GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: stonykill on October 04, 2015, 04:15:09 PM
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Went into one of my AG cabinets last night and saw one of my 1st .22 880 conversions in there with my best scope on it, and a note. The note was "sight in" . So I did, then took a short stroll in the woods. 1st the chipper at 15 yards. Down a steep slope.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1004151418-001_zpskvybwwep.jpg)
Then a few minutes later I saw 2 gray nutters. This one was posed perfectly on a tree branch at 27 yards and only about 10 feet up. I sat down on my butt, took aim and squeezed. Perfect brain shot. Another nutter for the freezer
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1004151455-001_zpsveidlcgs.jpg)
The 880 has a 23 inch long Crosman barrel and power and trigger mods. Never chronied it. It is really quiet with that long barrel. Well balanced too.
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Nice shooting, Tom!
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Thanks Stefan!
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Nice shooting Tom!
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Great shooting and pics. ;) Ed
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Thanks Disco Dave and Ed!
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Nice shooting, and another nice daisy build ;D
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Nice work Tom.
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Thanks Jim and Jeremy!
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Nice shooting Tom. Really nice rifle build too. Congrats.
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Thanks DTDave!
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21 Red Nutters this morning. The 1st was a vitals shot, 20 yards, about 20 feet up a tree. I was focused on a gray hiding behind leaves in a different tree. I never would have seen this red nutter, but he yelled at me. I was sitting on my butt, rotated to my left some, aimed for the vitals, and she dropped. She was dead before she hit the ground. I love that shot when I have it.
The 2nd one was a male who also alerted me of his presence as I was focused on gray in a different tree. 24 yards again about 20 feet up a tree. Brain shot. Death dance on the ground.
Both with my favorite 880, the LW barreled .22 carbine. Crosman pointed hunting pellets.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1006151225-002_zpsatpmv046.jpg)
The blood on the 1st is the exit hole. Pellet entered the front shoulder on the other side.
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Great shooting again, Tom!
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Thanks Stefan! I like hunting the reds. They are a true pest and they are tough to get a shot at!
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Tom, thank you for sharing your hunts. They help fill in on the day I can't be in the woods myself. I like the way you mentioned that the squirrels yelled at you.
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More great shooting and pic ;) keep em coming. Ed
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Nice ones Tom!
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Thanks Mike ,Ed and Dave!
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So what is a guy to do when there is 45 minutes of shooting light left, 30 maybe in the woods, his wife is a a wake with friends, and he is hungry?
Well the answer is simple. Grab his favorite modded 880 and head out to the woods! ;D
I saw several. Either 2 far, I blew the stalk, then it was just getting too dark in that part of the woods. Started hunting my way home. I stopped where I know nutters often are, the same place I took the young female a few days ago. The surrounding tree's probably had 4 or 5 nutters in them. Yelling at me, jumping branch to branch etc. They wanted to go to bed. This big female made the mistake of stopping 22 yards away about 25 feet up on a branch. Send a Crosman pointed hunting pellet into her vitals and she dropped.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1006151824-001_zpshsbbvvqd.jpg)
1 lb 6.8 oz. Nice sized nutter for around here.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1006151826-002_zpsasnf7et4.jpg)
She and her daughter from the other day are in the oven now, in cast iron, cooking in some of my home made BBQ sauce made from supplies from the garden. I may cheat and boil up some egg noodles to balance out the meal.
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That sounds like a good meal . I've not seen much on modifying the daisy 880 . I had a one several years ago . Bought it from a pawn shop for $5 . It was cheap because it would not pump up any pressure . It worked just fine after a bit of oil .
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That sounds like a good meal . I've not seen much on modifying the daisy 880 . I had a one several years ago . Bought it from a pawn shop for $5 . It was cheap because it would not pump up any pressure . It worked just fine after a bit of oil .
It was tasty.
If you search the Daisy Gate there are several threads on modding them.
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I took a short stroll in the woods this morning. Saw a few grays. Within range but in the tree tops hidden in leaves knocking down acorns. No shots at them.
On the way home I saw and heard nutter activity in a tree. I scoped a red and shot him. No pics as he is firmly stuck in the tree. No amount of shooting is removing him from that crotch. Well the crows gotta eat something ;)
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Nice shooting Tom!!!
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2 chippers this afternoon with the .22 901. 1st one was 15 yards off hand, the 2nd was 20 yards, side leaned on a tree.
Saw a couple of gray nutters. Never offered me a shot.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1007151516-002_zpsu2iubdyn.jpg)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1007151648-002_zps9k2jnosb.jpg)
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Nice job Tom and great pics!
1.7lbs is on the high end for a Grey squirrel. There is definitely going to be some meat on that one.
Enjoy the meal(s)!
Harry
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Nice shots Tom!
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Thanks Harry and Dave!
I walked up to her Harry after she fell from the tree and said out loud " Now that's a nutter!" Even just picking her up I knew she was heavy. So I broke out the postal scale to be sure it didn't become a fishing story. I certainly don't see many that size.
She was delicious. As was her daughter. I ate them last night.
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Wow what a morning! I wish I had more time this am....nutters quite literally everywhere.
Took the rabbit on the way to the nutter woods. 18 yards, standing offhand. In typical rabbit fashion, no death dance, just rolled over dead.
The nutters were taken from the same oak tree which had a few more nutters in it. 22 yards to the tree, the 1st one, the brain shot was about 25 feet up the tree when he made the mistake of standing still for a second. About 5 minutes later the 2nd one stopped at about 15 feet up the tree.
At that point, as much as I wanted to stay, I had work to do before I head out for a days work.
I see great meals in my future ;)
I just love that 880 .22 carbine. Silly accurate with plenty of power.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1008150722-002_zpsoytnv4bj.jpg)
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What a haul. There are not many rabbits left in my area since the coyotes moved back in. Well done!
