The Biggest Squirrel I Have Ever Taken

Josh Smith · November 1, 2008, 07:06 PM

I stepped into the woods today to watch a deer. It's a mid-size doe that I'm keeping an eye on. It comes to the creek every day around 4:00pm to drink. It's crossed my mind that maybe I should shoot it, but this one seems to be more for watching than anything else. It usually gets within 10 to 25 yards of me before it shies off, depending on the day. It was feeling bold today and got pretty close.

I saw what I thought was a small wood chuck off about 30, 40 yards away. Only it was the wrong color. I slowly went prone, brought my "squirrel sniper" to my shoulder, chambering a round as I did so, and beheld the biggest danged squirrel I've seen outside of captivity rooting around on the ground. I turned the safety on and back off, making a loud clicking sound. (If you've ever dealt with the safety on a Romanian trainer, you know what I mean). Mr. Godzilla Squirrel stood up, I centered the crosshairs on its chest as its head was obscured, and squeezed one off.

This is the biggest squirrel I have ever taken.

The squirrel toppled and didn't even thrash. It was a very clean kill, and one I'm proud of.

The deer watched all this with interest, then went back to drinking.

While skinning the animal, I found that the bullet, a Winchester XPERT .22LR HP round, began expanding almost immediately. It nicked the spine, creating a secondary projectile of a vertebrae which went partially through some muscle on the back. The spinal shot would explain the lack of thrashing. The bullet exited, leaving a hole about .30". There is not much bloodshot meat however, and I'm very pleased.

This makes three squirrel in the freezer now, and I may pass up the squirrel stew and instead make something in the oven.

I still can't get over the size of that critter though!

Josh <><

444 · November 1, 2008, 07:12 PM

What is with the hatchet ?
What do you do with it.

I have always admired stuff like that and want you to give me a good excuse to buy one.

Josh Smith · November 1, 2008, 07:38 PM

The hatchet is very light, more like a knife. The blade is certainly like a knife.

I use it to dress out the squirrel. The head and paws come off, then I grip the head of the hatchet and use it as a knife. It works very well.

I alternate between using the hatchet, and a small knife, for gutting and such.

Josh <><

November 1, 2008, 07:06 PM	#1
Josh Smith member Join Date: November 5, 2000 Location: Wabash IN Posts: 740	The Biggest Squirrel I Have Ever Taken I stepped into the woods today to watch a deer. It's a mid-size doe that I'm keeping an eye on. It comes to the creek every day around 4:00pm to drink. It's crossed my mind that maybe I should shoot it, but this one seems to be more for watching than anything else. It usually gets within 10 to 25 yards of me before it shies off, depending on the day. It was feeling bold today and got pretty close. I saw what I thought was a small wood chuck off about 30, 40 yards away. Only it was the wrong color. I slowly went prone, brought my "squirrel sniper" to my shoulder, chambering a round as I did so, and beheld the biggest danged squirrel I've seen outside of captivity rooting around on the ground. I turned the safety on and back off, making a loud clicking sound. (If you've ever dealt with the safety on a Romanian trainer, you know what I mean). Mr. Godzilla Squirrel stood up, I centered the crosshairs on its chest as its head was obscured, and squeezed one off. This is the biggest squirrel I have ever taken. The squirrel toppled and didn't even thrash. It was a very clean kill, and one I'm proud of. The deer watched all this with interest, then went back to drinking. While skinning the animal, I found that the bullet, a Winchester XPERT .22LR HP round, began expanding almost immediately. It nicked the spine, creating a secondary projectile of a vertebrae which went partially through some muscle on the back. The spinal shot would explain the lack of thrashing. The bullet exited, leaving a hole about .30". There is not much bloodshot meat however, and I'm very pleased. This makes three squirrel in the freezer now, and I may pass up the squirrel stew and instead make something in the oven. I still can't get over the size of that critter though! Josh <><

November 1, 2008, 07:12 PM	#2
444 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,968	What is with the hatchet ? What do you do with it. I have always admired stuff like that and want you to give me a good excuse to buy one. __________________ You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British Regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall, Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.

November 1, 2008, 07:38 PM	#3
Josh Smith member Join Date: November 5, 2000 Location: Wabash IN Posts: 740	The hatchet is very light, more like a knife. The blade is certainly like a knife. I use it to dress out the squirrel. The head and paws come off, then I grip the head of the hatchet and use it as a knife. It works very well. I alternate between using the hatchet, and a small knife, for gutting and such. Josh <><