He's been counting down the days until August 15!

(OSGOOD, Ind.) – There is no better date on the calendar than August 15 for Lanny Cole.

It marks the start of squirrel hunting season which has been a major part of his life since he was a child. 

“He’s always telling us how many days there are until squirrel season. It’s like a little kid counting down the days to Christmas,” his son, Rob Cole, said. 

82-year-old Lanny Cole got his first squirrel while hunting in the New Marion area in 1953. 

As a young boy, it wasn’t just a hobby but also a way to put food on the table for his family. 

Cole went hunting any chance he could get. He also began a unique tradition as a boy by documenting the number of squirrels he killed. 

He has kept that list in his wallet his entire life, and updates it after every hunt. 

That passion for squirrel hunting was passed down to his three sons who often joined him in the woods both as children and adults. 

“I remember in 1977 he bought my brother and I a Marlin Glenfield rifle for both of us on Christmas, I think they were $38 each at that point,” Rob said. 

Over the years, squirrel hunting was not only a hobby but also a competition among Lanny and his sons. 

“There was one year where I got 77 squirrels and dad was determined to break my record,” his son, Dave, said.

He hasn't only been dedicated to the hunt but also the harvest.

There was one time he and his son, Darren, were hunting and after Lanny shot a squirrel, the squirrel fell into the tree. 

“So, we went to a friend’s house, got an ax and cut the tree down to get the squirrel,” Darren laughed. 

Looking at the list in his wallet, the most successful season for Lanny came in 2001 when he got 88 squirrels. 

Last year, his boys realized that he was on the cusp of a milestone.

They went hunting in August of 2024 and Lanny was able to get his 2,700th squirrel!

His boys presented him with a plaque and the taxidermied squirrel.

One major change to squirrel season that Lanny has experienced is it's longevity. It now lasts from August 15 until January 31, while it used to only be few months.

“Can you imagine how many he’d have in his lifetime if the season was as long as it is now back in his prime,” Darren questioned.

His sons added that between his hunts and those of other family members, he has cleaned thousands of squirrels. 

“He used to be able to completely clean one in just about a minute or less, There was one time he cleaned a squirrel in just 50 seconds,” Darren added. 

The dad and his three sons will be back in the woods on Friday as Lanny is hoping to update his list to at least 2,701 squirrels. 

Lanny is now retired and lives with his wife in Versailles. He used to work at the Shoe Factory in Osgood as well as Empire Gas and GeCom in Greensburg.