DaveS

It's odd hearing folks hunting squirrel with bows. I used to years ago. I scared the hair off a few, but never got one.

So, who all made it out squirrel hunting? I made it out and it was nice to get back out hunting again. Got one "nut muncher" with my flintlock. So, this morning it was fried squirrel, fried potatoes, sausage gravy, buttermilk biscuits, 2 eggs over easy, sliced red tomato and a pickled cayene pepper. It was AWESOME stuff!

Welcome to TGO. I hope you enjoy your stay! wd

The tanning technique is the same.

Actually, the term "Mounted" is indeed a correct term. How would you like it to read? As far as going rate, I would guess in the neighborhood of $75 to $100. OK...do we "mount" a deer head, or "stuff" it? That is the question for the day! LOL

Anyone near the Clarksville area, will find some very nice and well managed dove fields at Haynes Bottoms WMA. Not near Chat town, but just FYI.

Well, squirrel season opens tomorrow, and anyone who wishes to brave to heat and bugs, I hope you all have a safe and productive hunt. I'll be in the woods before daylight with grandsons in tow. They cleaned up their little .410s (under the watchfull eye of an adult) and are ready to go. I would love nothing more than to see them get their first "Nut Muncher" (squirrel). Which brings me to the point of this whole post. Every year, hunters harvest their first squirrels, or an unusual one. Whether it be black, albino, bright red or just plain old gray. Squirrels are probably the most mounted small animal there is. But, to get the best mount you can get, there are a few simple rules we must follow. If you harvest a squirrel that you wish to have mounted, do not "gut" the squirrel. Leave his inards intact and get him on ice or cooled as quickly as possible. When you get him home, wrap him in a plastic bag, squeeze out all the air from the bag and place him in the freezer. Get him to your Taxidermist as soon as possible. Those wishing to learn Taxidermy can do an internet search and find some really nice "kits" to help you along. Just remember, every mount, whether from the smallest to largest animal, must be handled with care, if you wish to recieve a quality mount back. I really hope these little tips will help you enjoy your time in the field even more. Dave

I use "scent free" spray. Haven't had any problems. I've never had any luck at all with the battery powered units. Pretty much decided they weren't worth spending money on.

Time well spent I'm sure! I know I enjoy family time as well.

I agree 100% with what you said. I have never seen a wolve on a squirrel. I had one on a rabbit taken the day after Thanksgiving, and I had one crawl out of a bucks nose while getting my picture made with him. Freaked me out like there was no tomorrow! I think they pick that date as a safety factor for the youth and young at heart out learning to hunt. I have come across a few folks in the past with bows and/or guns out hunting, that should not be permitted in the woods armed. And I'm talking about the so called "experienced" hunter. So maybe it is better to get a jump on it! Just wish it was cooler though.

Been seeing alot of doves around, but never been to the "Outreach". Can't help ya there. But the areas I frequent are full of millet, corn and wheat, and therefore...Doves.

I do not hunt with my AR, only because I have better tools for the job. But the O/P's 11 year old Daughter should be able to shoot his 7mm/08 with no problem. My Daughter is very thin and small framed. She started shooting factory 140 gr rounds out of my 7mm/08 when she was 10. Went deer hunting for the first time last year on Oct 5th. Dropped her first deer with a single shot at about 40 yards. The little buck had no idea what just happen. He dropped straight to the ground without as much as a flinch. I would not have even considered letting her hunt with anything less. We wish to remember her first deer as it went, and not using one of our A/R's (.223), and had to remember her 1st deer as a few blood drops in the woods, and no deer found. Just to ease the mind of the original poster, One year later she is shooting my Ruger .308 and my 7 year old "boney" Grandson is shooting the 7mm. I did have the unfortunate opportunty to shoot a doe with my A/R a few years ago. Hit her through the ribs right behind the shoulder. Two very small drops of blood, and 5 years later, I still wonder whatever happened to the ol'girl. It really eats me up that I lost her. At the time, I chose it over my "ought-six". Never again.

