To start, let me say that I am ashamed. Momma would never have approved.
I was alone at the range on Saturday morning, testing some new lead reloads in a 4" stainless S&W .357 that I recently bought on gunbroker.com for $220. Surprisingly, the first batch I tried was incredibly accurate at 25yds. I was thinking about packing it up and heading home to make about 200 more of them, when my eye detecting a movement on the berm just beyond the 50-yard line. Amongst the weeds on the hill a chubby squirrel was furtively making his way home, his tail twitching the whole time.
Now I haven't been squirrel hunting in about 15 years, and I had since forgotten the adrenaline rush of seeing one while armed and with a clear, safe shot behind him. Like an alcoholic who says, "well, maybe just one beer...." the rush overpowered me and I said aloud to nobody, "just one shot, that's all."
Fifty two yards is rather far (for me) for a clean shot at a target as small as a squirrel, and that's why I'm ashamed for having attempted it, but I tell ya, the flicking of that tail was just too seductive for me - he had me at hello.
I carefully lined the iron sights up and slowly squeezed off a round. I expected to see a chunk of dirt fly up somewhere around the critter and then him running into the shruberies. No dirt sailed up - in fact, nothing moved, not even the squirrel. I watched him for a bit and he just sat there. I was tempted to take a another plug at him, but I was able to keep my promise and I walked downrange to investigate.
My shot had gone in right behind the front shoulder, pierced vitals, and went out the other side. It was as clean a kill as ever I have seen. His eyes were open, and he had a big walnut clamped in his teeth. A walnut, no doubt, meant to sustain him during the coming winter. For him.....*sniff, sniff*....a winter that will never arrive.
My neighbor eats all sorts of creatures. He's the type of guy who you wouldn't be surprised to see in your headlights some night, scraping up roadkill into a shovel. I brought the squirrel home, nut and all, and gave him to my neighbor who has probably already eaten him.
I was alone at the range on Saturday morning, testing some new lead reloads in a 4" stainless S&W .357 that I recently bought on gunbroker.com for $220. Surprisingly, the first batch I tried was incredibly accurate at 25yds. I was thinking about packing it up and heading home to make about 200 more of them, when my eye detecting a movement on the berm just beyond the 50-yard line. Amongst the weeds on the hill a chubby squirrel was furtively making his way home, his tail twitching the whole time.
Now I haven't been squirrel hunting in about 15 years, and I had since forgotten the adrenaline rush of seeing one while armed and with a clear, safe shot behind him. Like an alcoholic who says, "well, maybe just one beer...." the rush overpowered me and I said aloud to nobody, "just one shot, that's all."
Fifty two yards is rather far (for me) for a clean shot at a target as small as a squirrel, and that's why I'm ashamed for having attempted it, but I tell ya, the flicking of that tail was just too seductive for me - he had me at hello.
I carefully lined the iron sights up and slowly squeezed off a round. I expected to see a chunk of dirt fly up somewhere around the critter and then him running into the shruberies. No dirt sailed up - in fact, nothing moved, not even the squirrel. I watched him for a bit and he just sat there. I was tempted to take a another plug at him, but I was able to keep my promise and I walked downrange to investigate.
My shot had gone in right behind the front shoulder, pierced vitals, and went out the other side. It was as clean a kill as ever I have seen. His eyes were open, and he had a big walnut clamped in his teeth. A walnut, no doubt, meant to sustain him during the coming winter. For him.....*sniff, sniff*....a winter that will never arrive.
My neighbor eats all sorts of creatures. He's the type of guy who you wouldn't be surprised to see in your headlights some night, scraping up roadkill into a shovel. I brought the squirrel home, nut and all, and gave him to my neighbor who has probably already eaten him.