So call me crazy, or not, but I’ve been bowhunting elk for the better part of 35 years. I’m in Colorado this year, and it seems about every I bugle or start calling these chipmunks start sending an alarm chatter for all the mountain to hear lol. They’re like right above us screaming they’re heads off, unlike the elk right now. I’m convinced they are working in tandem as alarm sentrys to warm their friends , and no I’m not smoking weed before I hunt lol.
Reminds me of a few years ago in Kaibab. Opening morning, 5 bucks feeding right to me with 2 monsters in the group. As they were getting closer, them little bastards got louder and louder above me at about 60 yards, the spike in front stopped, looked my way and turned 90 degrees to the left and fed away, taking the others with him. BTW, my brother shot a 7X9 out of that group on the 3rd afternoon.
I have sat for a long time thinking about shooting a frickgin squirrel and if it was worth a $12 arrow...... it is quite irritating. Only place I've ever been where the damn things do that.
In the places I've hunted in CO the last couple years, the squirrels chattering and throwing pine cones at you has been non existent. Beatle kill. Interesting topic though. They chatter at elk too. Think about that for a minute ;)
I was sitting on a rock ledge in Colorado once, mule deer hunting, and a chipmunk climbed out from underneath somewhere, came up on the rock where my feet were, cocked his head up at me and peed. Then he left, leaving a little wet spot on the rock. I had to laugh.
Twice elk hunting, I've taken the mid afternoon snooze watching a meadow, only to have had the crud scared out of me by those little rodents running across my crotch! Death to all of them!
dirtclod Az. - I think Walmarts around here still sells them, can't find mine so I gonna be shopping for one too... Will let youenz know about Walmart...
It's good and bad. In 2016 I was moving in on a bedded bull. Sat down along the brush at the edge of the clearing that separated us waiting for him to chime out from his bed one more time before the stalk.
Squirrels started going ape shit across the clearing. I couldn't figure out how the hell they saw me. Then a cub climbed a tree.. then another... Then another.. Then momma bear charged my ass across the clearing. Those squirrels warned me.
Last year I was on my buddy's elk hunt. We were taking a midday snooze. And I heard a squirrel chirping down the hill. So I worked my way down to see if it was a bear, or something. Then I was standing face to face with a solid 6x6 bull. I turned to walk away hoping he'd just go about his business LOL. Went got my buddy never saw that bull again.
Firm believer that they chirp at all big animals, and predatory birds. They don't know which ones like to kill them so they don't discriminate.
dirtclod Az. - Yep, Walmart still sells wrist rockets and surprisingly they actually had a nice selection of different brands and models... I picked up a Barnett Black Widow Folding Slingshot for under $10 today... Even came with 10 steel shot balls...