GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: A.K.A. Tommy Boy on September 28, 2017, 01:44:20 PM
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I set off from my backyard before dawn and headed into the woods out back. This time I brought along a pair of garden snips to cut away any snags of Buckthorn and Wait-a-Minute Vines that I might encounter. I traveled a well used deer trail and headed to an area that I had not hunted this year. Mr. Furry is starting to get Savvy, to the fact that "There is a Dangerous New Predator in the Woods". Consequently the squirrels are starting to get harder to come-by. I reached my destination presently and set-up under a big vine adjacent to a tall White Oak. The Vine is growing naturally and makes for good cover to sit under. I banked up some dead-fall branches on the Big Vine's frame work, placed my leaf pattern camo rain jacket over the top and sat down inside on my three legged hunting stool. It was cool this morning, the temperature was 42F and there was no wind. I was dressed in a faded pair of Tiger Stripe BDU's with a black, moisture wicking, tee shirt and black, moisture wicking sweatshirt, underneath. I had an O.D. green fleece stocking cap on and a light weight pair of O.D., moisture wicking, Longjohn's on under the BDU paints with insulated rubber boots on my feet. I was comfortable in my hide and I began the wait until dawn, taking note of all the sounds of the woods around me. Dawn came and I could make out what looked like squirrels in distant tree tops but none close by. So still more, I waited, not making a sound or moving. I waited for an hour or so and presently I saw movement in a White Oak on my left. High in the branches at about 25 to 30 yards. MR.Furry was moving about from branch to branch and then back again. After about 10 minutes of this, he stopped on a larger branch and began eating an acorn. I had a good shot to his left shoulder and chest. I rased My Benjamin Trail NP 1100XL rifle and sent him an Urgent Message with a Gamo Red Fire, 15.4 grain, 22 caliber Hunting Pellet. He responded to my Summons, with "a Drop & a Flop" to the forest floor. I noted my squirrels location and remained in place, reloading my rifle. The other squirrels must have been alarmed because all activity ceased in my area. After I had waited for an hour or so and determined that all the squirrels had departed the immediate area, I retrieved my squirrel, fired the Benjamin 1100 in to the ground and put it in my homemade Drag Bag. I then picked up my loaded B-3, retrieved my camo rain jacket, hunting stool and headed home for breakfast. On the way back I was fortunate enough to spot another squirrel, on a tree branch, at eye level, at about 20 yards. I leveled the B-3 on him and put a Crosman 117cal 7.4gr Premier Pointed pellet just below his ear. I felt lucky this morning as the squirrels are getting harder to get I had scored twice this morning.
My Best Wishes to All - Good Hunting - Tom
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Nice shooting Tom!
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Nice shooting Tom!
Thank You for the reply Dave. :) The Squirrel Hunting is Getting Harder and They are Getting Wise to my Ways.
Best Wishes & Good Hunting - Tom
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Great shooting and pictures, Tom!!
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Great shooting and pictures, Tom!!
Thank You for the reply, Stefan ! I'm glad you liked the pictures from this morning. That 1st one was high in the tree pictured. I took the shot.. of-hand while sitting & shooting up, to the left. The second shot was of-hand standing shooting straight ahead. Best Regards & Best Wishes to You Stefan - Tom
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Nice shooting, Tom and a great story as always!
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Great story, Tom! When you were describing what you were wearing I was reminded of the catalog descriptions Seinfeld character Elaine Benes used to come up with when she was working for J. Peterman. ;D
Now I have two great hunting authors that I really look forward to reading: Tom Wood and the Shadow.
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Nice off hand shooting!
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Good shooting!
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Good shooting and pics. I especially love seeing the harvested nutter laying next to the B-3 :) I love the B-3's Great little shooters, especially with some TLC and as you've proven...... quite capable of harvesting small game. Thanks for sharing :)
Jeff
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Nice shooting, Tom and a great story as always!
Thank You for your kind reply Steve ! I'm glad you liked this mornings hunt. The story was told as how it was this morning.
My Best Wishes to You & Good Hunting my Friend - Tom
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Great story, Tom! When you were describing what you were wearing I was reminded of the catalog descriptions Seinfeld character Elaine Benes used to come up with when she was working for J. Peterman. ;D
Now I have two great hunting authors that I really look forward to reading: Tom Wood and the Shadow.
Thank You for your kind reply, Randy. I am glad you liked this mornings hunt. Sorry but I don't hold a candle, EVEN CLOSE to..... THE SHADOW !
My Best Wishes & Good Hunting - Tom
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Nice off hand shooting!
Thank You for your kind reply, Eric ! :) Nice & Lucky... off hand shooting! ;)
My Best Wishes to You Sir & Good Hunting - Tom
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Good shooting!
Thank You Steve for your reply and kind complement. I've been following your posts very closely !
