| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
David L. Burkhead
Guest
|
 Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 7:40 am Post subject: Getting closer (Tree rats) |
 |
|
Went down to Yellowwood State Forest hunting Tree Rats today. A
surprisingly short distance from where I parked, I discovered some fairly
fresh acorn cuttings. After waiting a few minutes, I also heard what I
thought had been pointed out to me in a previous trip as squirrel cutting--a
kind of "scratching sound." And so I found a downed log which I could set
by (and brace against) while I watched an area with several oaks and one big
shagbark hickory tree. (I didn't see anything from the hickories so I
presume that they're done now.)
And so I waited, listening for activity, occassionally glassing the trunks
and treetops to see if I could spot what I was hearing. And then I set down
my rifle to shift my weight and happened to look behind me. There, standing
on the side of an oak behind me was this big (as such things go) fox
squirrel. Before I could pick up my rifle, he moved partly around to the
far side of the tree (I could see his tail. He had that stuck out as a flag
to taunt me, I know he did) and scooted on up it. I lost track of him when
he reached the crown.
I shifted to the other side of the log and hunkered down to wait, hoping
he'd forget about me and come out where I could see him. Well, about 10-15
minutes later he came down the tree. I could track his movement by the
sound and occassional flash of tail. Once he reached the base, he dashed
across to another tree, too quickly for me to get a bead on him. Again,
from the far side of that tree, he waved his tail at me, then dashed through
the underbrush to yet another tree where he went up it on the side facing
me (but there were limbs from interveining trees blocking a clear shot--I
know he did that on purpose).
I sat down to wait again, hoping that he'd come back or another squirrel
would come to the same location. Later, I did see another squirrel (maybe a
gray with tints of red, or maybe a fox with a grayer colloration) near the
base of tree the first one had vanished up. Again, he vanished before I
could get the shot.
Well, I didn't get anything, but at least I saw some. That's improvement,
isn't it? :-/
--
--
David L. Burkhead -- Cold Servings, a webcomic
mailto:dburkhead@sff.net -- http://www.coldservings.com
http://www.cafepress.com/oshaforcriminal <- OSHA for Criminals
"Dum Vivimus Vivamus"
While we live, let us live." |
|
| |
|
 Back to top |
Bill Lang
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:55 am Post subject: Re: Getting closer (Tree rats) |
|
|
On Sat 18 Oct 2008 10:40:34p, David L. Burkhead
(dburkhead@SFF.NET) wrote
| Quote: | Well, I didn't get anything, but at least I saw some. That's
improvement, isn't it? :-/
|
My sure-fire never-fail steps to attract more squirrels than you
could throw rocks at:
Carry a large caliber rifle. <---This is most important!
Watch for deer.
Grunt tube, rattlin bag, and BuckBombs optional.
Bill. |
|
| |
|
| Back to top |
Mike
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:23 am Post subject: Re: Getting closer (Tree rats) |
|
|
"glassing the trunks and treetops"
Just take a shotgun, some #6 shot, and have at it...
On Oct 18, 10:40 pm, "David L. Burkhead" <dburkh...@SFF.NET> wrote:
| Quote: | Went down to Yellowwood State Forest hunting Tree Rats today. A
surprisingly short distance from where I parked, I discovered some fairly
fresh acorn cuttings. After waiting a few minutes, I also heard what I
thought had been pointed out to me in a previous trip as squirrel cutting--a
kind of "scratching sound." And so I found a downed log which I could set
by (and brace against) while I watched an area with several oaks and one big
shagbark hickory tree. (I didn't see anything from the hickories so I
presume that they're done now.)
And so I waited, listening for activity, occassionally glassing the trunks
and treetops to see if I could spot what I was hearing. And then I set down
my rifle to shift my weight and happened to look behind me. There, standing
on the side of an oak behind me was this big (as such things go) fox
squirrel. Before I could pick up my rifle, he moved partly around to the
far side of the tree (I could see his tail. He had that stuck out as a flag
to taunt me, I know he did) and scooted on up it. I lost track of him when
he reached the crown.
I shifted to the other side of the log and hunkered down to wait, hoping
he'd forget about me and come out where I could see him. Well, about 10-15
minutes later he came down the tree. I could track his movement by the
sound and occassional flash of tail. Once he reached the base, he dashed
across to another tree, too quickly for me to get a bead on him. Again,
from the far side of that tree, he waved his tail at me, then dashed through
the underbrush to yet another tree where he went up it on the side facing
me (but there were limbs from interveining trees blocking a clear shot--I
know he did that on purpose).
I sat down to wait again, hoping that he'd come back or another squirrel
would come to the same location. Later, I did see another squirrel (maybe a
gray with tints of red, or maybe a fox with a grayer colloration) near the
base of tree the first one had vanished up. Again, he vanished before I
could get the shot.
Well, I didn't get anything, but at least I saw some. That's improvement,
isn't it? :-/
--
--
David L. Burkhead -- Cold Servings, a webcomic
mailto:dburkh...@sff.net --http://www.coldservings.comhttp://www.cafepress.com/oshaforcriminal<- OSHA for Criminals
"Dum Vivimus Vivamus"
While we live, let us live." |
|
|
| |
|
| Back to top |
|
