Don't care what the calendar says..

[HideHunter]

it is officially *fall*.

I was in Canada for the squirrel "opener" (though who in their right mind, within the "powers that be", decided to screw with the traditional Sept 1st opening needs to be horsewhipped - or something ). Got home Sunday night and they were calling for thunderstorms so I decided to sleep in. 5:00 rolls around and that was enough "sleeping in". It was drizzling and threatening rain. Grabbed my old "starling" gun because it was handy. I had "DRocked" some PMC Match Pistol into hollow points and they shoot like a laser out of my old 77 Ruger. Unfortunately, I discovered there were only eight. Next thought, "Shoot, if you can't kill a limit of squirrels (6) with eight shells, you got no business out there anyway". All headshot and I didn't lose any - pleased about that. But, I *about* fouled up - took me seven shots.

[Captain]

There is no way in the world we could think about shooting squirrels and eating them this time of the year. Ours are full of worbles until the first killing frost. Might not hurt the meat but it's so nasty looking you could not stand to clean it.

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[Big Muddy]

Ditto....what Cap said about those nasty bots.

[Bwana]

Worbles or not (whatever that is) that looks like fun. Well done sir.

[LJ3]

Looks like some sort of rodent iwo jima. It's a little creepy Gene!

[Niner]

That's the Squirrley "High Five".

Man, that Ruger looks like a nice 22.

[Thumper]

I was tryin' to figure if it's a .22 or a .17 WMR ... but since he said OLD Ruger 77, I figured it's a .22

[HideHunter]

Yeah.. 77/22 - it's quite possibly the first year they were made. You couldn't find one to save your butt. if you could find one they were selling for over retail. Somehow a local kid (outlaw) got his hands on one and as soon as I found out I contacted him and told him if he decided to sell it - I'd be interested. I pretty much knew he'd need money before long. When he contacted me I low-balled him (back when people were impressed by hundred dollar bills ) and damned if he didn't take it. If you had all the squirrels in one pile that old gun has killed you'd have... well.. a big pile of squirrels.

Warbles, wolves, bots.. we, for all practical purposes, ain't got any. I'm glad. Ugly dam things. Only seen one in my life and that was on a dog. I do know they get them on cattle occasionally.

Bagged out yesterday morning - and again this morning.. Looks like we might have the best numbers in several years.

[Thumper]

Yep, I love Rugers. In fact I sold my old Mod. 77/22 to Big Sky a while back, but it was a .22 mag.

My "plinker" .22 was the 10/22 and Hunter000 has that one.

I ain't gots nuttin' no mo' ... 'cept my carry gun.

[HideHunter]

I agree Thump. I've got a couple 77s, 2 or 3 10/22s, a Red Label and a Bearcat. All just pretty decent quality firearms.

[Thumper]

I had two Red Labels ... a 20 ga. (straight English stock) and a 12 ga. (drop comb stock) ... my neighbor now owns them in exchange for yard work.

[HideHunter]

Wow - you took pretty good care of that old boy. My Red Label is the blued receiver. If it didn't look like all my other guns (used) it would be a collector's item.

[Thumper]

Yep, both mine had the blued barrel with the stainless receiver. I really loved those guns. That 20 ga. was one sweet shooter. Yeah, he's been doing my yard since I first went into the hospital. He never asked for anything, just took it upon himself to help ... so I started giving him a gun every year. Some not worth a whole lot ... others pretty nice, so it averages out. Our growing season is almost year 'round down here and I have an acre lot. He mows, trims hedges, edges, weed-eats and blows off the concrete. The cheapest yard guy I could find wanted $100/month with no hedge work ... so I think I came out ahead in the long run.

[HideHunter]

Good for you. Good for both of you.

[HideHunter]

More gravy fixins'.



Woke up to 75 degrees, 20 mph winds and lightning this morning. But, been out the last three mornings and managed a limit each day. Supposed to be back in the 50s for lows next week. Much better.

[BaseballCoach (Rev A)]

My youngest is dying to go Saturday so we will hit the woods if it is dry. If he kills a squirrel or two, we will have squirrel and gravy. If not, we will spend some quality father/son time walking in the woods.