A Very Good Day
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A Very Good Day
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Topic: A Very Good Day (Read 5400 times))
longislandhunter
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 16546
The 3rd GTA Musketeer (per Gene Curtis)
Real Name: Jeff
A Very Good Day
«
on:
July 10, 2010, 01:02:39 AM »
Well, I haven't been hunting in a long time, mostly due to the heat and humidity but today I decided I was going hunting and I didn't care what the heat index was. I packed my .22 Air Force Talon, which is running on C02 for the summer and for a second rifle I brought the .22 Trail XL which I just recently sighted in for 18.1 gr. JSB domes. I arrived at the farm around 4 pm. My plan was to hunt starlings with the C02 powered Talon for an hour or two and then switch over to the Trail XL and try to nail some g-hogs.
As I got out of the truck I looked over at a group of grain feeders about 100 yards away and noticed that there was a small flock of pigeons on the ground chowing down on duck grain. I loaded a CPH into the Talon and started my stalk. There was a large barn right next to these feeders so all I had to do was enter the barn and slowly work my way to the other end. When I reached the other end of the barn all I had to do was peek around one of the open doors and if the pigeons were still there then I'd have a perfect 25 yard shot. Well, I reached the end of the barn, peeked around the open door and sure enough the birds were still on the ground eating. I picked out the closest bird and pulled the Talons trigger. The CPH hit home with a pop and the bird flopped over on it's side. I retrieved my bird, put him in the game pouch and headed off to find another target. This is the point where my planned hunt took a very unexpected but great turn of events.
I was walking down a dirt road when I noticed a large farm tractor coming down the road headed for me. As the tractor got closer I could clearly see the man driving it and I knew I had never seen him at the farm before. As he approached me he slowed the tractor and then stopped it. I immediately thought he was going to ask me if I had permission to be on the farm but that's not what happened. He shut the tractor off, smiled and asked me what I was hunting for. I told him pests and he asked me if I ever shot woodchucks. I smiled and told him that I shoot them all the time at the farm and it's one of my favorite pests to hunt. He then introduced himself and explained that he owned a large vegetable farm down the road and that his farm was infested with g-hogs that were doing a huge amount of damage to his crops. He then asked me if I would be interested in hunting on his farm. I told him I'd love to hunt on his farm and that I'd do my best to help him out with his g-hog problem. He told me he was on the duck farm tilling one of the fields as a favor but he asked me to wait till he was done and then he would take me down to his farm and give me tour and point out where all the g-hogs were. I wound up following him to his farm, we jumped into a gas powered golf cart and he gave me a thorough tour of the farm, pointing out where all the g-hogs lived and the areas of the farm they were doing the most damage on. As we rode around there were g-hogs out feeding all over the place, it was amazing. He told me to come shoot as often as I liked and that I could shoot anywhere on the farm I wanted. Then he asked me if I had any interest in helping him out with his deer problem. He has a nuisance permit to shoot any deer damaging his crops and he was looking for a shooter who had the time to show up often and thin out the deer. I told him I was retired, loved deer hunting and deer meat and that I'd love to help him out. So,,,,,, Monday morning he's adding me to his nuisance permit. Today was a real home run. A new farm to hunt on that truly is infested with g-hogs and getting put on the farmers deer nuisance permit...... does it get any better ?? I think not
After the farmer went back to working in his fields I grabbed the Trail XL and headed off to explore my new hunting grounds. Hunting a place for the first time is a little tough as you have to get used to lay of the land and such, but there were so many g-hogs out and about that it was no problem finding targets to stalk. I hunted until 7:30 pm and managed to nail 4 g-hogs, 2 large ones and 2 youngsters. I also missed a shot an a large one. The 2 large ones I nailed managed to drag themselves back into their burrows but there's no doubt they expired very quickly after going under as both were solid head hits at close range with huge amounts of blood. The 2 younger ones were also 1 shot head hits and both of them went down immediately. I took a few pics of the 2 I brought home... I had left the pigeon in the truck so I forgot to get a pic of him.
Anyway, it turned out to be a great day, best I've had in a long time
I hope you like the pics. Sorry this post is so long but I'm really excited about this new farm and wanted to share the good news with my GTA hunting buddies.....
Jeff
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Long Island, New York
If it was easy it wouldn't be hunting it would be shopping.
famine
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Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #1 on:
July 10, 2010, 02:43:46 AM »
Sounds like a good time! I need to go check out my grandfathers land Sunday and see if I can scout out some good G-Hog hunting grounds.