My Best Wishes & Good Hunting - Tom
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Good shooting and nice story Tom. The surviving critters know something is going on for sure. It will only get harder from here on, but I am sure you like a good challenge :)
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Good shooting and pics. I especially love seeing the harvested nutter laying next to the B-3 :) I love the B-3's Great little shooters, especially with some TLC and as you've proven...... quite capable of harvesting small game. Thanks for sharing :)
Jeff
Jeff: Thank You for your reply and kind complements. The B-3 is not a power house gun But it is very accurate and I find it a joy to hunt with. The gun handles quickly in the field and it is capable of making a snap shot, when that type of shot, is absolutely necessary. Yes sir,.. it is indeed quite able to take small game, with a well placed shot.
My Best Wishes & Good Hunting. - Tom
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Good shooting and nice story Tom. The surviving critters know something is going on for sure. It will only get harder from here on, but I am sure you like a good challenge :)
Thank You for your kind reply, ...# 1 Harry :) I am glad you enjoyed the hunt. Yes you are absolutely right about the Critters becoming more Skittish, as I have been noticing, myself. The Hunts are getting harder to be successful at and I will just have to get, that much more,... Craftier ! I do have some more.. "Tricks Up My Sleeve"... that I can employ if it becomes necessary. ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
My Best Regards & Good Hunting # 1 Harry ! - Tom
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Nice shooting Tom. You keep bringing those nutters down. Good work and continued success.
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Nice shooting Tom. You keep bringing those nutters down. Good work and continued success.
Thank You for your kind reply, Michael ! :) It is starting to get harder to get them lately, they are starting to get real hyper-aware and skittish. :o They know that there is a "New and Dangerous Predator in the Woods Now" !!! ;) ;) ;) ME !!
My Best Wishes & More Good Hunting to You - Tom
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Nice work and great read!! Patience is an earned virtue.
They definitely learn quickly... I'm having to stretch the legs a bit on my Marauder as they've stopped coming to the tree line behind the house. :D
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Nice off hand shooting!
Thank You for your kind reply, Eric ! :) Nice & Lucky... off hand shooting! ;)
My Best Wishes to You Sir & Good Hunting - Tom
Well, yes, there's luck involved in off hand shooting, more so as the range increases, but there's a lot of skill involved as well. I shoot off hand exclusively and have taken over 100 squirrels in the year and a half I've been into air gunning. I target shoot every day and I love the challenge of trying to get better at off hand shooting. I didn't get much enjoyment out of placing the gun on a rest and trying to hit the same spot over and over again. To me, the real challenge is getting your off hand groups closer and closer. So again, great off hand shooting from that distance.
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Nice work and great read!! Patience is an earned virtue.
They definitely learn quickly... I'm having to stretch the legs a bit on my Marauder as they've stopped coming to the tree line behind the house. :D
Yes they do Steve...That is so true. I glad you enjoyed the hunt. Thank You for your kind reply. The squirrels get smarter and then we have to get smarter too.
My Best Wishes & Good Hunting - Tom
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Nice off hand shooting!
Thank You for your kind reply, Eric ! :) Nice & Lucky... off hand shooting! ;)
My Best Wishes to You Sir & Good Hunting - Tom
Well, yes, there's luck involved in off hand shooting, more so as the range increases, but there's a lot of skill involved as well. I shoot off hand exclusively and have taken over 100 squirrels in the year and a half I've been into air gunning. I target shoot every day and I love the challenge of trying to get better at off hand shooting. I didn't get much enjoyment out of placing the gun on a rest and trying to hit the same spot over and over again. To me, the real challenge is getting your off hand groups closer and closer. So again, great off hand shooting from that distance.
Eric: I practice off hand shooting a lot. I replicates actual field conditions where I hunt. You have done very well with 100 squirrels in a year and a half. I do not have a shooting bench so a rested shot to me is off a door frame at the house or a tree trunk and sometimes a big rock, out in the woods. If I have something moving in the trees, I have to be able to move with it. Yes shooting off hand is a challenging skill and I find, that I improve greatly, the more I practice it. Best Wishes to you Eric and more Good Hunting - Tom
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Nice off hand shooting!
Thank You for your kind reply, Eric ! :) Nice & Lucky... off hand shooting! ;)
My Best Wishes to You Sir & Good Hunting - Tom
Well, yes, there's luck involved in off hand shooting, more so as the range increases, but there's a lot of skill involved as well. I shoot off hand exclusively and have taken over 100 squirrels in the year and a half I've been into air gunning. I target shoot every day and I love the challenge of trying to get better at off hand shooting. I didn't get much enjoyment out of placing the gun on a rest and trying to hit the same spot over and over again. To me, the real challenge is getting your off hand groups closer and closer. So again, great off hand shooting from that distance.
Well said. Can't bring a bench into the woods.
