Trad Gang

Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: Sarah on November 01, 2008, 08:20:00 PM

Title: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Sarah on November 01, 2008, 08:20:00 PM
That's right!

Went up to my stand on my friend's property around 2:00 this afternoon. Was hoping to sit for a long while and catch the deer that come out of the woods early to feed in the fields (the ones I have been consistently spooking in the process of going up to my stand).

Had this little beastie start moving in around 4:00. She went into the field and I took the shot at about 12 yards. The arrow ended up entering the squirrel's hind leg, exiting, and then entering again at her ribcage. She cleaned up really nice, and some of my vegetarian roommates have expressed interest in sampling whatever dish I end up making.

She also had a weird tumor on her head (pictured below).

Can't believe I finally took something with my bow, about five months after I first picked one up. Needless to say, many thanks to everyone who helped me with advice and equipment. You people are great!

   :archer:  

 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2993815846_e1056ccfd9.jpg)
This is a view from my stand of the field where she was feeding.

 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/2992969975_2cfa86ef83.jpg)
Here she is!

 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2992969857_22f34758cd.jpg)
The weird tumor.

Now I just need to get this close to a deer!


Sarah     :D
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: bowhunterfrompast on November 01, 2008, 08:25:00 PM
Congrats  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Tdog on November 01, 2008, 08:29:00 PM
You go. If you can make a shot like that on a squirrel. It's only a matter of time.Wow be proud..You are paying your dues
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: L. E. Carroll on November 01, 2008, 08:30:00 PM
Great shot and awesome harvest!  Probably would pass on eating it though with that tumor.
Gene
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: BOFF on November 01, 2008, 08:33:00 PM
Congrats!!!
Beautiful silver/gray color in the fur!!!
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Squirrelbane on November 01, 2008, 08:44:00 PM
Nice shot, those frog-squirrels are hard to hit.  :D
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Budog56 on November 01, 2008, 08:57:00 PM
nice job. only goes up from there..  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Chris Surtees on November 01, 2008, 09:20:00 PM
:thumbsup:    :archer:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Morning Star on November 01, 2008, 09:23:00 PM
Nice job Sarah.  I've enjoyed following your progress here.  I have two little girls that I hope will "choose" to be a little like their dad.  You are a great example.....best of luck with the deer.

I'd probably pass on eating the squirrel myself.  Lots more of healthy ones out there for you to get after.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: adkmountainken on November 01, 2008, 09:24:00 PM
great job now get the frying pan warmed up!
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Killdeer on November 01, 2008, 09:28:00 PM
Good job Sarah! That is a weird looking lesion. I would entertain the possibility that it is where a warble emerged. Here is a link to images of such outpourings of misery.

   Confusing fall warblers ;0) (http://images.google.com/images?q=warble&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title)  

They don't make the meat bad, they just are yucky to think about. A real hard cold snap tends to make this syndrome go away.

How are you going to cook this one? Didja keep the tail?

Killdeer   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: katie on November 01, 2008, 09:31:00 PM
Great job Sarah!  It is a great feeling to finally get something.  Can't wait to see a post saying you taged a deer.  Way to go!
Katie
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: mooseman76 on November 01, 2008, 09:38:00 PM
Great job Sarah.  That is a nice looking bow you got there, what is it?

Mike
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: kennym on November 01, 2008, 09:43:00 PM
:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Sarah on November 01, 2008, 09:45:00 PM
It's a Chek-Mate Falcon that I got used from the tradgang classifieds. Love it.

Any other opinions on whether I should eat this thing or not?

Thanks!
Sarah
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: adkmountainken on November 01, 2008, 09:48:00 PM
Sarah,
      it is fine, as Killy said it is common. i watched a crazy guy eat a porcupine that was LOADED with worms and ticks a couple weeks ago. did hurt him a bit, he is as crazy as he was before he ate it. better put the tail on your quiver.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Terry Green on November 01, 2008, 09:48:00 PM
:bigsmyl:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Bowspirit on November 01, 2008, 09:54:00 PM
Congradulations, Sarah. What a fine first kill...