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Thanks Mike. I had my choice of 2 rabbits. This one gave the best shot. We have quite a few rabbits. I usually save them for winter hunts... but the opportunity was just too good to pass up!
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Nice haul Tom!
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Outstanding and what a game bag of future vittles there too. ;) Great shooting and pics. Ed
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Thanks Disco Dave and Ed!
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Took an AG with me today as the one property I was working at I am allowed to hunt. Got done, sat and ate a late lunch at 3pm then looked for nutters. All 3 were taken at 18 to 20 yards. The Red nutter is a vitals shot, the chipper is a front of the throat shot, and the gray nutter a brain shot. Must be triple day :D
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1008151534-002_zpswpyoxyge.jpg)
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Great stuff Tom! Keep 'em coming!
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Thanks Disco Dave. I will!
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Outstanding those pumpers barrel's aint getting no time to cool off lol. ;) Great shooting and pics. Ed
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Thanks Ed! What can I say? Small game hunting with a pellet rifle relaxes me ;)
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I enjoy lil pumpers too and my deadly little bone stock other then the camo M4 has taken some critters too. Max yrds were 20 at 600fps, 7.9g CPHP. The G-hog was her biggest harvest at 15yrds and G-hogs are tough critters. Ed
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Nice shooting there Ed, and great job on the camo job. I keep thinking my carbine 880 in .22 needs a good camo paint job.
I had every intention of killing a woodchuck/ghog this summer with one of my modded 880's and you know, they must have known cause I never saw one when I had an 880 any where near me. They are my favorite thing to hunt. Taken a lot of them with springers. I need to take some with pumpers. I have killed coons and possums attempting to kill my chickens with 3 different modded Daisy's.
Someday I need to get me one of those M4-177's. Just for the looks alone if nothing else. :D
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Nice mixed bag of varmints Tom. Love what those little pumpers do to small game. With you and Ed posting these kills, people sure are quite in .22 and .25 arena. Just goes to show that skill and technique trumps power. Don't get me wrong, I like the bigger stuff too. It is just great to see the lower power stuff putting meat on the table.
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Late this morning we started to get the rain Disco Dave got earlier in the morning. It stopped for a bit, and my wife and I had to go run a bunch of errands. So of course a gray nutter shows up.
He slowly scampered across the yard then climbed a hickory tree. I stalked to within 18ish yards with my favorite .22 880, scoped him, set the crosshairs on his brain, and did NOT squeeze. Didn't have time to skin him at that moment. So he got a pass for the day. (Mental note to self, pick up a bag of ice and leave it in the freezer for just such emergency's ;) )
Later in the day, in between some fairly heavy rain, I got this chipper with the .22 880 carbine. 15 yard offhand, in an awkward 1/2 stand 1/2 crouched position. Brain shot through the front of his head. Rolled over dead right there.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1009151433-002_zpsg0jzx7nx.jpg)
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Tom, my favorite drink is Ocean Spray Cranberry juice. I buy the 64 ounce size. When the jug is empty, I fill it with water and put it in the freezer. When my Judy and I go to town to grocery shop/eat out, I put a couple in the ice chest always carried in the back of the SUV. When we get home with chilled eggs, milk, left-overs, etc., the jugs are returned to the freezer for next time. I have not bought ice for my fishing/hunting in years.
I will be taking a couple with me Sunday morning for an out-of-town hunt.
Nice shooting on the chipmunk; and you could send us some of that rain down to Cajun Country. :D
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Tom, my favorite drink is Ocean Spray Cranberry juice. I buy the 64 ounce size. When the jug is empty, I fill it with water and put it in the freezer. When my Judy and I go to town to grocery shop/eat out, I put a couple in the ice chest always carried in the back of the SUV. When we get home with chilled eggs, milk, left-overs, etc., the jugs are returned to the freezer for next time. I have not bought ice for my fishing/hunting in years.
I will be taking a couple with me Sunday morning for an out-of-town hunt.
Nice shooting on the chipmunk; and you could send us some of that rain down to Cajun Country. :D
Thanks Mike! Never occur'd to me for some reason that that was the region you are from.
Truth be told, I am too cheap, I mean uuummm frugal to buy ice. I have many many empty gatorade and G2 bottles. A few of them will get frozen for just such nutter emergency's.
I even have a cooler for my truck. For those days I am working on a property I am allowed to hunt/pest. More than one woodchuck has sat on ice for a few hours before I was done working and could head home to deal with it. ;) Now it will be nutters
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So I was up bright and early this am to nutter hunt. I decided to give the metal receiver, metal pump arm, with modded 2015 Daisy innards some love. I walk out the door and start towards the woods. I hear a strange noise in the backyard near a chicken coop area.
Disclaimer! I am a chicken farmer. I have every legal right to protect my flock. Anyone reporting this post is the one in the WRONG!
So I sneak around the back of the house, which is easy as there is a lot of cover, and I see a C Rat trying his best to get in a chicken coop. A Winnie dome leaving the muzzle at 12 FPE and entering the brain took care of that! Easy 16 yard shot. Short death dance and mandatory possum poop later and it was over. ;)
I did make it out to the nutter woods, but only saw a red and a gray. I only saw the red briefly, and the gray pegged me raising the 880 from 40 yards away. Geez dude, I was just scoping you :D . I was gonna wait till you got closer. He disappeared into oak leaves.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1010150848-001_zpsdpu4ikry.jpg)
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Red nutter down with a modded now rifled barrel Daisy 35. I was out working in he yard and saw the little bugger on a tree branch. The 35 was a short way's away and I grabbed it and killed him from 18 yards with a Crosman boxed 10.5 dome ( this modded 35 STACKS those pellets at 20 yards)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1011151103-003_zpsi46tmsik.jpg)
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Chipper just now with the modded 35. 15 yards down a steep slope. El perfecto brain shot. :D
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1011151443-002_zpspp6o6vhf.jpg)
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Nice shooting Tom! Just got a chipper myself
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Thanks Disco Dave!
