squirl season

[charlie cleveland]

got up at 5 am got dressed and was in the woods at 6 am but it being cloudy it was not light until 6.30...i was watching some big red oaks the sky was getting lighter and i could see the top of those trees good...there was 6 squirls working that tree over real good...what was sad i could not take a shot because if they had fell to the ground it was in a place that only a snake could crawl through so i left them to there business...i had gone about 30 yards farether and i saw a squirl crossing over into a big black walnut tree the 3 frame 12 barked and we had our first squirl of the morning.i killed 2 squirls in this spot before picking them up...i then heard a 22 go off and it was my nephew and his dadthe nephew got it with a little 20 ga single barrel..he got 2 squirls in all 0 for the dad.. i moved farther on and i spoted a squirl really working on a acorn way up in a giant red oak but that left full choke barrel shooting no 4 shot took care of this squirl musta been a 45 yard shot....i then moved on and found a big pine that the squirls were cutting the pine burrs pretty good...at about 10 yards here came a young squirl down a small tree he was so close i decided to pull off target some as to not tenderize this squirl..well it worked when i shot out he came but to my surprize he was still alive..i could not catch him on the ground because of the thick brush so i decided just to shoot him in the head only well took aim at 5 foot and bang a neat miss...well i looked and stepped toward the squirl but in the brush pile he went...for 5 minutes i could not see or find a hair of this thing ...i was about to quit the search but i found a small hole in the ground under a small bush i picked up a stick and punched in the hole and i was nearly run over by the squirl..he ran about 10 foot and this time the head shot worked.... in all i killed 5 squirls one had a wolf in him so left him in the woods...i then worked my way back to the truck picked up my other hunters and off to squirl camp we went....we got there first several had camped that night but were off hunting squirls or deer...we got the fire going good as it was in the 50 s here this morning and windy...slowly the rest of the crew began to come in every body telling us what a bad morning of hunting it was....in all these other boys only brought in 4 more squirls...geez.....this boys are good i should say vetran hunters i hated there bad scores but kinda made me feel good with my 5........ yep charlie was top hunter for once in a long time....well we cleaned the squirls got the oil hot dropped in chicken first then the squirls then tatars and thenpoodle sop gravy....i swear i believe this was the best squirl dinner i have ever had don t it just get better with years...one fellow brought out some pictures of the old bunch of huntersi looked around and out of all the fellows at the dinner another hunter and i were the only two of the old bunch...i fondly rememered most of the old hunts and great squirl dinners we had had at this place...then i thought i hope all of us old hunters had left a few good points for the young hunters to carry on....i had a great day hope ya ll have....charlie