 
Quote
Originally posted by adkmountainken:
 i watched a crazy guy eat a porcupine that was LOADED with worms and ticks a couple weeks ago. did hurt him a bit, he is as crazy as he was before he ate it.
Wow, now that guy must've been crazy...  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: vermonster13 on November 01, 2008, 09:58:00 PM
Great job Sarah! How's the quiver working out for you? The tail would go great on it like Ken said.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Sarah on November 01, 2008, 09:59:00 PM
alas, didn't save the tail. it was loaded with burrs and the whole thing was generally a big mess by the time I got it skinned. Aparently, these things take practice...

    :(  

still can't get over the fact that I actually shot the thing. can't get this smile off my face!
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: sgrogg on November 01, 2008, 10:03:00 PM
Sarah,

I, too, have enjoyed following your progress over the past several months.  Congrats on your first trad kill!
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Billy on November 01, 2008, 10:06:00 PM
Congrats!!
Nice shootin'. I'll defer to the more knowledable on the eats...I would.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Day Dreamer on November 01, 2008, 10:07:00 PM
too cool!!!
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: adkmountainken on November 01, 2008, 10:09:00 PM
you could allways save a leg bone. clean the meat off it, boil it and there are a million uses for it. i allways like to keep something from anything i kill.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Shaun on November 01, 2008, 10:20:00 PM
Nice shooting Sara! Squirrels are tough to skin. There are some tricks to it, still not much easier than skinning a deer. They are good chicken fried or if old and tough, boiled in water with white wine then picked off the bone and cooked in a pot pie. Yes to eating it.

When that deer shows up, just imagine a squirrel clinging right behind the shoulder and let fly!
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Killdeer on November 02, 2008, 12:25:00 AM
Squirrel Newberg, squirrel gumbo, squirrel pot pie, squirrel thermidor, squirrel stir fry, squirrel Macmuffins, pralined squirrel cubes, Brunswick stew, squirrel crepes, squirrel on the half shell, stuffed squirrel, rolled squirrel roast, squirrel on a stick, squirrel fritters, squirrel jitters, squirrel fricassee, taquitos esquirrelitos, jalapeno squirrel dip, smoked squirrel hocks, squirrel cordon bleu, squirrel scampi, bun bi squirrel cha giao, shredded squirrel in oyster sauce, mu shu aquirrel, ratatouille, curried squirrel, squirrel surprise, tequila 'n' squirrel sunrise, squirrels 'n' Spam, scrambled squirrel brains and eggs, country fried squirrel, squirrel sausage (the famous "tube squirrel"), Tuscan squirrel, spaghetti and squirrel balls, squirrel Wellington, haggis, squirrelbraten, pickled squirrel feet, Tandoori squirrel, squirrel biryani...

There are only two treeveal travails. 1) Hitting them and 2) deciding on a recipe!
Killdeer   :biglaugh:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Sarah on November 02, 2008, 01:01:00 AM
killy: hah!

the recipe has been decided on. lunch on wednesday will be a sort of squirrel strudel (technically called a pasty). basically squirrel pot pie...sort of... can't go wrong when you mix it with veggies and roll it in pastry!

thanks everyone! i'm still beside myself with excitement over this. please tell me this feeling doesn't go away.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Chris Surtees on November 02, 2008, 03:20:00 AM
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: novahunterpa on November 02, 2008, 04:19:00 AM
Congrats, Sara
Now that you got some small game out of the way im sure a deer is in your near future.  I too shot a squrriel on the first day, and thought wow if i can hit that im sure ill get a deer, and i did sat morning.  Good luck with the rest of the season
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Stone Knife on November 02, 2008, 04:48:00 AM
Very nice job   :thumbsup:  those squirrels are not easy to hit, a deer should be a piece of cake for you.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: sou-pawbowhunter on November 02, 2008, 06:30:00 AM
Way to go Sarah!  I can't wait to read about your next kill.   :clapper:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: turkey522 on November 02, 2008, 07:15:00 AM
Congarts Sarah,great shot.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Whip on November 02, 2008, 07:23:00 AM
Congratulations Sarah!  Hitting a squirrel is a whole lot harder than hitting a deer.  Your confidence should be soaring, and it won't be long before we see more pictures of your adventures!
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: bentpole on November 02, 2008, 07:32:00 AM
Sarah, you can hit a squirrel, you can't miss a deer. Go get one!
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: tradtusker on November 02, 2008, 07:33:00 AM
:clapper:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Longbowwally on November 02, 2008, 07:45:00 AM
Good Shootin'!

