I immediately turned my attention away from him and back to the hunt. The ducks were still flying well, and I didn’t want to miss any more of the action. While my thought process was logical, it turned out to be a fatal mistake to my success.
So if you are finding yourself in a situation similar, don’t be frustrated over the things you can’t control – adjust the things you can control.
I used to think bowhunting squirrels was ridiculous. To me, it didn’t seem worth the time or effort just to get a bushytail with a bow. And, outside of embracing the challenge it poses, it really isn’t worth it. It’s the benefits outside of squirrel hunting that make it worth it.
When I take the time to reflect back upon my outdoor experiences, I can see that I was very blessed in every aspect I can possibly recall. Looking back, I would say, without any hesitation, that my love and appreciation for the outdoors is all due to my dad.
A minute or so later, a twig snapped in the bottom. The deer was moving closer along the trail, it seemed. My heart pounded with excitement, for I knew the deer was approaching fast, yet I still could not see it.
With one gray squirrel in the bag, I realized that, so far, it had been an incredible morning – we had seen four gray squirrels, one of which was now in my hand. And it was about to get better.
The time following gun season is no doubt one of the best times to hunt squirrels. In my opinion, late-season squirrel hunting is actually easier than pursuing them in early-season.
Thoughts flew through my head. Visions of past mishaps returned and bow shooting techniques pummeled my brain. But with the buck completely unaware of my presence, and my eyes focusing on a singular point behind the buck’s shoulder, I distinctly remember that the emerging thought was this: “This is it. I got you.”
Brain shots definitely do have their advantages — if you do place the shot in the brain, it will immediately kill the squirrel, and it does not tear up the meat. But, in my opinion, harvesting a squirrel immediately most of the time does not outweigh the benefits of harvesting a squirrel quickly all of the time.
Because I understood that a turkey’s eyesight was exceptional, I was aware that movement should be kept to a minimum to avoid spooking the birds. However, what I didn’t understand was that there comes to a time when a hunter must run the risk of spooking the birds to get a shot.
