GTA

All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: DanD on July 13, 2020, 12:41:43 PM

Title: 880 does the job
Post by: DanD on July 13, 2020, 12:41:43 PM

Went for a walk-about in the state forest yesterday. I carried an 880 to thin out the red squirrels if the opportunity presented.  Even with the stock and forearms filled  with calk, the 880 is a very light rifle to carry around for several hours. This one also has some trigger work and the piston divot filled. I opted for lead free pellets as I didn't anticipate pass throughs and didn't want to poison anything that would eat what I shot. This 880 liked the Baracuda Green better than FTT or GTO.
I forgot how hard it is to pick out a red squirrel in the shadows of a tree with iron sights.  This guy presented his profile vertically on the side of the trunk and I connected with a heart lung shot from about 15 yards offhand. He fell and barely even twitched. I did not find an exit wound.
Other memorable experiences of this walk were getting buzzed by a hummingbird and seeing a porcupine climbing slowly through the tree tops.
Thanks four reading!

Title: Re: 880 does the job
Post by: avator on July 13, 2020, 01:37:34 PM

Good shootin' Dan.

Title: Re: 880 does the job
Post by: wolverine on July 13, 2020, 01:44:43 PM

nice shot.  sounds like a nice day in the woods.  i've never seen a porcupine in the wild.

Title: Re: 880 does the job
Post by: ranchibi on July 13, 2020, 06:36:45 PM

Dan, very nice shot and hike!

Title: Re: 880 does the job
Post by: DanD on July 13, 2020, 06:53:28 PM

Thanks guys.  I had only seen a porcupine in the wild once before and it was on a powerline trail through the hilltops. I was trail running and almost stepped on it!
I got a fuzzy pic of this tree porcupine. I researched them a little today and saw a video that showed a bunch of tree branches on the ground from porcupines chewing them out of the tree tops.  I noticed that several places on the hike but assumed squirrels did it.

Title: Re: 880 does the job
Post by: Blowpipe Sam on July 13, 2020, 06:56:23 PM

Fur trappers used to complain that porcupines were a pest around camp because they would get into things and chew them up.  Nice work with the 880.  I always love to see someone prove that these little pumpers ain't just kids guns. I don't know what the game laws are where you are but porcupine was also esteemed table fare by the Indians and early settlers.  Among Gypsys it is a traditional delicacy "Hetchy Witchy".  Check it out.

Title: Re: 880 does the job
Post by: dk1677 on July 13, 2020, 07:45:27 PM

Nice shooting Dan!

Title: Re: 880 does the job
Post by: 35 shooter on July 14, 2020, 02:24:52 AM

Nice shooting with your 880! Super nice, light all day carry, easy pumping little small game getters. 8)