Squirrel hunting question.

[RedneckZombie]

Some old timers I know were talking about squirrel hunting and "barking" them when they shot them. Can anyone tell me what "barking" a squirrel is? I thought it pertained to calling them but its something to do with the way they shoot them. I've hunted my whole life and this is new. I should have asked them but I didnt.

 

[Rod Snell]

"Barking" a squirrel comes from old blackpowder frontier times. When my ancestors went hunting in KY with their Kentucky long rifle, they were generally after deer with a .45 Cal. Shooting a squirrel with that blows them apart. But if you wait until the squirrel "hides" by flattening against a limb, you can shoot the limb just under the squirrel's head and blast him down in a shower of splinters.
My mother and grandparents would get irritated when I shot a squirrel directly through the head with a modern .22, since squirrel brains were considered a delicacy. I never developed a taste for them.

 

[RedneckZombie]

That makes perfect sense.They were talking about hunting with .45 Kentuckys that they had built themselves back in the '70s. Thanks Rod.

 

[bigcountryok]

Yep, just bouncing the bullet off of the limb beneath their head. I tried it once with a 40cal muzzleloader and shot just a touch low. Hit the limb dead center and blew it out from underneath the squirrel. Squirrel and limb fell to the ground. Squirrel took off freaked out, but none the worse for wear. LOL my dad was laughing hysterically. I missed most of it cause of the big cloud of smoke.

 

[Sniper John]

"Barking" a squirrel comes from old blackpowder frontier times. When my ancestors went hunting in KY with their Kentucky long rifle, they were generally after deer with a .45 Cal. Shooting a squirrel with that blows them apart. But if you wait until the squirrel "hides" by flattening against a limb, you can shoot the limb just under the squirrel's head and blast him down in a shower of splinters.
My mother and grandparents would get irritated when I shot a squirrel directly through the head with a modern .22, since squirrel brains were considered a delicacy. I never developed a taste for them.

I did not know that! Thanks for sharing. I will have to try that sometime.

 

[dennishoddy]

" My mother and grandparents would get irritated when I shot a squirrel directly through the head with a modern .22, since squirrel brains were considered a delicacy. I never developed a taste for them.

I haven't squirrel hunted in years, but when my grandmother was still alive, I had the family duty to keep her in squirrel meat, and like you, they had better not be shot in the head. She loved those squirrel brains with scrambled eggs. I didn't care for them either.

 

[kdlong]

grandpa use to give a good whipping if we shot them in the head.i still can't shoot them in the head just because of the memories from being in trouble with grandpa and he has been dead since 1981. i was 12 when he died now i'm 40.some things just can not be change when taught.

 

[Glock 'em down]

Squirrel brains?

I do love me some fried squirrel, fried taters and squirrel gravy, but squirrel brains?

 

[dennishoddy]

Squirrel brains?

I do love me some fried squirrel, fried taters and squirrel gravy, but squirrel brains?

I forgot how good squirrel gravy is until you mentioned it, and some old memories came flooding back. Thanks!

 

[XD-9Guy]

I wonder if you can bark a squirrel with one of those Barrett's I see the guys shooting on youtube?