Summer bushytails

Okay--I was probably doing to much with my left elbow still on the mend but I could not stand it.  Virginia has a week of Squirrel Season the first week of June.  Since my property is overrun with the pests I figured I would get out the air rifle and try to POP a few.  Well, that had to be something to see if anyone would have been around.  First I had to get the gun loaded with 1.3 arms, well after a few different pistons of the gun I got a pellet in it.  By this time all the squirrels that were in the front yard are up a tree or two or three and barking at me as loud as possible.  The next process (after locating the tree rats) is to get the gun up and actually aim.  Seeing as I am right handed I have to get the gun up and hold it with my left arm and of course that is not easy (that is the bad arm).  By the time I get the gun up to aim the squirrel has figured out he does not want to be there and off he goes through the treetops with me in pursuit...get the gun up again, chase down the squirrel well you get the process.  That first afternoon Squirrels 6; Luanne 0; end of day one.  Next afternoon I take out the shooting sticks and the air gun again; Squirrels 5; Luanne 0.  Now I think these little pests are laughing at me and by day three they are not running away too far seeing as they did not figure I was any type of threat.  DAY TWO I bring out the shooting sticks and the 20 gauge with good ol' number 7's in it.  It took even longer for me to try and get that gun up.  DAY THREE squirrels are still winning this battle and they are laughing HARDER at me.

OKAY, new strategy.  I bring out the shooting stand (we use to site in guns).  I set it up in the middle of my bird feeders that are seedless due to the bushy tails having eaten all the seed in a half and hour after I fill them each morning.  This stand is adjustable and swivels 360 degrees.  I mount the shooting sticks on it, move the seat til it is almost on the ground and WAIT.  When the tree rats are calmed down and start to move around,  Well by end of Day Four, Squirrels 0; Luanne 4.  I did not get a chance to go after them again because the weather decided that this area needed to get stormed on the next three nights.

I have decided that once a week for the rest of the summer I will be taking out some type of weapon and practicing shooting with my sticks.  Then I will need to devise a way to use the stick in the tree stands,  They say "where there is a will, there is a way".  I am going to have to find a way.  I can shoot with a shooting stand, now I have to figure out the best way to shoot everything I hunt with from the shooting bench or with sticks.

BOY, Chicken Fried Squirrel sure tasted good that night.