GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: nervoustrigger on November 16, 2014, 08:50:32 PM
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Hey guys, I wanted to share a little story about a squirrel hunt from last weekend.
Back up to a few weeks ago, a buddy at work approached me and said they've been having a hard time getting rid of fleas on their dog. Apparently the exterminator told his wife the problem is all the squirrels in the neighborhood. He said they are everywhere. He knows I enjoy squirrel hunting and asked if I would like to come over one Saturday. I smiled and chuckled. I told him I can't imagine them being that bad but that my boy and I would love to help out.
So last Saturday my 9yr old and I got up early and packed up his QB79 HPA and the Crosman 1389 pumper and made the 40min drive and were there by 7am. We stepped out of the van and quickly noticed the trees were alive with activity. Squirrels everywhere I looked. This was heaven. My mind quickly drew pictures of squirrels raining from the trees and a resulting mound of gray fur piled knee high.
Reality wasn't quite so fortuitous but over the course of 2 hours, 7 squirrels fell. My son's best was a 30 yard head shot with his QB79. Mine was a 32 yard head shot with the pumper. Actually, all of them were head shots. The neighborhood cats got in on the action as well, snagging two of the fallen so we ended up with five soaking in the brine.
(http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy80/jmneal1/hunt/20141116/quints110814_zps2cf918db.jpg)
Before we left, my friend I chatted for a few minutes. I have been trying to get him into airgunning so I offered to leave the Crosman 1389. He accepted enthusiastically! We took a few practice shots so he could get familiarized with it. He has experience hunting and in cleaning game, just not squirrels specifically so we went outside and I demonstrated how to clean them and then wrapped up the conversation with shot placement and timing the shot.
He managed to get a two during the week, just taking opportune shots as he spotted them out the window while getting ready for work. He stopped by at work to tell me about them with a smile on his face. Then yesterday he texted me pictures of two more he had gotten. I think he's hooked! And by the way, he is a mechanical engineer so hopefully it's just a matter of time before I get him into tuning and get him introduced to GTA. One step at a time!
(http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy80/jmneal1/hunt/20141116/first__zps7577b21a.jpg)
(http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy80/jmneal1/hunt/20141116/fourth__zps61a0f3d2.jpg)
Lastly, I just had to share this one from the following morning. Chipper headshot with the QB78 from 61 yards.
(http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy80/jmneal1/hunt/20141116/chipper61yds110914_zpsb19f5181.jpg)
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Well done all around bro. Good job on the harvest & AG community representation bro. And it's always nice to read about people getting the kids involved in the sport.
And very nice job on to introducing your friend to air guns.
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Nice ones Jason!
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Great story Jason, and good job on recruiting another. You got some good eatin to get to.....
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Nicely done.
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Great story ;) You my friend are a great ambassador to the sport. You help a friend out and then lead him down our dark path :o jk
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Well done all around bro. Good job on the harvest & AG community representation bro. And it's always nice to read about people getting the kids involved in the sport.
And very nice job on to introducing your friend to air guns.
My thoughts exactly. Very nice Jason.
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Excellent work, and enjoy your meals.
"Apparently the exterminator told his wife the problem is all the squirrels in the neighborhood. "
- I have the same problem and you just answered my Theory. Too many squirrels here. Put the guinnea pig out to feed on the lawn, she soon starts itching. Took in a Shitzu from a family moving away. Soon she starts itching and we are fighting a flea problem. I see squirrels pause on my fence top to itch themselves and suspected they are leaving fleas everywhere. Gotta keep thinning that herd....
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Thanks guys! That means a lot to me.
I sure hope he gets into airgunning...even though it means he won't need my boy and me to come over and thin them out. ;D
We were half joking that he has enough squirrels that his family could replace chicken as the staple white meat at the table. Hmm, I think he's gonna need a QB HPA for that...
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Jason, very nice write-up.
Recruiting your buddy sounded difficult -- about as difficult as getting my grandson to eat his "Rice Krispies Treats." Hee hee Well done.
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Nice story! Nice pictures! Nice guns! Really nice job by your son, too!
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Nice job Jason. I hope your friend continues.
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I am glad to see even though you have the QB you took the pumper ;D nice 30+ yard shot...
I am hoping my next build will have the performance to go 40-45 yards...
Nothing against the bottles but I have always loved the pumpers...
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Great job!
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Hey guys, I wanted to share a little story about a squirrel hunt from last weekend.
Back up to a few weeks ago, a buddy at work approached me and said they've been having a hard time getting rid of fleas on their dog. Apparently the exterminator told his wife the problem is all the squirrels in the neighborhood. He said they are everywhere. He knows I enjoy squirrel hunting and asked if I would like to come over one Saturday. I smiled and chuckled. I told him I can't imagine them being that bad but that my boy and I would love to help out.