What Killy said is correct - around here we call these things 'wolves'. Don't know why, but thats what my granddaddy called them and so I do too....I don't squirrel hunt till the weather has been good and cold for a while for that reason..
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: coconutdave on November 02, 2008, 08:09:00 AM
Very nice.    :clapper:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: ishiwannabe on November 02, 2008, 09:49:00 AM
Awesome shot on a very tough critter.  I could swear that they got the idea for the Matrix films from watching squirrels duck arrows!
You have to come to JLMBH.....you would love it!
Congrats!
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: b.glass on November 02, 2008, 10:50:00 AM
Wonderful Sarah! I agree with Killdeer, it is probably where there had been, (or still is), a warble. We had a cat with one of those once.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: George D. Stout on November 02, 2008, 11:03:00 AM
Sarah....are you going to be at school on the first weekend of January?   That is the day we have the Great Pennsylvania Squirrel Hunt here in Bedford County, about an hour and a half south of State College.  Would love to have you join us.  It's all recurves and longbows and a great time.  

Nice shot....and the warbles are a part of nature..not necessarily pretty, but part of nature nonetheless.  Congratulations.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: sgrogg on November 02, 2008, 11:18:00 AM
Sarah,

Here ya go:

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=050869#000000

(Slick squirrel skinning video)
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Izzy on November 02, 2008, 11:24:00 AM
Congrats on that critter.As long as your not eating his head I think your squirrel pot pie will be delectable.Shoot a couple more in case your still hungry after the 1st.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Sarah on November 02, 2008, 11:57:00 AM
Yep, I've seen that video. I used that method but it was nowhere near as tidy, practice makes perfect.

I actually am going to be out of the state the first weekend in January. Too bad! I would've loved to come for the squirrel extravaganza!
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Jerry Jeffer on November 02, 2008, 05:44:00 PM
I really enjoy reading of your progress and adventures since you have joined us. Congrats.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: tim roberts on November 02, 2008, 08:42:00 PM
:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: wollybear on November 02, 2008, 08:52:00 PM
way to go!!!  :thumbsup:    :clapper:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: flyfish1 on November 02, 2008, 08:59:00 PM
luv it we to be
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: cahaba on November 03, 2008, 04:38:00 AM
Now thats a trophy. I shot my first squirrel the other day with an Ace hex head and that rascal hit the ground,jumped up and was gone. They are a true quarry.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: blueline on November 03, 2008, 10:09:00 AM
Sarah That mity fine shooting....

Blueline
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Bryant Hollinger on November 03, 2008, 10:14:00 AM
Good Job  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Over&Under on November 03, 2008, 10:25:00 AM
First under your belt, keep em' coming!!!!
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: FerretWYO on November 03, 2008, 12:07:00 PM
congrats on your first.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: the not so straight arrow on November 03, 2008, 12:15:00 PM
thems good eatin. if your lookin for a something a little different try cookn the legs like ya would chicken wings and dip em in blue cheese dressing. dead seriouse its an amazing meal, i call em squirrel wings lol. enjoy and nice job, they aint easy with the bow.
-cory
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: BRONZ on November 03, 2008, 03:23:00 PM
Nice!!
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Tree Killer on November 03, 2008, 08:44:00 PM
Awesome shooting Sarah!     :readit:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: TNstickn on November 03, 2008, 09:15:00 PM
:campfire:    :clapper:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Sarah on November 03, 2008, 10:54:00 PM
:)

Thanks!
I hope you're all right about the deer.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: indianalongbowshooter on November 04, 2008, 12:25:00 PM
Dont worry about the meat, just where she had a warble, fly bot. Has no effect on meat quality just ugly to look at..
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: JEFF B on November 04, 2008, 01:12:00 PM
:clapper:    :clapper:    :clapper:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Keystone on November 04, 2008, 03:17:00 PM
Sarah,
Congrats on your first trad bow kill. Just wait until you do it with the Osage selfbow you and Dave made together. That will be a whole new rush, oh the smile, ya understand that.
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: Sarah on November 05, 2008, 02:34:00 PM
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3005389185_4cc5d17c26.jpg)

   :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: First Trad Kill (first kill ever!)
Post by: adkmountainken on November 05, 2008, 02:36:00 PM
dam now i'm hungry! looks great.