Anyone hunt around Bloomington?

[haldir]

Originally Posted by NateIU10

Where abouts in the HNF if you don't mind. I've only ever been to a part about 14 miles south on 446.

Probably same general area. IIRC it was about 5-10 miles before you got to Monroe on 446. I would just travel a few miles up some of those dirt roads until I saw some good looking woods. There was also some very good fishing in some of the ponds out there. I bought some of those topo maps of the area and would use them to navigate. I did go closer to the reservoir sometimes. There were more grasslands in there. I had read there were supposed to be some quail in that region, but never did jump any, but that was pre bird dog days. There were also some deer out there. The wife about freaked out one time. She was tagging along while I was doing some grouse hunting and two young bucks ran within just a few feet of her. SHe thought she was going to be trampled. Of course I laughed hysterically.

I used to use a .22 for early squirrel hunting as you usually have to spot them sitting still as a rock up in a tree. Once leaves are down, I alwys used my 20 guage as I jump shot more of them as they were feeding on the ground. Use your ears when you are out in the woods. You will hear the nuts dropping long before you see the squirrel. Then very stealthily stalk into that area. You will often have to sit against a tree for half an hour (without moving or making any noise) before they will forget you are there and start moving again. Watch for their tails hanging over the big limbs.

[haldir]

Sorry for the double post. I remembered going past some sort of horse camp a few miles from where I parked. I usually parked near some fire tower for navigation purposes.

[6birds]

You guys are in a good spot, the far NE and SE edges of the resovoir, where Blue Creek enters the lake are real hot spots for Grouse, crows, woodchucks, and deer (although there are ALOT of hunters there for gun season, Bow is relatively quiet).

South on 446 to Tower Ridge Road (East) does take you past the Horse Camp and the Fire tower, keep going East and North, until you need 4 wheel Drive, then park and walk in. You will be walking a 700 acres ection with the creek running on 3 sides of you, kinda hard to get lost in there. Mixed woods with corn/bean feilds on the edges, tons of birds and squirrel.

Or south of 46, (East of 446/46 Intersection), go south past the TC Steel State Park (try google Maps and this will make sense), and then South on Dewar Ridge Rd, to the boat landing, this is the same area, but on the North side of Blue Creek. Can walk or canoe in from this area, duck.goose,grouse, deer, squirrel coon.

Both areas are right on the water, with some serious hills surrounding. I usually canoe into that area, shoot the tree rats and retrieve from the water. Good luck. PM if you want futher details.

[IUGradStudent]

Originally Posted by NateIU10

Sounds good to me. I'm gonna swing by MCSports and a pawn shop tomorrow to see what kind of 22s they have in stock

ETA: Does Walmart here sell rifles?

No guns at Wal-mart in Bloomington except for a few muzzle-loaders (saw them a week ago -- forget the brands -- $225-350 range). Knives, ammo, cleaning supplies, accessories, but that's it.

[AFpilot]

I shot my first gray squirrel not far from Bloomington quite about 15 years ago, but I've been back and filled my 5 shot limit in a day down there since. The edge of the Hoosier National is where we got them. Just get in before dark, sit somewhere (obviously look for the white oaks, etc..) and be patient. They wake up the woods they can be so loud. Started out shooting a single shot 20 ga. Since moved to a Rem Fieldmaster .22LR. I wouldn't support buying firearms from Walmart. You've got gun shops in your area, and there is always the WTB section on here. I've had good luck with Gunbroker.com also.

Good luck to you!

[NateIU10]

Well, I think I'm gonna head out tomorrow to scout some area/maybe take a couple squirrel if I'm lucky

Thanks for all your help guys, and wish me luck! :-D

[techres]

Originally Posted by NateIU10

Well, I think I'm gonna head out tomorrow to scout some area/maybe take a couple squirrel if I'm lucky

Thanks for all your help guys, and wish me luck! :-D

Let me know how it goes. I would like to learn some of those skills myself. I am banned from hunting by my wife, but if I were on a walk just to learn some skills... And I would have to go with a 22lr to learn those skills...

Oh, and rodent eradication is different than hunting.

If you know what I mean.

[NateIU10]

Originally Posted by techres

Let me know how it goes. I would like to learn some of those skills myself. I am banned from hunting by my wife, but if I were on a walk just to learn some skills... And I would have to go with a 22lr to learn those skills...

Oh, and rodent eradication is different than hunting.

If you know what I mean.

Absolutely

I know a lot of people who are not anti-meat, but get uneasy about the idea of killing for it. I just explain the freshness, the skill it takes and the fact that squirrel is the second most hunted animal in the US (Next to rabbit). I hope I get some tomorrow though, I'd like to try a couple different recipes on them to see what I like best

[NateIU10]

Well, no luck today. Saw a grand total of 3 Squirrels in 3 hours, all either far away or in the canopy of the trees and ran fast.. I think I'm going to try Hickory ridge rd tomorrow morning, I drove by and the trees looked much more squirrel friendly.

Overall though, I had a really great time. Learned my German Military surplus Flecktarn camo fits comfortably and the colors are right on for this time of year. Most Fridays, I wake up at Noon, and watch tv all day. Today I was outside all morning and had a blast

I really think I need to go with someone more experienced though lol

[NateIU10]

Forgot to mention something. Last night, I went online to buy and print my hunting license at about 12:00. Well, I get to this one part, I hit next and it tells me I need to have taken a hunter safety course before I can buy one. They offer one online, so easy enough. A simple 75 (YES SEVENTY FIVE!) questions later and I had that done and could go to sleep to wake up early