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Great shots, the freezer is overflowing now :D, 'Wait-a-minute wine' ;D I like that, I'll make a mental note, my Bush/hunting language skills are very limited. :D
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Great shots, the freezer is overflowing now :D, 'Wait-a-minute wine' ;D I like that, I'll make a mental note, my Bush/hunting language skills are very limited. :D
Octavio: It is a Wait-a Minute VINE, and it is covered in small thorns, almost like Cactus Needles. They break off in your skin and form small red sores, similar to acne. When the sores break open, then the thorns may fall out. I've never made any WINE from them but they sure can make a guy want to WHINE about them, until they heal. ;D A little Wine on the wound might help with the small infection, and it would not hurt to take a swig after the hunt is over and the guns are put away. ;D There is other things to avoid also, Poison Oak and Poison Ivy to name a few. All these things are challenging to avoid in the dark. Walking on deer trails does help some. Moving slowly is also beneficial. Thank You for your kind reply Octavio. By Best Wishes to You - Tom
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Great shots, the freezer is overflowing now :D, 'Wait-a-minute wine' ;D I like that, I'll make a mental note, my Bush/hunting language skills are very limited. :D
Octavio: It is a Wait-a Minute VINE, and it is covered in small thorns, almost like Cactus Needles. They break off in your skin and form small red sores, similar to acne. When the sores break open, then the thorns may fall out. I've never made any WINE from them but they sure can make a guy want to WHINE about them, until they heal. ;D A little Wine on the wound might help with the small infection, and it would not hurt to take a swig after the hunt is over and the guns are put away. ;D There is other things to avoid also, Poison Oak and Poison Ivy to name a few. All these things are challenging to avoid in the dark. Walking on deer trails does help some. Moving slowly is also beneficial. Thank You for your kind reply Octavio. By Best Wishes to You - Tom
LOL, That's funny :D, yes I know it was VINE, I missed the misspelling in my rush to post, although I thought it was just a simple thorn tree, not one that can give you sores.
I was thinking of going Rabbit hunting with air rifles down here in South Florida's WMA areas, something I've never done and always wanted to do, but in my research I began to realized that it takes more than I bargain, I need special gear to protect from thorny plants, poisonous snakes, mosquitos, water resistant boots and coat, coolers, game bag, face protector, and so on, and then one article also warns about poison ivy and other nasty swamp bugs, so, needless to say I changed my mind, maybe when I was younger I could learn about all the challenges of going into the deep woods, but I don't even know what poison ivy looks like, much less what to do if I step on the middle of it ::), so I better stick to rat hunting in my backyard and read all you guys wonderful hunting adventures.. :D
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Great shots, the freezer is overflowing now :D, 'Wait-a-minute wine' ;D I like that, I'll make a mental note, my Bush/hunting language skills are very limited. :D
Octavio: It is a Wait-a Minute VINE, and it is covered in small thorns, almost like Cactus Needles. They break off in your skin and form small red sores, similar to acne. When the sores break open, then the thorns may fall out. I've never made any WINE from them but they sure can make a guy want to WHINE about them, until they heal. ;D A little Wine on the wound might help with the small infection, and it would not hurt to take a swig after the hunt is over and the guns are put away. ;D There is other things to avoid also, Poison Oak and Poison Ivy to name a few. All these things are challenging to avoid in the dark. Walking on deer trails does help some. Moving slowly is also beneficial. Thank You for your kind reply Octavio. By Best Wishes to You - Tom
LOL, That's funny :D, yes I know it was VINE, I missed the misspelling in my rush to post, although I thought it was just a simple thorn tree, not one that can give you sores.
I was thinking of going Rabbit hunting with air rifles down here in South Florida's WMA areas, something I've never done and always wanted to do, but in my research I began to realized that it takes more than I bargain, I need special gear to protect from thorny plants, poisonous snakes, mosquitos, water resistant boots and coat, coolers, game bag, face protector, and so on, and then one article also warns about poison ivy and other nasty swamp bugs, so, needless to say I changed my mind, maybe when I was younger I could learn about all the challenges of going into the deep woods, but I don't even know what poison ivy looks like, much less what to do if I step on the middle of it ::), so I better stick to rat hunting in my backyard and read all you guys wonderful hunting adventures.. :D
:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
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Great story, Tom! When you were describing what you were wearing I was reminded of the catalog descriptions Seinfeld character Elaine Benes used to come up with when she was working for J. Peterman. ;D
Urban Sombrero or the Himalayan Walking shoe? :D
Great story Tom!
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Great shooting Tom !!!
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Great story, Tom! When you were describing what you were wearing I was reminded of the catalog descriptions Seinfeld character Elaine Benes used to come up with when she was working for J. Peterman. ;D
Urban Sombrero or the Himalayan Walking shoe? :D
Great story Tom!
Thank You for the kind reply Jerry. I give the descriptions of what I am wearing because I go about hunting squirrels the same way as I used to hunt Whitetail Deer. I wear camouflage clothing, spray down with sent shield etc. The more I can blend in with my surroundings in the woods, the more shot opportunities become available. Squirrels have Good eyesight and hearing. They can spot small acorns from high in the tree tops and the slightest faint noise will alert them. I am not sure about their sense of smell, but I think it has got to be much better than a human. My Best Wishes & Good Hunting - Tom
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Great shooting Tom !!!
Thank You for your kind reply, Wayne ! I have been following all of your adventures in the North Woods. You make some really hard shots. I am impressed with your accuracy and your Dominator. I remember your post, awhile back, on a 30 yard shot on a ground hog. with your SPA pistol too. Good shot there ! My Best Wishes to You & Good Hunting - Tom