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shadow
Shadow...ole critter getter
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 19454
Real Name: Ed
Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #2 on:
July 10, 2010, 03:41:39 AM »
SCORE!
now that's how you do it folk's get out there and talk with the farmers. It's good to have you back Jeff I thought maybe the G-hogs had ganged up on you and were holding you ransom in a den somewhere, would be a night raid to break you out lol. It sounds like you hit another Honey hole of hunting bro and that's how it started for me too which reminds me that I have hunting grounds that I haven't touched in over a year. Great shooting and outstanding pic's bro and good to see you back in the hunt groove.
Ed
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Michigan
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1377x
Born To Be A Star!
GTA Senior Contributor
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closed mouths dont get fed!!!
Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #3 on:
July 10, 2010, 08:29:51 AM »
congrats on the new hunting grounds
nice shooting
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short list
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airiscool
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Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #4 on:
July 10, 2010, 08:36:44 AM »
WOW, what a day. Good shooting Jeff ! Too bad two got away, but it sounds like you won't lack for plenty of others.
Someone upstairs certainly loves ya !!!!
Paul.
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dk1677
Squirrel !
Moderator
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"Disco Dave"
Real Name: Dave
Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #5 on:
July 10, 2010, 09:28:58 AM »
Great shooting Jeff!
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Paul in MD.
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Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #6 on:
July 10, 2010, 09:39:40 AM »
Jeff,Now thats what i have been waiting for ,a few good XL kills ,job well done and congrats on new hunting land
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longislandhunter
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 16546
The 3rd GTA Musketeer (per Gene Curtis)
Real Name: Jeff
Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #7 on:
July 10, 2010, 10:28:47 AM »
Thanks guys, even though it was oppressively hot it really did feel great to be back out in the field with an air gun in my hands
I'm headed back to the new farm later this afternoon with the .22 Condor (aka: the hammer) for some serious g-hog patrol
so hopefully I'll have more pics to post after dinner. The farm is quite large and yesterday I only hunted a fraction of the land so today I'm looking forward to slowly still hunting and scouting out the rest of it. The tour the farmer gave me in the golf cart was great and a big help, but to do it right you have to put boots on the ground and become one with the land
Jeff
«
Last Edit: July 10, 2010, 10:30:31 AM by longislandhunter
»
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Long Island, New York
If it was easy it wouldn't be hunting it would be shopping.
airiscool
Guest
Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #8 on:
July 10, 2010, 10:57:25 AM »
With all the demand for land to develop down there, I'm always surprised (and glad) to hear there are still some farms left ... that haven't been turned into vinyards !
I miss the Long Island potatos I grew up on !!!
Paul
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gene_sc
Deceased
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Posts: 8917
GTA A Cut Above The Rest- In God We Trust
Real Name: Gene Co-founder of GTA Forums
Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #9 on:
July 10, 2010, 11:06:21 AM »
Back in the saddle again Jeff..
Your a nature buddy. Like leaning to ride a bicycle. You never lose the touch..
Great take on you hunt buddy. Just love reading your posts Jeff..
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South Carolina
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longislandhunter
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 16546
The 3rd GTA Musketeer (per Gene Curtis)
Real Name: Jeff
Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #10 on:
July 10, 2010, 11:14:45 AM »
I know what you mean Paul, as I drive around I look at all the new housing developments and commercial buildings and I fondly remember back just a few years ago when I used to hunt deer and small game in the woods and fields that were there before the bulldozers showed up
Oh well, I guess you can't stop "progress".
This new farm I'm hunting was quite a surprise for me. I had always known it existed, matter of fact I drive past part of it to get to the duck farm, but I never knew how much land he had. From the road all you see is just a very small vegetable field so I jut assumed the farm consisted of this one small field. What I didn't know was that when you drive past the the farm buildings the farm opens up into this large network of dirt roads that lead you back through large tracts of woods and into several large isolated vegetable fields. I just couldn't believe how much land was back there, it was amazing. If I had known the farm was so large I would've asked for permission a long time ago. This place is going to be a great small game spot as well. It has a large rabbit and squirrel population as well as the g-hogs..... I saw quite a few rabbit hopping out into the fields yesterday as well to dine on the tender new vegetable plants.