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Another notch in the 35 stock ;)
I walk around back to the chicken coops with the 35 in hand. Strangely enough hoping to see a rat. And there she was, Mrs. Rat. 15 yard shot, through a wire fence. Vitals shot, she jumped straight up in the air, ran about 3 feet and fell down dead. The Crosman 10.5 boxed heavy dome made a really nice loud pop when it went through her front shoulder upon entry.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1011151706-002_zpsclrko3o9.jpg)
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Nice work Tom!
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Outstanding and as mentioned a nice mixed bag of harvest. Great shooting a plus on the Country rat with a pumper. Ed
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Thanks Dave and Ed. Watching your posts Ed I may have to break out a springer or 2 for a hunt
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Great thread Tom, I can't believe I missed it until just now. This part cracked me up: "mandatory possum poop". ;D
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Great thread Tom, I can't believe I missed it until just now. This part cracked me up: "mandatory possum poop". ;D
Thanks Jerry! What can I say, I like to hunt with air rifles. ;)
It's funny cause it's true ;D
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I am late to the party today because I was at a different party. Well done, Tom, and you definitely have a variety of targets around your place.
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Thanks Mike! We certainly have our share of active targets around here ;)
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Well this was a fun one. I have permission to hunt/pest on a few of the property's I landscape/caretake at.As long as they aren't there to see it. So the lace I went today, I knew they would not be home this morning. They were still in Manhattan. And I knew the red nutters had been raiding a Walnut tree real well right in the area I was going to work putting in stone steps at a walkway.
So I loaded my favorite 880, the carbine and some Crosman pointed hunting pellets along with my tools.
I could hear several reds chattering as soon as I shut off my truck. I loaded and pumped the 880 12 times and put it on the front seat of the truck with the window open so I could grab it at will.
2 reds were staying on the other side of the road. One would seemingly wait until I had a 150 lbs rock I was wrestling, then it would run across the walnut tree. This happened a few times.
I got done setting a stone and I heard a chatter. I walked to the truck, grabbed the 880 and watched as I sipped my coffee. I saw him run across a maple branch, jump to the walnut and run to the tippy top of the walnut tree to grab a nut. Which in itself is funny because the walnuts are bigger than their heads.
Unlike the other day, when I was unarmed and he would pose out in the open on a walnut branch, to readjust his load ;D , today he just ran. As if he could tell what my intent was. I followed the little bugger with my scope and he paused on a branch, on the maple tree, next to the walnut tree, just shy of 30 yards away. Probably a good 20 feet up, partially hidden in the leaves.
Well I had work to finish, and clearly he was not going to play nice. So this is where knowing:
1)My AG, and the power level it has as well as the penetration of the pellets I use
2) the anatomy of the nutter and where the vitals lay from any angle
He paused as stated, just under 30 yards away, and angled away from me. I set the crosshairs at the spot where the hind leg meets the body. Knowing the pellet should pass through the vitals on it's way out. I squeeze, the walnut goes flying one direction and the nutter runs about 10 feet across that branch, and falls down dead to the ground.
I picked him up, put him on ice in the cooler and went back to work. Never saw another nutter the rest of the time I was there.
Upon getting home and cleaning him, just what I thought would happen did. Except the pellet clipped a hind leg, passed through the length of the nutter, went through a piece of the heart and one lung, and was poking 1/2 way out of the hide on it's way out of the red. I love it when a plan comes together. :D
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1012151125-001_zpsmblkusn2.jpg)
I wouldn't try that move with just any pumper, but I know what the Carbine can do ;)
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Nice shot Tom!
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Thanks Disco Dave!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPQlXNH36mI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPQlXNH36mI)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPQlXNH36mI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPQlXNH36mI)
LOL I must have had a repressed teen memory when posting
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2 good sized grays today with the .22 Carbine 880. Both shots 17 to 20 yards, both brain shots. It started raining lightly when they both came out. The female weighed in at 1 lb 6.4 oz and the male at 1 lb 5.2 oz. They are currently cooking for dinner.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1013151601-001_zpsgc25hawk.jpg)
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Nice shooting Tom! You are relentless. You are giving Disco Dave some serious competition :)
What do we call you? Daisy-Tom? ;D
Harry
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Nice shooting Tom! You are relentless. You are giving Disco Dave some serious competition :)
What do we call you? Daisy-Tom? ;D
Harry
Thanks Harry! I LOVE small game hunting and love it even more now with my modded weapons.
LOL....... that doesn't have the nice ring that Disco Dave does. But hey, I have been called worse ::)
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Nice ones Tom!
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More great shooting with the pumpers brother and great pics. Ed
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Thanks Disco Dave and Ed! Getting ready to pull them out of the oven now. Cooked slowly in some of my homemade apple jelly from our tree's. With baked beans on the side. My beautiful wife is eating leftover chicken and the beans. She alway's tells me " I will eat them when I have to" . So until then, the nutters are mine all mine :D
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So until then, the nutters are mine all mine
1st world problems... ;D
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nb
Thanks Disco Dave and Ed! Getting ready to pull them out of the oven now. Cooked slowly in some of my homemade apple jelly from our tree's. With baked beans on the side. My beautiful wife is eating leftover chicken and the beans. She alway's tells me " I will eat them when I have to" . So until then, the nutters are mine all mine :D
Now now you know you are supposed to share. I was taught to share growing up. 1 for you, 2 for me... That's how I remember it anyway ;D
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nb Thanks Disco Dave and Ed! Getting ready to pull them out of the oven now. Cooked slowly in some of my homemade apple jelly from our tree's. With baked beans on the side. My beautiful wife is eating leftover chicken and the beans. She alway's tells me " I will eat them when I have to" . So until then, the nutters are mine all mine :D
Now now you know you are supposed to share. I was taught to share growing up. 1 for you, 2 for me... That's how I remember it anyway ;D
LOL, sounds about right. Hey I offered, she didn't want any 8)
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The last 2 days I have been too busy to nutter hunt. i thought I would get an afternoon hunt in yesterday, but it never happened. This morning, a light rain shower now and then, seemed perfect.
