I still can't believe I'm going to do it, but tomorrow before the sun comes up I'm going to drive 100 miles due west of me for the chance at picking off a limit of 5 squirrels. I could do that 100 feet from my house in the ravine off my neighbors deck with a couple of air rifles I have, but where's the challenge in that? Besides, I've been told the wild life around the house are pets. I can't shoot the pets. Except for the raccoons.
I've been wanting to get out there to do this for about 7 years now. I get to use a .22. I happen to have an old Savage .22/410 over under that is perfect for squirrels. Plus I'll have my 20 gauge in the car in case I really suck with the .22. Normally I'm very good, but it's been awhile since I've shot it. Iron sights, no scope. I like the challenge.
Morrison Rockwood State Park. Lake Carlton.
Once a long time ago the idea was to hit as much public hunting land as possible to show guys how easy it was to do. Okay, not so much easy, but do-able if you make the effort. I just started hunting around 2000 and was trying to figure it all out myself. Like my fishing reports, I wanted to show that even in your 40s you can figure this stuff out and do well if you try. That project got shelved in 2005. Before that I did hit Iroquios, Kankakee, Des Plaines, Marseilles and Silver Spring before stopping. Iroquois and Kankakee quite a bit. Pheasant with no dogs and squirrel. Occasional dove. Plus goose at Kankakee, where I got one, and the Fox, where I got the opportunity to get ducks but blew it when I realized I called them in, was all proud of myself and my shotgun was sitting 7 feet away on the other side of the blind.
Of course I also have all my fishing gear in the car. There's the lake and a little creek of course named Rock Creek that runs through it. We'll see how tired I get.
Hit 6, but 3 disappeared after they hit the ground. I hate when that happens. Can't be good for them. 3 are in the freezer waiting for my daughter to come home from U of I.
She likes them as much as I do.
The bluebirds were all over the woods. For the first two hours I was keeping a mental note of them. I don’t see them that often.
Was counting about 20 an hour, then I gave up.
I was out there for 7 hours and never stopped seeing them.
Unless it was the same few birds following me all through the woods, that’s a lot of bluebirds.
Also, got head to head with a big buck and almost stepped on a doe while cutting through a tall grass area.
Gotta love this stuff, but a lot goes through your head quickly when you find yourself in a standoff with a buck and all you have is a .22/410.
That’s the second time that’s happened.
On the way home, some cool clouds, clear skies and uncut corn. Mile after mile of it.
And to show that I wasn't the only crazy one out there, one guy was from Byron, which isn't that far.
Another guy was from Glenview. He actually stayed in some cheap hotel near by just for the opportunity to go plink some squirrels with a .22.
I didn't feel as crazy after talking to him.