My Grand Epic Squirrel Hunt

  I don't have a car, and I'm the only one in my family with an interest in hunting. So it's not easy for me to get out and hunt, and even harder for me to get out and hunt Abert Squirrels! I live in Kingman, which is mostly dry desert grassland, and the only local area these squirrels are found in is a nearby biological island, the Hualapai Mountains.   Up at the top there is a Ponderosa pine forest, and the squirrels were introduced there many years ago.

  One Thursday morning during squirrel season I had a friend drive me all the way up to the top, down the only road heading out of the small town there, and past all the houses. The road became too rough for his car, and so I got out to walk the rest of the way into the local BLM forest area. 

  I really worked for my squirrel- it turned out I had to walk an HOUR along a winding dirt road, through chaparral scrub, until I finally reached a slope with Ponderosa pine trees! "Shade, blessed shade!", is all I could think at this point! However- that thought became interrupted rather quickly, as I spotted movement about 50 yards on the hill above me. I froze and realized I was watching three elk, a cow and her two almost grown calves! I did try to get a picture, but the only one I was able to take without being seen didn't turn out...ah well, wildlife photography is a challenge unto itself....
  They moved up the slope and out of sight. Trying to see them again, I followed as quietly as I could. I came across a lot of fresh elk sign but no elk. Slowly making my way up the slope, I finally crouched down and stopped to rest. That's when I caught a movement to my right- I turned my head and there was my quarry- the tassel-eared-or Abert's- Squirrel, bounding up to stop and stare at me from 25 yards away. It barked at me a few times, then headed right up a small tree- BAD IDEA. I raised my double-barrel shotgun and soon had a squirrel in the bag. It was a big, fat, furry one, too- in full winter coat. To me, these southwestern squirrels are the most handsome of all our nation's squirrels. Because of this, I always save the hide- I think it's too beautiful to waste. However, proper skinning does take time, and the whole process ate away an hour or more. (I need to get better at skinning speed! /\_/\)
  I hunted for awhile longer, but that was the only squirrel I saw, and all too soon I was headed out again, to make another hour-long trek down that dusty road to meet my ride. So, for many people, squirrels might be small and easy game, but for me that squirrel was worthy of any epic big game hunt!

JC Amberlyn