So last Saturday my 9yr old and I got up early and packed up his QB79 HPA and the Crosman 1389 pumper and made the 40min drive and were there by 7am. We stepped out of the van and quickly noticed the trees were alive with activity. Squirrels everywhere I looked. This was heaven. My mind quickly drew pictures of squirrels raining from the trees and a resulting mound of gray fur piled knee high.
Reality wasn't quite so fortuitous but over the course of 2 hours, 7 squirrels fell. My son's best was a 30 yard head shot with his QB79. Mine was a 32 yard head shot with the pumper. Actually, all of them were head shots. The neighborhood cats got in on the action as well, snagging two of the fallen so we ended up with five soaking in the brine.
(http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy80/jmneal1/hunt/20141116/quints110814_zps2cf918db.jpg)
Before we left, my friend I chatted for a few minutes. I have been trying to get him into airgunning so I offered to leave the Crosman 1389. He accepted enthusiastically! We took a few practice shots so he could get familiarized with it. He has experience hunting and in cleaning game, just not squirrels specifically so we went outside and I demonstrated how to clean them and then wrapped up the conversation with shot placement and timing the shot.
He managed to get a two during the week, just taking opportune shots as he spotted them out the window while getting ready for work. He stopped by at work to tell me about them with a smile on his face. Then yesterday he texted me pictures of two more he had gotten. I think he's hooked! And by the way, he is a mechanical engineer so hopefully it's just a matter of time before I get him into tuning and get him introduced to GTA. One step at a time!
Nice harvest.
Mike
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61 yard chipper headshot WOW that QB is dialed in...
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Thanks guys. He swung by this morning to tell me that he got two more yesterday. And...drum roll...he spent some time last night researching air guns.
All is going according to plans.
Bicycleman, yeah it sounded pretty easy to convince him but I have been working on this in subtle ways for months. ;)
Kirby, yeah it was a calm morning and from a front sandbag, there aren't too many critters that get a second chance. I used to think achieving hunting accuracy at 45 yards with a .22 cal airgun was the cat's pajamas but the QB just keeps begging to be stretched out further. It's my go-to rifle for sure.
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I think there is more than a little credit that should go to the Tuner/triggerman...
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And...drum roll...he spent some time last night researching air guns.
All is going according to plans.
Well, there goes Buddy's saving for the summer vacation next year!
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He was wearing them out this morning. I'm so proud! 8)
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Hey guys, I wanted to share a little story about a squirrel hunt from last weekend.
(http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy80/jmneal1/hunt/20141116/quints110814_zps2cf918db.jpg)
Before we left, my friend I chatted for a few minutes. I have been trying to get him into airgunning so I offered to leave the Crosman 1389. He accepted enthusiastically! We took a few practice shots so he could get familiarized with it. He has experience hunting and in cleaning game, just not squirrels specifically so we went outside and I demonstrated how to clean them and then wrapped up the conversation with shot placement and timing the shot.
Look how clean the squirrel is. I need some lessons so I will not have to work so hard cleaning hair.
Mike ;)
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Hi Mike,
Here's a good video showing the technique I like to use:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZB7iE2b21M (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZB7iE2b21M)
The difference for me is that the gray squirrels here seem to have kevlar-reinforced coats. I have to separate the skin around the belly with my fingers and then go ahead and cut through it before stepping on the tail and pulling. If I don't do that, I end up with half a squirrel in my hand and the other half next to my shoe!
Also, if you soak the squirrel in water before cleaning, the fur does not tend to stick as badly. However I still get some fur on the meat and have to pick it off under running water in the sink.
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That guy is good.
That is basically what I do with the Fox Squirrels I kill. I do use the knife to go around the belly toward the neck and cut the "V" to about the center of the animal. This helps much to skin toward the head. And it give me a good starting point for completing the skinning of the rear end.
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Hi Mike,
Here's a good video showing the technique I like to use:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZB7iE2b21M (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZB7iE2b21M)
The difference for me is that the gray squirrels here seem to have kevlar-reinforced coats. I have to separate the skin around the belly with my fingers and then go ahead and cut through it before stepping on the tail and pulling. If I don't do that, I end up with half a squirrel in my hand and the other half next to my shoe!
Also, if you soak the squirrel in water before cleaning, the fur does not tend to stick as badly. However I still get some fur on the meat and have to pick it off under running water in the sink.
Nice, thanks.
Mike
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Squirrels everywhere I looked. This was heaven. My mind quickly drew pictures of squirrels raining from the trees and a resulting mound of gray fur piled knee high.
LMBO!! Some of my best AG memories were times that I borrowed/sold AG's to friends.. Now most are avid hunters, let alone plinkers.. Only regret is selling My first gen Mrod .25.. Still all the guy that I sold it to can talk about now-a-days is AG'n, ahahahaaa... Good work to You and Your Son!!
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I have gotten two of my neighbors into airgunning. One is 15, the other is 38. We like to run back to the fields around our houses and shoot starlings when we have the time.
Nothing better than having shooting buddies!