GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: amb5500c on November 19, 2012, 09:49:46 PM
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I have been mainly laying off of the squirrels right close to the house because I had hit them pretty hard last year and year before. But there seems to be a fairly healthy population of young ones about. I really was planning to just leave them alone this year and hunt elsewhere. But much to my surprise, a couple of Fox Squirrels have taken up residence in my trees. From past experience, I know that they dont cohabitate very well with the Cat Squirrels (Greys). The smaller but much quicker and meaner Cat Squirrels will run off or kill the Fox Squirrels. They have even been known to gang up on them and gnaw the nads off of the males.
So, since I would love to have a population of Fox Squirrels here abouts, I decided to give them a little relief and less competition. I grabbed up the 22 cal RWS Diana 48 and a can of the 18.21 grain H&N Baracuda Hunter (hollow point) pellets and headed out to see what I could do. I immediately saw some movement on the ground over across the road under one of my neighbor's Pecan trees. All of these squirrels cross back and forth from my place to my neighbors' places, regularly in search of food. Keeping one of the large trees between us (me and Duke) and the squirrel, we eased our way into position for a better look. There were two squirrels on the ground under the trees just left of the barn, so we started to slip around the right side of the barn to close the distance unseen. As we rounded the first corner of the barn, a squirrel that had been feeding over there, jumped up on the side of a Pine tree and ran up and around and out of sight. "Darn it!" I thought. But before I could go any further, he poked his head out from around the tree. Well, as I had already thrown up on him, all I had to do was adjust where the gun was aiming and let-er-rip. Off hand head shot from 20 yards. One down. I kept Duke at heal, not wanting to spook the others. As we slipped up to the next corner of the barn, I saw one about four feet off the ground, hanging on the side of a Pecan tree and popping his tail. So I popped him in the neck with a pellet. Off hand from about 25 yards. (missed his head). Two down. We eased around a little further hoping to get a shot on the last one (that I knew was there). I spotted him peeping over a limb, as he had taken refuge up about twenty feet in a Sweet Gum tree. Again, I had nothing handy to prop on for a shot at this angle. I didn't have much for a target, but when the 48 barked, I heard that tell tale "THWOP". I got this one right at the corner of the jaw, below the eye. Scrambled brains. Off hand from about 15 yards and 20 feet up. Three down in just under a minute from first shot to last. Ole Duke was about to bust at the seams from wanting to be sent after them squirrels. So I aimed him at the one I wanted first and let him do his thing. After we got them all gathered up, we headed home for some pictures. Right before I skinned them out, I decided to take a look see at some movement that had caught my attention over in a tree at another neighbor's place. I walked over there and just when I got into position to start my sneak, I spotted him coming down a big Water Oak and onto the ground. From where I was to where he went, I had no cover or no hope to close the distance, but he didnt know I was there. It was going to be another off hand shot, but from a distance that was somewhat iffy. No problem with a prop, but off hand? I was hoping that the squirrel would close the distance himself, as he was foraging around for acorns. As luck would have it, he didn't. He found a bunch of acorns under the neighbor's horse trailor and just sat upright to eat, while slightly quartering away from me. I knew I wasn't gonna get a better chance, so as soon as the crosshairs found thier mark, I let the 48 bark. THWOP! Four down and Duke was sent. It turns out that I hit this one in the side, but the pellet severed the spine as it traversed the body and made its exit at the opposite shoulder. The shot was from 39 yards. Well, that was enough for me (today) so we went on home to get all this meat put up. Hope yall enjoyed the hunt. As I was finishing typing this, my brother called and needs me and Duke to go help him find a buck that he has shot. So, good bye.
Richard
(http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/amb5500c/photo-181.jpg)
(http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/amb5500c/photo-180.jpg)
(http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd480/amb5500c/photo-182.jpg)
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Nice shooting and great story.
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Nice shooting Richard!
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Great job Richard! That was some fine shooting.
Brett
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A "short hunt" of a few minutes and four pellets just don't get any better than that, bro. Congrats on some great shots.
joe
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Well, we just got back from finding my brother's deer. It weren't no buck after all. I think he said that just to get me out there. He did kill a doe though, and Duke found it real quick. Its good to have a dog thats a utility player.
Richard
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I must have mis-counted brother!!
Duke sounds like the perfect hunting partner. I don't know how you got him to sit still while watching those squirrels fall.
joe
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That's some great offhand shooting Richard.
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Great work. ;D
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Excellent shooting with the 48 and great pics Richard!
I like shooting the 48 off hand even though it's heavy. It's just seems to acquire the target quickly and I like how it feels and handles.
Harry
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Joe, I really have to pay attention to him or else he will pop (go before sent). As long as I command him to stay immediatly before the shot, he's good. If I forget to give the "stay" command, he's gone. Luckily, I dont have to do it verbally all the time. He obeys my hand commands, verbal, and whistle. So I have options depending on the circumstances.
Richard
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I agree Harry. I find that due to the weight, its easier to get on target quickly. But, also due to the weight, you dont linger long before taking the shot.
Richard
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Nice hunt and great post. The 48 is an impressive rifle.
Scotty
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Great Haul!
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Atta boy cleaning house!
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Great story, very impressive shooting.
Awesome shooter, you've got it performing very well!
Quartet of young-ins down!!! Hopefully the Fox Nutters enjoy the extra elbow room...
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Great job reducing their #'s. Funny about Duke getting the squirrels when you forget to tell him not to. He looks so happy in that picture. You made his day with those. Maybe the next time you see him dreaming that will be what he's reliving. hehe
Good stuff. ;)
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Great job reducing their #'s. Funny about Duke getting the squirrels when you forget to tell him not to. He looks so happy in that picture. You made his day with those. Maybe the next time you see him dreaming that will be what he's reliving. hehe
Good stuff. ;)
He'll be running in his sleep after this hunt for years to come!!!
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Nice hunting and story!
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nice shooting!
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Great shooting and pics bro. Ed