I walked out to the nutter woods and boy was it dark in the hemlock and oak grove. I no sooner sat down and I heard a red then caught his movement in the tree tops. And like magic he disappeared into the leaves.
Maybe 10 minutes pass and I hear a noise and see movement behind me. A gray nutter. No shot so I just sit patiently. A minute or so later I hear the scratching sound of a nutter coming down a tree. it's the red, 15 feet from me, 3 feet from the ground. I am carrying the 901 .22 conversion. It is surprisingly dark still for 7:30 am in the nutter woods. Now I'm close, too close but he is frozen on the tree as that strange looking camo stump just moved. I aim dead center on the little red. Figuring my pellet would hit a little low. I squeeze and he falls the 3 feet to the ground without a twitch. I then picked up my coffee and listened and watched. Saw the gray nutter a few more times, then he was way out of range.
Nice morning hunt. And the .22 Crosman pointed hunting pellet hit right where I aimed at 15 feet much to my surprise.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1016150804-002_zpsg709ekq8.jpg)
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Great shooting and keeping the pumpers in the game. ;)Ed
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Will do Ed! I'm working on a couple different pumpers to ultimately make into hunters.
I went out for a couple of hours this morning. Saw 5 Grays and 1 red. No shots on the grays. I was ready to take a 30 yard shot at the red, and JUST as I was about to squeeze he ran from the base of the tree to the tippy top. It was his lucky day
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I have an 880 I bought for my grand daughter but haven't done any mods to it. Is the one you have all plastic stock and receiver, or is it and older one with a metal breach?
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I have an 880 I bought for my grand daughter but haven't done any mods to it. Is the one you have all plastic stock and receiver, or is it and older one with a metal breach?
I probably have a dozen 880's ;)
99.9% of the kills were with a 2014 or newer plastic receiver 880. 1 kill posted here was with a metal receiver 880. I prefer the modern plastic ones. Easier to mod and get lots of power from. And they pump real quiet. The stocks don't wiggle like on the metal receiver ones...lots of reasons I prefer the new ones.
And incidentally, all 880's have a metal breech. Under the plastic receiver the 880's are all metal where it counts, including the piston.
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Finally had time to sit down peruse this thread. Love the stories and pics. Congrats!
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Thanks! I hope to keep it up for a while yet!
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A nice read here on some good old fashioned pumper hunting....keep up the good work (and the good eatin!)
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Good shooting on those last couple of nutters Tom.
Harry
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Thanks Cam and Harry! I haven't had much nutter time lately. I gonna have to fix that :D
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I managed to get a little hunting time in today. Got this red nutter right away. I walk out and it starts it's yelling. It ran across a tree branch and paused for a second or 3 with it's vitals exposed at 18ish yards. About 15 feet up. I squeeze and it drops, dead before it hit the ground.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1019151207-001_zpsetajaaey.jpg)
This young gray female nutter I got a little while later. As I approached an oak tree nutters started chattering and went all different directions. 4 of them. This one paused going down the truck and was only about 10 feet up and 15 yards away. In a reletively clear area ( no brush to hide in) so I took an offhand vitals shot. By the time I got to her, in the time it took to reload, pump 12 times, and walk the 15 yards, she was dead in a pile. Good short outing in the woods!
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1019151622-001_zpsdl0vyatx.jpg)
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Nice shooting tom! I had the same day only in the reverse order :D
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Thanks Dave! Like you I have been seeing a LOT of reds this year. They don't often stand still however ;)
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A quick hunt this afternoon netted me this nice young Red taken sideleaned on a tree at 20 yards.
The chipper was taken standing, offhand, with the red in my pump arm hand, at 15 yards. Not a bad shot while holding a Red by the legs in the non trigger hand, while standing ;)
Both were taken with the 901 that has been converted to .22.
I NEED to find the time to sight in my stock other than trigger mods .177 901 and take it hunting. I figure it is about time to give some stockers some love ;D
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1020151604-002_zpsjcuufagx.jpg)
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Nice ones Tom! I haven't seen a chipper this week
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Thanks Dave! I'm seeing fewer chippers. They must be slowly heading to bed for the winter.
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Keep the pumpers pumped and dropping nutters. ;) Great shooting and pics bro. 8) Ed
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Thanks Ed!
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A red nutter and a chipper today.
I got home a little earlier than I expected today, so I sighted in the stock, other than trigger mods and tape on the muzzle end 901. I figured I should give some stock .177's some love :D
As you will see in the pic, I hadn't even put the windage cap back on yet. I sighted it in, turns out much to my surprise it shoots winnie domes surprisingly well. So for a short walk I go ;D
I get to the fallen log I was sitting at the other day when I shot the red nutter at 15 feet, and to my right I see a red nutter standing still at 15 yards. I'm standing and I was too wobbly for an offhand shot. Must have been the 2 cups of coffee I chugged 15 minutes earlier ::)
So I watch him scurry out of my line of sight and move a few feet to a large hemlock and side lean on it. And wait. Less than a minute later he scurry's up another hemlock. Barely 15 yards from me. He tries to hide about 20 feet up on a branch, no chance ;D . Crosshairs are already on him and I put the pellet through his neck into his brain for a quick kill and short death dance.
