Barking squirrels or barking mad?

[Colin KC]

Did I dream it, or was there a practice of shooting the tree next to a squirrel (in olde dayf with black powder musket & ball) in order for the bark to stun/kill the sqirrel instead of the .40+ caliber lead thingy annhialating (spelling?) it? No one believes me over here & I'm beginning to believe that I'm "barking" mad

 

[Mike the JAG]

You didn't dream it, I've read about "barking" squirrels. I can't remember who did it, Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett.

 

[stormcrow]

It was common practice. Back in those days the smallest readily available rifle caliber was usually .36 or .32, which would still be too big to leave any usefull meat, when used for a direct hit.

BTW, that .36 ball is why the .357, .38, 9mm, .380 and etc. are so prevalent today.

pil sung