Still Life with W.C. Scott and Black Squirrels....

[MarketHunter]

Eric Eis was kind enough to loan a friend and I his hunting camp in Northern Michigan for the weekend. I managed to do a little squirrel shooting and this days bunch was photo worthy. I've killed one black squirrel in my whole life so this was a limit worth remembering. The gun is a W.C. Scott "Bogardus Club Gun" in 10 gauge, the shells were RST in 1 1/4 ounce of 7 1/2. I normally prefer #5 for squirrels but the chance of a grouse was slight so I carried some lighter shot in my gun just in case.

[OH Osthaus]

what is the game bag Destry? looks like an old fishing gear bag.

[Craig Larter]

I have been seeing more black grey squirrels the last few years than I ever have. The W&C Scott is a beauty was the "Bogardus Club Gun" a cataloged item. I plan to take my 10ga W&C Scott Monte Carlo B out duck hunting tomorrow.

[wayne goerres]

I have never seen black squirles before. My 10ga W C scott is full and full. A bit much for squirles. I bet it would be fun though.

[OLD GEEZER]

Destry: I have never seen them in black before and what is the size compared to a fox squirrel. Thomas

[MarketHunter]

I've always had in my mind the bag was some sort of Canadian military item, it's got the single word Quebec stenciled on the back. It has a removable rubber liner so makes a great game bag. The original strap was very short so I had a longer one built for it.

They made the "Bogardus Club Gun" in 20, 16, 12, and 10 gauge. I'd love to find a catalog listing for it, I've looked through a couple from Scott but hadn't found it. I've got it in 16 gauge as well, only ever seen one 20 gauge and regret not buying it needless to say.

I always shoot a full choke gun at squirrels, sometimes in the taller timber you really need it. The RST shells were only 1 1/4 ounce which is the same shot charge I'd have shot if I'd been shooting a 12 gauge. Squirrels, particularly large fox squirrels, take a fair amount of killing when shooting a scattergun.

The black squirrels aren't a breed unto themselves, they're melanistic meaning the opposite of albino. They could be grey or fox either one, though up in that country I'd say they're fox squirrels for sure. In some areas of the country they're apparently fairly common, but where I come from shooting a black was maybe a once in a lifetime deal. To have killed a limit of them was something I doubt I ever repeat, it was a special morning needless to say.


DLH

[Dean Romig]

Here in Eastern Massachusetts there are known colonies of black, or melanistic gray squirrels. Wakefield Ma. has been known for its population of them and they have spread, genetically, into neighboring Reading, Saugus and Stoneham in recent decades. Here in Andover I've seen a number of white phase gray squirrels but have never been close enough to see the red eye indicative of a true albino. A bag of 4 melanistic squirrels is a special bag indeed. Great Picture!

[Opening Day]

Destry what about the Wood Ducks.....?

[Kensal Rise]

An interesting fact about black squirrels: They are a dominant/aggressive variation of the species... and will eventually drive the larger, more common fox squirrels out of an area. For good or bad. Personally, I prefer fox squirrels.

[oskar]

Black squirrels are very common here in the MS delta area. Usually they have white on them
(nose, feet) but I did bag one last year that was solid black. I've always considered blacks a variation of fox squirrels.