As I'm walking to the tree, which means sliding down a bank a ways over a 3 foot round fallen hemlock, I look up. I see something, not sure what. I scope it and a good 15 feet up the same hemlock is a chipper. I load another winnie dome, give it 6 pumps and put it in the chippers brain.
When I go to collect them, the red is right next to a coon skull from last year. So a group photo was in order. 8)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1021151554-002_zpsf4tjvoy6.jpg)
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Nice ones Tom! I saw another red and a grey later but no chance for a shot, then late I saw a chipper in a willow tree but by the time i got out he was gone.
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Thanks Dave! I saw 2 grays and another red. One of the grays spotted and me, and didn't run away he SPRINTED away. ;D . The other gray and the other red were just traveling the wrong direction. There is always next time ;)
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Well done, Tom. I have been helping my son move some stuff for the past several days and just got back. So it is gratifying to see that someone has had time to do some fine hunting.
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Good hunting Tom.
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Thanks Mike and Jerry!
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Great shooting and pic brother and may need to pull out my M4 and see what she will drag home. ;) I like your avatar pic (skull), cool. 8) Ed
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Great shooting and pic brother and may need to pull out my M4 and see what she will drag home. ;) I like your avatar pic (skull), cool. 8) Ed
Thanks Ed! Yeah, you were the inspiration for that avatar ;)
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I'm inspired by all the other fine hunter/ pest control brothers here and push's me to hang just a little longer out there in the shadows for a possible harvest. I'm bushed right now from another long night of pest control but it paid off. I will post alittle something when I emerge back out of my cave lol. Ed
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Well congrats Ed, looking forward to the pics. I just got another large gray nutter. Just got back from the quick morning hunt. I'll weigh him, my be my biggest yet. He has eluded me for a few days so today victory and dinner is mine ;)
I'll post up pics and the rest of the story later. Gotta tke care of my chickens and ducks, clean a nutter and get my butt to the job site to make some $$$$$$$.
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So the last few morings one large gray nutter has eluded me. Creature of habit, comes down from his tree about 7:15, takes basically the same route along the tree's to get to his favorite oak tree. Rarely pauses, and when he does, his head is usually blocked.
A few mornings ago he paused hanging off of a really small branch. JUST as I squeezed he fell from the tiny branch. Clean miss. He also was not startled and just ran up the oak. I reloaded and pumped and about 10 minutes later, like clockwork he returned to his home/tree. Never stopping to give me a shot.
I saw him yesterday morning. Yesterday moring I decided to really challenge myself and carry an 880 with open sights. The cloud cover and the deep woods I was in, I just couldn't see well enough to take a shot. Even when he was at about 18 yards. So he got a pass yesterday morning.
so this morning I go out with the .177 901, stock except for a nice short crisp trigger. It wears a decent Bushnell scope. I figure it's on!
It was pretty dark this morning but at 7:20 I see branches wiggling at his tree. Sure enough Mr. Gray is on the move. He stopped exactly once on his way to his favorite oak tree. He stopped on a small branch, to scratch himself. With his entire hed hidden by another branch. He then went non stop to his oak tree fro breakfast.
He was up there a good 10 minutes. Hidden in the leaves, shaking down acorns. I could always tell where he was even though I could not see him. Finally like I said about 10 minutes later he makes his way back to his home/hemlock tree. He paused, acorn in his mouth at 16 yards, only about 15 feet up a small tree. The 901 was up and the cross hairs were already on his little nutter brain. I squeezed and he death danced down a steep hill to the bottom. I reloaded, pumped 6 times in case I needed a follow up shot, slugged down some java and got up to retrieve him. Nice nutter and the Winnie dome made a mess of his noggin! I LOVE 10.5 dome pellets in .177. Deadly stuff.
He weighed in at 1 lb 4.4 o so he is not my biggest but in the top 4 or 5. Nice nutter comfortably resting in freezer camp as I type :D
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1022150737-02_zpsbg3tpvch.jpg)
I figured I should show the stock or nearly stock Daisy .177's some love, and show one does not need to go to the extremes I like to mod to. I do those mods as I enjoy it. This 901 does not even have a flat top. Just trigger mods. I just finished putting together an 880 from the late 90's that I got for $1 at a tag sale this summer. Once I dial that in, it'll see some hunting time. That one just has a flat top piston and trigger mods and new seals of course.
Anyway, thanks for reading! I enjoy sharing my little adventures 8)
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Nice one Tom!
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Thanks Dave!
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Thumbs high bro and more incentive for me to get out and drop some nutters myself if I can stop lurking around at night lol. Ed
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Thanks Ed! You gotta get those coons 1st!
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Wow Tom, I have missed most of this thread. Great hunting and shooting. It was nice catching up on this one. Nice variety of guns too.
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Thanks Dave! I have a really busy couple of weeks coming up, so the thread might slow down a little. I'll of course always have a Daisy nearby....just in case a nutter or rabbit attacks or something ;)
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Interesting day today. 3 critters, 3 different Daisy's in 2 different calibers.
