantom · « **Reply #4 on:** October 03, 2015, 06:19:21 PM »

Sounds like a good day to me. Glad you shared it

Mod90 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 03, 2015, 06:25:14 PM »

What matters most is that you enjoyed a nice morning outdoors doing what you enjoy.
Thanks for sharing the story.

As a side note-next time take a pic of the one that got away before he gets away

Bicycleman · « **Reply #6 on:** October 03, 2015, 07:07:04 PM »

Thanks all for the kind words everyone. This morning, it was good to be in His backyard.

Rick, about that picture - that squirrel was certainly close enough for a good picture with my cheap little camera. But I was busy at the time.

Tomorrow is another day. I plan to try a different area of the same woods. There are less Hickory trees and more Oaks - bigger trees too. Be watching for the next edition.

shadow · « **Reply #7 on:** October 03, 2015, 09:03:10 PM »

There will be days when Ma Nature keeps putting obstacle's in front of you.

That is one of the reasons for being out there' she's a challenge and she will reward you. I bet on the way home you were already thinking about the next time, the call of the wild. I learned to slow myself down when prepping myself for the hunt, there's no rush out there just moving through the forest like a slight breeze or planting myself down in some cover to be just another log, rock then let the critters get comfortable. When all is Zen so to speak then it's time to be the predator in waiting.

No doubt you will be rewarded and bring some nice harvest back for us. Ed

454 Big Block Chevy · « **Reply #8 on:** October 03, 2015, 09:13:22 PM »

Brother Ed speaks it wholeheartedly. Keep up the good work.

dv8eod · « **Reply #9 on:** October 03, 2015, 10:55:01 PM »

With the new eyes and ears, I'll bet it felt just like the first time you walked in the woods for a hunt. When my parents found out I needed glasses, I couldn't believe all the things I had been missing. I was so excited that I scared off every squirrel I saw. Of course, I was also eight at the time, and it took my dad awhile to get me to calm down.
Congratulations and good hunting with the new equipment.

Jr_Explorer · « **Reply #10 on:** October 03, 2015, 11:42:04 PM »

I feel your pain. I spent an hour or so checking for GS at mom's. NOTHING. I've "solved" the GS problem so now it's really boring "hunting". And the Foxtail squirrels seem to know I've made a conscious decision to leave them in peace for a while so they were FROLICKING about 20 yds away in plain sight.

Bicycleman · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2015, 02:54:27 PM »

Here is an abbreviated report of the morning hunt: This little lady came down the tree for a closer look at the new object in her woods. BIG MISTAKE! The JSB 15.89 gr entered the left side of her head and exited just below the skull on the right. She didn't move when she hit the ground. The temperature was about 50ºF at sunrise and cloudy. The wind came up again today and I was back at the truck by 10:30 a.m.

stonykill · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2015, 06:31:56 PM »

Nice shooting Mike! Glad you started your hunt thread! I'll be following. I love these.

dk1677 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 04, 2015, 07:35:21 PM »

Nice shot Mike!

shadow · « **Reply #14 on:** October 04, 2015, 07:50:31 PM »

Ma Nature rewards you! Great shooting and pic sir. Ed

Bicycleman · « **Reply #15 on:** October 05, 2015, 12:51:05 AM »

Thank you all for reading me. I find that it is very satisfying to bring you this thread. That is the ONLY reason I hunt.

More later - stay tuned. . . .

topwaterjim · « **Reply #16 on:** October 05, 2015, 07:48:31 AM »

Nice shooting. Truck? What happens to your bicycle? Jk, pulling your leg a little.

Veprjack · « **Reply #17 on:** October 05, 2015, 08:08:55 AM »

Patience and perseverance paid off for you! Congrats!

I spent about 3 hours walking and sitting on opening day but they never let me get close and/or scampered by at top speed. Finally, I had to relieve myself and - you guessed it - one came by at about 25 yards and stopped. I'll spare you the details but by the time I "finished fumbling" and grabbed my gun that I had leaned against a tree he was gone. If I didn't know better I'd swear he was laughing! I've heard of this happening to other hunters but this was the first and hopefully last time for me.

Bicycleman · « **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2015, 11:02:15 AM »

Oh yes, Jack, it was laughing and POINTING too. LOL

Relieve myself, get a cup of coffee/hot chocolate, take a heavy jacket off, put "artificial tears" drops in my eyes, stand up to stretch - things that I have done that magically/instantly produced the-shot-that-never-happened.

I use a shooting stick about 90% of the time. Yesterday, the last squirrel I saw was coming down a tree toward me. I knelt so I could have a stead rest on the shooting stick. That little rascal stopped in a cluster of leaves. It stayed were I could not see it for several minutes. When it moved, it was in the opposite direction and it didn't slow any as long as I could see it. That is the way it happens now and then.

Jim, the truck carries the bicycle to the parking lot near the sugar cane fields. The bicycle ride to the woods gives me about 30 minutes more hunting time (over a total "walkin".) Even when the fields are wet and very muddy, I still ride the bicycle part of the way on a limestone road to a well location. Good catch on your part.

tracker1955 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 05, 2015, 05:03:03 PM »

That usually happens to me when I'm crappie fishing, spider rig out front with 6-8 rods, no hits for a long time, to much coffee, and now i have to go to the back of the boat to get the pee can. Hunting is a lot like fishing. Nice shot and story though.

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EYES and EARS!

Author Topic: EYES and EARS! (Read 31080 times))