GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: Jonesin on September 18, 2010, 04:22:20 PM
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So, went to a WMA about an hour drive from my house but at a different parking area that I went to on opening day (first weekend in Sep). Hit a trail I know nobody was on (3 cars in parking area but everybody goes the easy trail and I went the hard one) and was walking up to the area I knew nutters were at. SURPRISE...as I was hiking I walked up on one cutting a nut in a place he/she shouldn't have been...in a persimmon tree. He/she started barking at me, I pulled up the BC, out of breath slightly and unstable. Missed. That was to be my only shot of the day.
Learned my lesson, slow stalked all the way up the mountain, saw 4-5 more but none in range or sitting still enough for me to take a safe shot. Slow walked all the way down the mountain and I get right around the parking area and the biggest grey of the day is running. No good shot opportunity was offered and all I can do is kick myself. The "what ifs" keep hitting me. This was my last good weekend as the youth deer hunting day is next week and Archery season starts the week after soon to be followed by deer rifle season.
This place is only good until about noon as all the hikers show up as it leads to the Appalachian trail and hikers sooner or later ruin your hunt unless you want to bust brush to get to a remote area and hope you you find a good spot for a shot and then bust some more brush for about a 1/4 mile or so to sit for a good 45 minutes and hope you're in the right spot.
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Hang in there hunt brother you'll get another chance. I hunted state land for the first time last year and we had some heavy snow out there. I must have covered countless miles wading through several feet of snow only to see maybe two nutters a day and usually out of range. I only score 3 Fox Squirrels and a Red out there but had a blast all by my lonesome out in the white wonderland. ;) Ed
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Thanks, Ed. I am just frustrated right now. With gas $2.65 a gallon (at a cheap place) and getting up at 6am on a weekend and then MISSING (GAH!!) my first and only good shot after driving an hour, I so want to go back to my parents place after the good weekend I had last week there.
I did enjoy fresh air and a great 2 mile hike but still...state land has it's downfalls and I acknowledge them but I had several shots I could have taken with a powder burner and harvested at least 3. 100% hunting with AG's is a challenge I like for sure but it does provide frustrating moments!! lol
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Yea it happens to us all, sorry you didn't get another chance on one
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Yes, there are no guarantees. Next time I would recommend getting there around 6-6:30 before the bushy tails out of their dens. They usually go out for breakfast around 7am, so you want to be there before, so you can hear them and spot them trying to get their favorite feeding place. Maybe look for a nut tree or for cracked nuts at the base of tree, and take position about 15yds away and wait. Don't go too far because you will most likely be shooting up, and it could be a 40yd shot depending on the spot you pick. I like 30yd shots or less.
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Cliff,
I'm with you today! I hunted the cemetery this afternoon. It’s the place I posted about two weeks ago with all the Hickory trees. I saw squirrels about 10-12 of them but because of the canopy I was not able to get a clear upper body shot on any. If I was toting the 20 gauge single shot……I would have harvested some of the little beast. It was still a great day, because my daughter completed the Hunter Education Course and next week we will be able to get her…..her first Hunting Licenses. I’m going to try hunting squirrel more in the morning, I seem to see more on the ground or using the squirrel highway they use to get to the nut trees.
Good Luck and Keep Trying…..I am! ;)
Froghunter
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Harry,
I would have left earlier but my son woke me up at 2:30AM and I slept "late". I had no issues with seeing squirrels, it was an issue getting a good shot!! Frog, I know what you're saying. I had plenty of shot chances if I was using something other than a AG but I chose not to take them without being SURE. I am not going to give up but youth deer day is next week and then bow hunting (deer) starts the week after. I really dislike hunting on public lands during those seasons...or any seasons when the "rookies" are going to be around.
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Atchman strongly agrees on the 20 gauge. :)
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I wish I could hunt squirrel on public land during deer season like archery season, but the only public land near me that allows deer hunting is shotgun only, and rifles are strictly prohibited, especially during deer season. Airguns are classified the same as .22 rimfire rifles now in NY, so I can't use airguns in there. I will try and get out there before deer season starts though, because I think they have a new law allowing rimfire on that land now as of this year for small-game, but I 'll have to call them to confirm.
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Atchman strongly agrees on the 20 gauge. :)
Funny thing is I had both my Mossberg 20 gauge and Marlin .22 in my trunk. I brought them "just in case" but never even took them out. That's the second time I took them but never touched them. I have seen what y'all can do and I swore to myself I wasn't going to use a powder burner this year for small game. The leaves and undergrowth are proving to be a bit of a challenge...
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Small gaming with an air rifle certainly can be frustrating at times, but on the flip side when you manage to harvest a critter with one the sense of accomplishment you feel is fantastic. Squirrel hunting with full foliage in the canopy is a tough hunt for sure. My favorite way to hunt during this time of year is to find a good spot, take a sit and just blend into the woods and wait. Sometimes it takes quite a bit of time for a nutter to move into a location where he presents a clear shot, but sooner or later you'll usually get a shot. Like you, I've had days when I saw plenty of nutters bit never got a shot, it happens to all of us and it is frustrating. I'm looking forward to your next hunt.
Jeff
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The thing is, if I harvest a single squirrel with an airgun it is fulfilling. If you are "meat hunting" though, a 20 gauge automatic modified with some #5 shot is hard to beat! I think I could have limited out with ease with the 20 gauge the other day. There were squirrels running everywhere!
I probably didn't sit long enough since I had Justin with me. When I'm by myself I don't feel in as much of a hurry for some action :) In fact, I kept pointing out shots for him! Maybe Jake is right and I just enjoy the social aspect more than the hunting! :D