Pygmy

I served aboard a destroyer 40+ years ago with some West Virginia boys who avoided head shots on squirrels because they relished eating the brains. Never appealed to me and since then eating squirrel brains has been linked to mad cow disease. I doubt that the West Va boys give a hoot..They're probably dead now anyway...

Since the OP said two RIFLE calibers, I'd have to say .22 LR and 30-06. If he said two CHAMBERINGS I would say 12 gauge and 30-06. If limited to ONE chambering for everyhting in the world, it would be 12 gauge.

Good work, Paula !! I personally use the " cut through the base of the tail" method. Once you get the hang of it, it's just slicker than snot on a doorknob. Two things are critical...making the cut in the right place..I just rest the blade on the tail and slide it back toward the rump until it stops.. AND, make sure you skin back a piece of skin over the rump, and put your foot on this piece of skin, not just the tail. If you fail to do so, you'll just pull off the tail, cuss and swear and end up skinning the critter the old fashioned way, which is no fun, ESPECIALLY after rigor mortis has set in. Done properly, it only takes about a minute and leaves very little hair on the eatin' meat. Last season I did thirty some squirrels and only pulled the tail off one.

Ba-da BING !! During early season it's tough enough to get a clean shot with a shotgun.. My favorite squirrel gun is a 1936 vintage M 12 Winchester in 16 gauge. I use 1 oz. game loads of #6 shot. My second favorite is a Belgian Browning A-5 in 20 gauge, which was made in 1953... Game loads of 7/8 oz. of #6 shot.. When the leaves clear out in later season I use a NEF bull barreled single shot in .17 Mach II with a 4X scope OR my 1971 vintage Ruger 10/22 with peep rear and front fiber optic bead..

There is a very easy way to skin them...it's easier to SHOW it than to describe it. There are several videos on youtube. It does take a little practice, but it's well worth learning. I skin and disjoint the squirrels. I discard the rib cage and end up with 5 pieces, 4 legs and the back. If I shot them with a shotgun, I soak he squirrels in salt water overnight. This helps draw the blood out of the shot wounds. Put some flour, salt, pepper and poultry seasoning in a bag. Shake pieces in flour mixture to coat. Brown floured pieces in a skillet in butter. I add a little vegetable oil to stretch the butter. When brown, transfer squirrel to a baking dish. I use discardable aluminum steam line pans. Slice up an onion or two over the squirrel. Add liquid to a depth of 1/2 inch or so. ..I've used water, beer, wine and chicken broth. I prefer the chicken broth because it makes a better gravy. Cover the dish and place in slow ( 300 degree) oven until the squirrel is VERY tender. When the meat is tender ( usually after about 2 hours) remove the cover and turn the heat up to 375 to reduce and thicken the liquid and brown the meat on top. Use pan drippings for gravy over taters, rice or noodles. This recipe also works well for rabbit.

I just ordered one from Wing Supply ...$98, free shipping..Retail price is $149..

I really don't know, Doc.. I'd certainly call prior to making a long trip. For me it's a 15 minute drive.

I just learned that Beikirch's Hunter Supply is opening on Main St. Elkland, PA on August 25th. About a year ago Beikirchs bought the Hunter Supply gun shop in Knoxville, PA. Nice shop but VERY small. I am guessing that they found a place in Elkland with more space. It will be nice to have a quality shop that carries good supplies of hunting equipment, including reloading components, just across the PA line. I'll make it a point to drive over and check it out.

Venison is getting low,but it will last until a fresh supply arrives.. Top priority right now is to use up last year's squirrels, since season opens soon.

Looks pretty outlandish to be a free range buck.. Possibly some genetic freak that Joe Deerfarmer is raising behind a high fence. My gut feel indicates it's bogus.

A window mount for your vehicle can prove very handy.. A lot of scouting can be done from hill to hill here in the foothills of the Apallachians.

