Outdoorsman Thread

[kootenay joe]

I have walnut trees and squirrels can pick off every single nut. They start doing this in mid July and are finished harvesting long before the walnuts have filled out, which means they are not good as winter food. One year i just let nature be and did not interfere. My thought was that perhaps the squirrels are nature's way of thinning the crop, same as we do for apple trees in June. However the squirrels took every nut from every walnut tree by early August. As these are not ripe enough to be food i believe this harvesting is compulsive behavior.
So if i want walnuts i have to shoot squirrels. I use a WW II Brno 22, a very accurate rifle. I can usually get them first shot even the smart ones that lie flat on a high branch and just peak their head over the edge to see what i am doing. If i hit the walnut branch the part distal usually dies within 2 years.
I had a great Jack Russell dog. He would tell me when there was a squirrel in one of the trees. Squirrels are hard to find in a leaved out tree if they remain still. Sometimes after 15 minutes of glassing the tree without seeing a squirrel i would tell Jake he is either mistaken or the squirrel has snuck away. But if i persisted, i would eventually see the squirrel. Jake was never wrong.
One year i shot about 40 squirrels. When they fell out of the tree Jake got them before i could and he would take off with his prize.
Some months later this very healthy, fit 8 yr old dog became ill. He had a widespread sarcoma which is a sub group of cancers some of which are known to be caused by viruses.
Some animals can carry a virus with no ill effects, but the same virus in another species causes a deadly disease. Chimpanzees carry the Human Immunodeficiency virus but do not get AIDS. But an HIV infection in humans can cause AIDS. So my thought is that squirrels carry a sarcoma virus that if transmitted to dogs causes a fatal tumor. I mentioned this to the vet but he was not interested. I bet within 10 years more evidence of this type of disease harboring & transmission will come to light. Remember though, that you heard it here, in AAPK first !
The picture above of the squirrels reminded me of these events.
kj

[philco]

How about some good old outdoor photos ? These were taken yesterday at Rock Creek in southern Ky. It's a beautiful little stream that runs from Tenn. into Ky.

[jlw257]

Philco, They gave that creek the right name Beautiful Thanks for showing.

Larry

[Mumbleypeg]

Interesting story and theory Roland. Thanks for sharing it!

Phil, beautiful pictures. Are those lilies naturalized there? I've seen places where they've done so, often on an old homesite where they were planted long ago. The house is gone now but the lilies are thriving. I've also seen daffodils, wisteria, and roses do the same.

Ken

[royal0014]

Boat .. .. Break Out Another Thousand
Mine hasn't been out of the barn in over 4 years. Could not trust the 40 year-old Johnson enough to enjoy my outings

kjoe, interesting story and hypothesis. I'll go hunt for tree-rats in the fall, just for the target practice.

phil, the lilies and the creek look serene. Wonder why the beaver didn't finish felling his tree ????

[philco]

Interesting story and theory Roland. Thanks for sharing it!

Phil, beautiful pictures. Are those lilies naturalized there? I've seen places where they've done so, often on an old homesite where they were planted long ago. The house is gone now but the lilies are thriving. I've also seen daffodils, wisteria, and roses do the same.

Ken

Ken I can't tell you much about those lilies other than that they grow wild all around this part of the country. Right now the roadsides are littered with big orange patches of them.

Royal I'm not sure why the beaver quit gnawing but my guess is his jaw got tired.

[jerryd6818]

Phil, when I was a kid (you know back during the dark ages) those Tiger Lilies grew everywhere down home. Ditches, old house places and fence rows mostly. I've always liked them.

[TripleF]

Not much outdoors activites or missions to report on these sweltering hot days, BUT I have been dilegent in preparing for the cool weather firepit season my brother in-laws and nephews appreciate!!

My bro in-law had a tree cut down in February. It was cut in 3 foot lengths and left for me

All the work is done with no more power than bicep power

[garddogg56]

Even though I work in the wood Scott in real hot and humid days that looks like a lot of WORK and up here in Maine it means lots of ticks,mosquitos and black flies the size of bee's not to mention wasp

[TripleF]

Yessirree DOGG.....lotta work, but so, so, so, so worth it when cooler temps (below 70) prevail here in FLA!!!

[gsmith7158]

My son sent me these pics from Panama City. Looks like he is having too much fun.

[garddogg56]

Up Ta Kamp Bass 'r' biting Mellon's getting juiced::super_happy:: Happy 4th

[FRJ]

Greg and Dogg, great fishing pictures.

[313 Mike]

Great pics guys, glad to see everyone getting outdoors and enjoying their summer!

[313 Mike]

Over the years I have had dozens of different fishing reels, from Shimanos and Zebcos, to Abu Gracias and Ambassadors, but by far my most reliable, least likely to tangle, trustworthy workhouse of a reel has been this old Mitchell I have had since the 80's....Nothing fancy, no frills, didn't cost much, but has really has proven itself time and time again. Just wanted to post it up here and show it a little love.

[treefarmer]

Mike,
My dad used a Mitchell 300 for years when I was a young feller (back in the '60s), he thought they were great. Seems like there was a little reel, a 302, it was not quite an ultra-light but almost that we used back in the old days.
Treefarmer

[garddogg56]

Them Mitchell's was and will be one of the last great American reals Smooooooth as silk

[TripleF]

Knice pics fellas!!
Gotta love the old good stuff huh Mike!!

[Old Hunter]

Wood chopping and fishing - two American traditions - looking good gents! OH

[garddogg56]

Mike,here is one of the more modern Mitchell's just as smooth as silk

[carrmillus]

Mike,
My dad used a Mitchell 300 for years when I was a young feller (back in the '60s), he thought they were great. Seems like there was a little reel, a 302, it was not quite an ultra-light but almost that we used back in the old days.
Treefarmer

....TF, the small version of the of the Mitchell was the #308, unless my memory is completely gone!!..... ..............

[carrmillus]

...........I'm almost sure it was the #308!!, I had one on a 4 1/2 foot ultra-light rod that I used for bream fishing!!....... ...........

[FRJ]

Here's a made in France Mitchell 300 and a Mitchell 308.
Good memory Tommy.

[313 Mike]

Fine looking old Mitchells there Joe....looks like they are ready for action! Do they still see use?

[carrmillus]

........the #308 Mitchell on a 4 1/2 ft. fenwick ultralight rod and 4 lb. test line is the best rig for bluegill/redear fishing I ever owned!!.................... ....................