I haven't a clue......

[Der Gebirgsjager]

I took a little walk in the forest this afternoon, as the snow is receding, from bare spot to bare spot. Lying in the pine needles was this artifact, a 12 Ga. WW AA shotgun hull. I've never seen anything quite like it, have you?
Could be it was knawed on by critters. Quite a few squirrels live in that area.

DG

DG

[BNE]

I would hate to see the barrel it came out of.... squirrel nibbles are more like small bites.

[Winger Ed.]

Rats and squirrels both have been known to eat plastic.

[Tokarev]

I've seen hulls blown off by damaged pump action or semi-autos but they usually take the metal off with the plug and leave the hull intact. Never this kind of failure.
Did you see ambulance tracks anywhere around? Single tire on the front and double on the back. Or helicopter landing tracks? Check local news from 1 year ago for a hunter rushed to the ER.

[Sasquatch-1]

I used to have PET rabbits that liked to chew on phone and electrical wires in the house. There is something in the plastic they like.

[Outer Rondacker]

Red or fox squirrels will chew through anything. That is where I would put my money.

[ShooterAZ]

I think it was probably done by mice...

[BadgerShooter]

Old timers around us would cut a shotgun shell around right at the end of the wad when they couldn't afford slugs. If all went well, the shell separated and the front of the shell with the wad and shot went out as a unit, acting as a slug. They called them "cut shells". If any of you guys want to give it a try, I'll watch!

[wch]

Old timers around us would cut a shotgun shell around right at the end of the wad when they couldn't afford slugs. If all went well, the shell separated and the front of the shell with the wad and shot went out as a unit, acting as a slug. They called them "cut shells". If any of you guys want to give it a try, I'll watch!

Exactly.

[Texas by God]

Animals; probably "fancy rats" did that. A "cut" shell has a clean break at the cut.
Squirrels love chewing on plastic- down here they chew up plastic sprinkler heads and low voltage tree lighting wire.

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[RustyReel]

Something about soy beans or soy bean oil in the making of plastic, don't remember exactly. Know a couple of guys who have had their car's plug wires chewed up while they were "up north" and their car left unattended for the summer.

[6pt-sika]

Red or fox squirrels will chew through anything. That is where I would put my money.

I agree 100% my climbing treestand that stay out in the woods about six months a year look like a grinder hit them in many spots . They get thru the paint and then it seems to subside .

[Cap'n Morgan]

Don't know if you have martens in the area? They are known for their ability to wreck havoc on electrical installations in cars and farming equipment. They will happily chew the plastic of electrical wires and munch on rubber hoses, causing short circuits and leaks, and probably a self-inflicted electrocution from time to time.

[William Yanda]

Old timers around us would cut a shotgun shell around right at the end of the wad when they couldn't afford slugs. If all went well, the shell separated and the front of the shell with the wad and shot went out as a unit, acting as a slug. They called them "cut shells". If any of you guys want to give it a try, I'll watch!

Did you forget to say: "I'll hold your beer"?