I bought a bunch of Remington Thunderbolts and Winchester Wildcats quite a few years back, when they would go on sale for $8.99 for a brick of 500. Not exactly match ammo, but they seem to work fine for plinking and squirrels, and they all function perfectly through my 1970 ish Ruger 10/22 and my S&W K 22..... I'll never shoot 'em all in my lifetime...

I hate you...

It's not the set that's been on 333 just west of Campbell is it ? I wouldn't be surprised if your 28 horse deisel would pull a plow.. My ancient Ford 9N pulls a 2 bottom with no problem..Heavy SOD makes her grunt a little, though...LOL.. TELL me about rocks in Steuben County..On the hills, rocks and hardpan clay are the name of the game. The LUCKY guys are the ones with river/creek bottom...

Real men drive trucks...<<grin>>.... However, if you are a girly man and don't own a truck, throw the critter in the trunk. Do us and yourself a favor and don't tie it on the outside of the vehicle..

A few years ago I decided I wanted a 9.3 x 62... I tried to order one in a Tikka because I had good reports on the quality/accuracy and they make rifles in that chambering. I was told that they would only import rifles in that caliber to the states in lots of FIVE... Shucks... I couldn't find 5 people who had ever even HEARD of a 9.3x62, much less 5 guys who wanted to buy one. I ended up buying one in a CZ 550...Good price, fine quality and scary accurate.

The OP said that his friend who has SOLD guns for 30 years recommended AGAINST the 30-06... I have heard from used gun dealers that rifles in that chambering can be hard to move, probably because they are so common.. Nothing "flashy" about a 30-06. The fact that they don't sell as well as another more "fashionable" caliber has nothing to do with the utility of the chambering. If a person were to own but one centerfire rifle for North American game, the 30-06 is hard to beat .

In general, hens and poults flock together, jakes flock together and adult toms flock together.. However, it is certainly not unusual to see mixed flocks. I have seen jakes and longbeards mixed in with hens and poults, jakes keeping company with longbeards, etc. There are no set rules and if there were, the damn turkeys would probably break them...<,grin>....

A 30-06 is NEVER a bad choice for game the size of deer, black bears, and even heavier game like elk or moose. Anyone who tells you otherwise is giving you bad advice. There are many factory loads available for this chambering which will handle anything from woodchucks to grizzly bears..

Eagle... I respect your personal preference, and since you are an experienced hunter and rifleman, I have no doubt that the lighter trigger is safe and perfect for you. However, I will maintain that for " Joe Average Deerhunter" a trigger of 2.5 to 4 pounds is a better and safer choice.

Yes, .358 Win can be formed from plentiful .308 casings, but new brass is available from Winchester, Hornady, and probably others. It's nice to have the proper headstamp on your casings. Sadly,American hunters as a have never favored .35 cal. rifles, with the notable exception of the .35 Rem. The .358 is an excellent medium and big game cartridge capable of cleanly taking the largest North American game with proper bullets ,as well as being a superb deer and black bear cartridge. I think you will find that used .358s often command a premium price, especially in lever actions such as the Savage M99, the Win M88, or the Browning BLR.

I agree with the majority here..1.5 pounds is light for a hunting rifle, for the reasons expressed by Steve, PLUS the adrenaline factor. 2.5 to 3 pounds is about right for me. I don't have any aftermarket triggers, but I have had all of my Remingtons, Rugers and Winchesters worked by a competent gunsmith. The only one I have done myself is the single set trigger on my CZ 550, and it came with DETAILED instructions for trigger adjustment, easily understood even for a ham handed klutz like me...<<grin>>...

Happy Birthday, Good Buddy !! Hope you get lucky tonite.. Want me to give Kathy a call and help you out ?

Both dates are early...The .358 Win was not developed until 1955. It's simply a .308 Win necked to .35 cal. The monte carlo stock and tang safety would suggest a gun produced in the 60s. Also, does it have a rotary mag or a detachable box ? The early 99s had the rotary mag. In any case, it is a fine rifle and well worth holding on to. .358 Win. is possibly the most desirable " modern" chambering in a M99.

Not to mention my humble sense of modesty....