Something a few nights a week has been setting off our driveway light which wakes my wife up.The other night she wakes me up to say the light went off again. I peak outside and see a stinker waddling passed the chicken coop. Game on! This morning around 5 am the light goes off. My wife wakes me up. I jump out of bed, grab the 901 in .22 caliber and go to the living room. Slowly crack a window open and wait. I should add, I changed the timer on the light so it stays on for 5 minutes after I saw the stinker.
i didn't have to wait long and I saw the stinker . I don't know what is was rooting around for but it was under a pine tree with enough light on it. I know for a fact it is 18 yards to that tree. I waited, squeezed, and it kicked a few times, then I smelled it. Yup, it's dead :o. I waited till day light to go outside, take the pics, spread some lime, and bury the stinker. It actually does not smell too bad outside right now.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1020150853-001_zpszsd7rtk1.jpg)
Then I am outside a while later getting ready to let me birds out. As I am about to enter the duck cage area, I see a few rats moving around. I dart into the house, grab the still smoothbore Daisy 35, only mods being trigger mods and a filled 880 stock, and kill the 1st one I see. Perfect brain shot at 8 yards. The Crosman destroyer made a mess of it. Only used 6 pumps. Did the job perfectly.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1027150927-002_zpslbtl0ps5.jpg)
Then I finally get off the property to work. I 1st dug 18 feet of ditch . Got done with that at 11:30 and sat down 15 yards from an oak tree to eat my lunch. Before I jumped on a mower for the rest of the day. My stock other than trigger mods 901 , still obviously in .177, on my lap as I ate my sub. Saw 4 nutters. 3 of them would not give me a shot. The 4th one, paused nicely on a bare branch about 20 feet up the tree. I put down my sub, picked up the 901, shot it in the brain and as it fell put down the 901 and resumed eating ;D
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1027151138-001_zps3baxg6we.jpg)
Interesting variety today . Guns and critters 8)
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Hard after em you are bro ;) great shooting and pics. The pole cat was digging for grubs more then likely bro. I get em out here in the field at night but give em a pass. I don't feel like dealing with the stink and can't eat em. I can check out the grassy field the next morning and all these little dug up spots . Ed
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Hard after em you are bro ;) great shooting and pics. The pole cat was digging for grubs more then likely bro. I get em out here in the field at night but give em a pass. I don't feel like dealing with the stink and can't eat em. I can check out the grassy field the next morning and all these little dug up spots . Ed
Thanks Ed! It was only a matter of time before he and I met one morning as I headed out bow hunting.I haven't been sprayed yet....don't want to be sprayed. 9 times out of 10 they get pass, this one hanging in my front yard..... took it out ;)
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Nice going Tom! I have to get skunk busting myself :o
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Thanks Disco Dave!
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Got the trifecta today :D
1st thing this morning I go outside and a red is scolding me. The wacko obviously had 15 cups of coffee this morning and was jumping around branches, running around etc. He paused to scratch on a branch 15 to 16 yards away and I sent the Winnie dome from the stock other than trigger mods 901 into the vitals. Fell off the branch dead, not a kick.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1029150759-003_zpsemikqwx6.jpg)
Later in the morning I'mat a property i work at and pest/hunt at. Saw one gray and she was running for an oak tree that has a nutter hole in it. I sat down on my butt and waited. I figured she ran into the hole. Nope, she made a fatal mistake and peaked her head around the corner of the tree. Just head and neck showing. At 18 yards the same 901 sent the winnie dome perfectly into her brain. A few kicks and it was over.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1029151024-002_zpsgdxwxe0y.jpg)
At the end of the day I took a walk around the property to see if the nutters were moving. Heard a red, never saw it, but I did see this chipper. 22 yard head shot with the same 901 and a Winnie dome. Again sitting down on my butt. Sat down as soon as I spotted it.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1029151657-002_zpskppqxwx7.jpg)
Twas a good day ;)
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Nice shooting Tom.
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Great one Tom! I got 2 nutters today, saw a chipper 2 days ago but he's not been back, no reds spotted this week
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Nicely done Tom, and nice pics.
Harry
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Thanks Jerry, Disco Dave and Harry!
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The pumpers are keeping em at bay in your neck of the woods, very nice. ;) Fine shooting and pics and letting the pumpers strut their stuff. 8) Ed
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Thanks Ed! You know I'm gonna ............. 8)
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Love those pictures - well done. 😎
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Thanks Mike!
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A little something different today. I have been feeling inspired by Ed/Shadow and have been shooting my springers and gas ram. This morning I took a short walk with the Hatsan 1000s Vortex .22. Absolutely stacks CPHP's at 20 yards.
I heard a red in the not too distant tree's. So I sat on a rock wall and waited. About 10 minutes later he was scurrying around and stopped on a branch on the ground at 21 yards. Crosshairs were already on his shoulder. A thunk in my ear and it rolled off of the branch, DRT.
I forgot how much I love this Hatsan. Until 2 days ago it had been about a year since I shot it. LOVE it.
There is a gray running around the outskirts of the yard. Maybe I'll get lucky again :D
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1101150833-03_zpsdwmdevey.jpg)
Seems strange to use 20 FPE on a red nutter.... but it works ;)
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Awesome thread Tom.
Great pics & takes!
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Thanks Kevin!
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Nice shooting Tom! A red and a chipper here today so far
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Nothing wrong with a little more punch when whacking some critters. ;) Great shooting and pic bro and it's good to keep yourself in harmony with your springers too, your harmonizing just fine. 8) Ed
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Thanks guys! Just got another gray. Different Hatsan :D
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My back has been killing me all day, so not much got done. But I DID sight in the Hatsan built Daisy 1000. When I got it it chronied 950 FPS with CPUMS! Have not checked it since. And it IS a tack driver. This ole Hatsan is a diamond in the rough and with a good tune and trigger work, just amazing weapons. Just ask DEZ ;)
Anyway, I managed to split a little firewood then took a walk with the Daisy 1000. Passed on a chipper. He was 10 feet away with a huge rock behind him.
