Yesterday in the woods

[bandit1250]

When I got up yesterday before day break it was 18*. Not my kind of weather. Back to bed for another hour and then got up and had breakfast and sharpened my pocket knife that was getting pretty dull. Went out to a spot where I have seen squirrels crossing the road to go from a thicket to another thicket that has walnut trees along side of a very small stream that always has at least some water flowing in it. Had my 870 12 ga and that would be the best gun for the rabbit/deer type cover. I was there for only about an hour and 1/2 and saw about 8 squirrels and got shots at three and got them. One was a huge old male fox squirrel and the other two were grays but were also large male squirrel. The fox squirrel was very tough to get the hide off even when clamping the tail in the vise and using pliers to grip the feet to pull the hide down. Maybe would have worked better using my 4-wheeler to pull it off. I will take the toughness out of that old timer when I put him in with the others in my old cooker in the quart jars. Going to head out again later and maybe set up where I can use the 222 Rem. in the edge where the thicket borders some open woods. I believe these squirrels are traveling these thicker areas to avoid the out of control red tailed hawk population that is taking a very heavy toll on our small game. I don't bother the hawks but that doesn't mean I like them in any way. They kill every dove that comes to the feeders here at our home and all our rabbits. I watched a red tail kill a gray squirrel and it sat there for a few minutes and then flew away with nothing scaring it. I walked to where it was with the squirrel and it had only picked the eyes from the squirrel. So much for eating every thing they kill. I saw 9 hawks while out yesterday in the woods and on my way home.

[JEBar]

interesting to hear about the hawks .... I haven't heard of them causing any problems in our area .... can they be hunted or are they protected

[CT_Shooter]

interesting to hear about the hawks .... I haven't heard of them causing any problems in our area .... can they be hunted or are they protected

All Birds of Prey are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act and state laws make it illegal to kill, capture, possess (actual bird or parts of, including feathers), harass, or harm any bird of prey. Violations are punishable by fines of $5,000 to $250,000 or more, jail sentences, confiscation of possessions, and revocation of licenses.

https://soarraptors.org/protected-predators/

[JEBar]

info appreciated .... I thought was probably the case but didn't know of sure

[Hatchdog]

Sounds like a great day out in the woods, I sure do enjoy reading your stories, thanks for sharing.

[BigAl52]

Got some hawks right here in our yard that kill other birds and rabbits all the time. Find the feathers in the back yard while mowing.

[brm4450]

Hawks raise hell with the pheasant, grouse, dove and partridge population here.