Yesterday taught me a good lesson.... next time I think a farm is to small to bother with I'm going to use "google earth" on the pc and take a closer look at the layout....ya never know what you may find.........
As for the Long Island potatoes...... I agree with you Paul.... they are the best
Jeff
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Long Island, New York
If it was easy it wouldn't be hunting it would be shopping.
longislandhunter
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 16546
The 3rd GTA Musketeer (per Gene Curtis)
Real Name: Jeff
Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #11 on:
July 10, 2010, 11:16:14 AM »
Thanks Gene,,, felt good to be out there again
Jeff
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Long Island, New York
If it was easy it wouldn't be hunting it would be shopping.
jonnnyboy
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 4758
Real Name: joe
Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #12 on:
July 10, 2010, 11:38:20 AM »
Congratulations, Jeff
That's the kind of day any hunter would be proud of. New kills and new hunting land give a hunter the best kind of 'shakes!' I have had the opportunity to approach farmers who had been mistreated by other hunters and know how hard it is to win them over to allowing you to hunt their land. Good manners always rule! I can hardly imagine a farmer asking, no begging, a hunter to help rid his land of pests and then to be asked to participate in the deer control. That's priceless. Congrats on you, bro!
joe
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"Welcome to Tennessee, the patron state of shootin' stuff!" ex-Marine Gunnery Sgt. Bob Lee Swagger
"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." Thomas Jefferson
only1harry
One of the original 3 GTA Musketeers (per Gene Curtis)
Moderator
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 21642
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ! (come and get them)
Real Name: Harry
Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #13 on:
July 10, 2010, 11:42:59 AM »
Simply awesome Jeff!! Not only you got to hunt G-hogs again, but you were offered a new farm to hunt on! Now if that's not perfect timing, what is?
Very nice story and pics. It's the young ones you want anyway right? They are more tender and taste better, like you said.
Well I got my first hunting permission form signed last by my neighbor across the street who is trying to sell the house. Only thing is the 2 G-hogs I had spotted on his lawn have been gone a while. I am certain they crossed the road and I shot them already.
I have several blank copies and will take the filled out/signed one with me as well to produce if I have to, and go visit some farms. I thought today would be a good day to do it but it is raining with passing thunderstorms. Tomorrow is Sunday and don't want to really bother anyone on Sunday, so it may have to wait until next weekend. There are plenty of farms a few miles from here but I am not sure how big they are. It will be a new experience for me because from the road these farms look wide open with no cover or trees, so most likely I will have to locate the G-hog holes and then probably setup a blind and wait for them. Well let me "score" a farm first and then I 'll see about strategy depending on the terrain.
I 'm really glad you got out there yesterday buddy and got some G-hogs. All that waiting paid off with a new farm!! Way to go! Could you ask the owner if he knows any farmers inland in Southern NY state that have a similar problem?
I think 2 farms might be a little too much for 1 person to handle, or put a dent in the G-hog population, so I am all packed waiting for your call, hehehe
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longislandhunter
GTA Senior Contributor
Posts: 16546
The 3rd GTA Musketeer (per Gene Curtis)
Real Name: Jeff
Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #14 on:
July 10, 2010, 12:35:11 PM »
Thanks Joe, thanks Harry. Yeah, yesterday truly was a home run
Harry, I'm sure you'll have no problem obtaining permission on a few farms.. especially when you tell the farmer you'll be using air rifles. I know that the farmers I've spoken to in the past were comforted by the fact that I was using air rifles and not powder burners. As for stalking those "flat land" g-hogs...... that will definitely be a challenge but as you know if you put your mind to it there's usually a way to make a successful stalk, it just may take a lot of patience to get within range. In the past I've gotten within range of g-hogs where the only cover I had was waist high grass. It took a long time but by moving only when the g-hog was feeding I was able to slowly get within range and make the shot. Of course I've also had many attempts where I got busted at the last moment..... but then again the effort is 1/2 the fun
Jeff
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Long Island, New York
If it was easy it wouldn't be hunting it would be shopping.
VINNY
Expert
Posts: 1722
Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #15 on:
July 10, 2010, 01:06:12 PM »
Well, he DEFINATLY found the right man for the job! That is fantastic. Congratulations on your new hunting grounds!!
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airiscool
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Re: A Very Good Day
«
Reply #16 on:
July 10, 2010, 01:32:53 PM »
Your gonna need another freezer !!!!
Paul.
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A Very Good Day