Saw another chipper and was after him, when I heard something bigger. So I'm caught in the open, standing. The gray goes up a tree, slightly down hill from me, with all kinds of debris in the way. So I was standing, shooting offhand, with my knee's bent in almost a crouch position, and my body leaning forward awkwardly. It took a second, but I found his head in the Simmons scope, and sent the CPUM it's 16 yards. He fell out of my line of sight. I could hear the death dance. I loaded another CPUM just in case and walked to the hill edge. Blood everywhere! He did about 2 more break dance moves by the time I got to the edge, and it was over. Look at the damage that CPUM did! As the commercial says....awsome sauce ;D
Again, I forgot how much I love this springer. Lighter than the Hatsan 1000 vortex, a little longer with that barrel weight on it, but just an absolute pleasure to shoot. I really love my Hatsans. I forgot how much ;)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1101151548-003_zpseln2lz5s.jpg)
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Nice one Tom!
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Thanks Disco Dave! Saw a gray and a red this am. No shot at either. The gray came up on my left, and I'm left handed. i could not move as I would spook him, so he got a pass for today. Saw a red in an apple tree. FAR too much debris in the way to get a shot. Heard a couple more reds there. So I know where I am hunting tomorrow morning :D
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So far I got a red and a grey here :D And there is another grey I saw , it sure is a banner year for 'em ;)
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Great shooting and pic bro. ;) Ed
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Thanks Ed! I guess i am fortunate that I can shoot pumpers, then go to a springer and shoot them just as well. I don't have the hold issues others deal with.
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So far I got a red and a grey here :D And there is another grey I saw , it sure is a banner year for 'em ;)
not in my neck of the woods. you do a whole lot more walkin' than shootin'.
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Another Red Nutter falls to "The Hammer", the Hatsan Vortex .22. Easy 17 yard shot. Straight through the vitals. Moved 2 feet and rolled over dead.
Wood stock coming for that Hatsan. She will be a pretty hammer in a bit :D
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1104150720-001_zpss5l6gxj3.jpg)
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Another Red Nutter falls to "The Hammer", the Hatsan Vortex .22. Easy 17 yard shot. Straight through the vitals. Moved 2 feet and rolled over dead.
Wood stock coming for that Hatsan. She will be a pretty hammer in a bit :D
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1104150720-001_zpss5l6gxj3.jpg)
Nice!!!
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Thanks Matt!
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Tom, I am a little envious - I have not been able to get to the woods lately. 🙁😰 Well done and keep to thread going.
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Nice shot Tom! 3 greys this morning here :D
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Thanks guys! Disco Dave, update coming ;)
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Good day for " The Hammer" the 1000s Vortex .22 Hatsan.
This morning the red I posted earlier.
This afternoon, 1st 2 chippers. Both at 15 yards. The 1st pic the CPHP zipped into his eye, and out by his tail.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1104151516-002_zpsnsvgmczy.jpg)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1104151527-001_zps1ihqmusp.jpg)
And now a story...and my personal record.
I'm walking up a logging road and look into a pine grove to my right where I always see nutters. Sure enough, there is a nutter on his hind legs eating. I scope him and am wobbly. So I sit at the base of a tree. And watch. He must have seen or sensed me and went about 3 feet up a tree. A few minutes pass and now he is down and has a buddy with him. This one presents a shot, I aim for vitals and let the CPHP fly 47 yards to hit it's mark PERFECTLY. I hear the low thunk in my ear, I hear the pop of the pellet hitting it's target, and I watch him roll over, kick 2 or 3 times and that's all she wrote. ;D . I sat for a few minutes as his buddy about 5 feet up a tree, no shot. Could only see it's hind end, then it just vanished. So I got up and paced off the 47 yards. This is how I found him.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1104151501-002_zpsf8pcrmhj.jpg)
And a shot to show his size. Weighed 1 lb 6 oz. Not the biggest I have killed but close.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1104151508-001_zpsko54fxin.jpg)
I'm still smiling ear to ear as he rests comfortably in freezer camp :D
Recovered the CPHP, looking a little worse for wear.
Against the skin on the off shoulder.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1104151634-002_zpsftzc6tho.jpg)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1104151635-001_zpszx2j8g0r.jpg)
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Great day Tom! Nice shooting! I didn't see the chipper I spotted yesterday, Just the nutters today
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Fine shooting and pic bro and the Gray is a healthy looking one too. I do need to get out and get after some nutters myself since the night critters are in limbo with the warm spell that we've been getting here. I'm working on some new camo project's but do need try and get some nutters in the icebox. Ed
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How many pumps are you using for tree rats?
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Thanks Disco Dave and Ed! That Hatsan reached out and touched someone :D
Bob, out of habit I pump 12 times. On the occasions where I missed with the 1st shot, 6 to 8 repumps, then the kill shot.
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Nice shot!! Congrats on your 47 yard shot!! 8)
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Thanks Matt!
I don't use shooting rests,, sticks anything like that. I just practice a LOT sitting down on the ground, elbow on my knee. Real hunting positions. Paid off I guess :D
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Tom, well done! A few years ago, I started using an homemade, two legged, folding shooting stick. It works for me - and it has the added advantage of doubling as a walking stick when on rough ground.
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Thanks Matt!
I don't use shooting rests,, sticks anything like that. I just practice a LOT sitting down on the ground, elbow on my knee. Real hunting positions. Paid off I guess :D
I just brace my self on anything available. If I am in the open, I sit down and put my elbow on my knee too.
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Thanks Matt!
I don't use shooting rests,, sticks anything like that. I just practice a LOT sitting down on the ground, elbow on my knee. Real hunting positions. Paid off I guess :D
I just brace my self on anything available. If I am in the open, I sit down and put my elbow on my knee too.
Yup, that too. I guess what i was getting at is the only way I practice is with "whatever is around" rests. That tree, log, plastic lawn chair :D . But mostly back against a tree, elbow on my knee.
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Exciting afternoon , well exciting 30 minutes ;D on a short nutter hunt today. Didn't see one nutter, but I saw something. I patiently waited till it was at 20 yards, had no idea i was sitting at the base of that tree, and sent the CPHP from " The Hammer" Right into the brain, 1/2 way between the ear and eye.