It is not a lease. Leasing is pretty difficult unless you have a large group waving large amounts of money in some land owners face. Hunting clubs have most of the land around here. Your best bet, truthfully, if you are military, is to hunt Fort Campbell. When bow season opens in Tennessee, gun season (shotgun,M/L) opens on post. Best deal going in this area. I've been wanting to lease land for many years here, but fell into 167 acres that I currently hunt.

Land for lease in this area is very hard to come by. Most has been grabbed up by hunting clubs, and most individuals stand little chance. Fort Campbell and WMA's are about your best bet.

I have some private land available, but one of my better squirrel areas is public land. I'll guess I'll breakout the ol'canoe and hit the lake for some squirrels. Just everyone have fun and be safe!

Remember folks, Saturday the 22nd is Tennessee's free hunting day. It is also the opening day of the squirrel season. No license is needed by any Tennessee resident. This is a great opportunity to introduce a friend or family member to hunting. Most WMA's that allow small game hunting will require no WMA permit as per the TWRA hunting guide. More info can be found in the guide.

My Son, Son in Law and Step Son all shoot Bowtech. They are very, very pleased with them but know very little on the "Rapture"....sorry.

Don't get me wrong, I love hunting WMAs. The one I hunt mostly for deer is hardly ever crowded. It's just the "locals" there have their race courses set up for their ATV's. I was confronted by two of them last year, and was told to "get off our land". I politely (at first) told him this was not his land, it was state land and I had full right to be here. Then I got told "we don't appreciate you boys from Clarksville hunting here trying to take over our land". The whole time one stayed on his 4-wheeler and the other kept trying to inch around behind me. Each time he moved, I would kinda step back and half face him. Pretty dumb considering they appeared to be unarmed and I had a .308 in my hands, and a .357 under my jacket. Just think....I pay good money for this crap. And of course I stood there trying to call a game warden on my cell and could not get an answer. Been trying to call them ever since. Maybe next time I'll feel in danger of my life!

With all my experience with deer hunting (and I don't claim to know every thing), but I wouldn't let a new young hunter use an AR to hunt deer, unless it was at least .308. Does the law call for a minimum of .24 cal or is that "old" news? Anyways....I wouldn't do it! My little little grandsons use a 7mm/08 and my 12 year old daughter uses a Ruger .308...all good for the kids!

I have video, and I even know where a couple of them live. I've done more work in finding these morons than TWRA has. I complained to TWRA several times last year and already this year. Seems they are not interested in my videos or anything else. Sure wished I was a game warden again!!! Does anyone really think I want to buy a WMA permit just to be harrassed? I think NOT!

Tennessee is going to get their money! Yes, I bow hunt. The part that bothers me is the WMA part. I live 2 miles from a WMA. It's out during the late duck season. A really good area I know for some big deer, is out for the late duck season. I don't know what the biologists are thinking when then make up the rules. I'm almost to the point to where I'm not going to buy a WMA permit anymore. One WMA we hunt, we have a bunch of "non-hunters" (peta ?) chases after us on 4-wheelers. I'm real close to "ruining" an ATV. Several complaints to TWRA have gone unanswered. Not sure it's worth the money to hunt. There is however alot of nice deer there.

A good "headshot" on a squirrel at about 30 yards with a flintlock rifle, shur duz a man proud! Until the hunting gets tough and ya have to break out the scoped Savage .17 HMR!!!

I understand the WMA's being managed for waterfowl, and all other hunting ceases when duck season opens. That being the case, the state needs to stop charging a fee for WMA permits, because those of us who do not hunt waterfowl, are not getting our money's worth!

I've been hunting WMA's for many many years, and I still don't know the rules! They change every year. Most close to all hunting (in this area) when late duck season opens. That's when the best rabbit hunting is and yet my dogs have to set idle. A bunch of BS. Oh yeah...if you ever need the assistance of a wildlife officer on a WMA...good luck!

.32 and .36 are good rounds for "Tree Rats". I shot one with a .50 cal once because he was annoying the crap out of me while deer hunting. The aftermath wasn't pretty, so I don't reccomend .50 for squirrels!