This all took place less than 100 yards from my chickens and ducks.
Guys...meet Bob
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1105150733-003_zpstnlh0btq.jpg)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1105150733-001_zps2ijekjtn.jpg)
THIS is the reason I bought The Hammer a year and 1/2 ago or more. I had a predator problem, that time a fox. I asked for opinions, mainly was told PCP. Nothing against them, they just don't float my boat. The Hammer was one of the weapons mentioned. I simply love it!
Going to run this to my buddy who traps heavy. Always good to have a favor out there, just in case .... he said he is thrilled to have Bob, as he has several coyote's to skin anyway tonight ;)
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Congrats Tom! Nice one! That's one critter I have never seen around me
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Thanks Disco Dave! I see their tracks much more often than I see them. My buddy who I dropped it off to got a 40 pounder last year ( who also lives about a mile away from me) . THAT was one big boy!
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That's an impressive fur harvest there bro. 8) The hides on the wild cat's can fetch some change too. Again a impressive harvest, great shot and pics. Despite my effort's here and turning into a night hunting owl the critters are elusive. Ed
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Tom, the hammer, its a hatsan in what cal? spring or ram? what kinda numbers are u getting?
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Awesome shooting Tom. 8)
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Nice shooting Tom!!! I have not seen a Bobcat in a while but one year deer hunting I saw 8 Bobcats at different times.
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That's an impressive fur harvest there bro. 8) The hides on the wild cat's can fetch some change too. Again a impressive harvest, great shot and pics. Despite my effort's here and turning into a night hunting owl the critters are elusive. Ed
Thanks Ed! And thanks for coming back to the forum and re inspiring my love for the springers and gas rams! Truth be told, I like them just as much as the pumpers.
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Thanks guys!
Gabe, The Hammer is a Hatsan 1000s .22 vortex.
So it's a .22, gas, and when i cronied it some time ago it was averaging 790 with 14.3 CPHP's. All I have done to it is clean up the trigger a bit and added a trigger shoe. And a scope and mount. Bone stock internally. With 19 in change FPE, and incredible accuracy with dirt cheap CPHP's, I just love it.
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Awesome shooting Tom. 8)
Thanks Bro! It was your suggestion to buy the hammer...so thanks!
If you get a chance, and have interweb service to read this, give me a call tonight or over the weekend!
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Nice job on that bobcat Tom! They are very elusive and rare to see during the day. I am guessing they can't resist the sound and smell of your chickens and ducks. It looks like a juvenile and a little smaller than full grown adults I have seen at the zoo. I don't think I have seen one in the wild though, but I know they are around. I had tracks in the snow a few years ago that were pretty fresh and bigger than a house cat, so I am pretty sure they are in the area.
19 FPE is plenty for yote/fox/bocat, but requires precise shot placement which you had no trouble making, so nice shooting.
Harry
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Nice job on that bobcat Tom! They are very elusive and rare to see during the day. I am guessing they can't resist the sound and smell of your chickens and ducks. It looks like a juvenile and a little smaller than full grown adults I have seen at the zoo. I don't think I have seen one in the wild though, but I know they are around. I had tracks in the snow a few years ago that were pretty fresh and bigger than a house cat, so I am pretty sure they are in the area.
19 FPE is plenty for yote/fox/bocat, but requires precise shot placement which you had no trouble making, so nice shooting.
Harry
Thanks Harry! This was certainly a youngster. Much smaller than the adults I have seen and the one I killed with a .308 Savage 99 before I got back into air rifles. My guess is the 2 dozen chickens I lost this year, were to this ones Mama, feeding the kittens. This kitten knew where the food was, and was returning for more.
It was pure luck I was where it was going yesterday. but I'll take the pure luck! Sometmes the stars align and they did yesterday.
With a pumper in my hands it just would have been a nice story about a bobcat. With either of my Hatsans, this outcome was possible.
My friend was very happy to receive the bob, and all I asked for was the skull back for my collection of AG kills, skulls. I like to study exactly where the brain is on the different critters.
Thanks again Harry!
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Yes a little luck never hurts.
I have recovered a couple of Groundhog skulls too, so I know what you mean. Nothing better than studying the skull of the critters you go after. The smaller G-hog skull (from a young one) actually broke into 3 pieces pieces when my son knocked it off the sill by accident. It was 5-6 years old and getting brittle. One the front teeth came off as it hit the concrete floor in my garage. To my surprise the tooth went way up and back into the skull with a long curvature. It was about 3 times longer than the part of the tooth that was exposed.
Harry
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Interesting. I never saved a woodchuck skull, but will next year.
This pic is of the track left by an adult bobcat. I took this last year while crossbow hunting. Typical cat, walked out of it's way, to walk across the fallen oak tree where I took this pic in the fresh dusting of snow. The sheer size of the tracks told me why I had not seen any deer that morning ( Idid ultimately fill all of my tags ;D ) According to my friend who traps almost like it was a religion, this bob would weigh 35 to 40 lbs that made these tracks. The one I killed yesterday was maybe 20 ish lbs. Didn't weigh it, but it was a small one.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1501519_648120911876659_2043893834_o_zpsf2bem7hm.jpg)
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My friend was very happy to receive the bob, and all I asked for was the skull back for my collection of AG kills, skulls. I like to study exactly where the brain is on the different critters.
Thanks again Harry!
When you get it back and cleaned up, please do post a pic of the skull with the hole in it.
Nice shooting Tom.
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My friend was very happy to receive the bob, and all I asked for was the skull back for my collection of AG kills, skulls. I like to study exactly where the brain is on the different critters.
Thanks again Harry!
When you get it back and cleaned up, please do post a pic of the skull with the hole in it.
Nice shooting Tom.
Thanks Jerry! I will post a pic when it gets back to me.
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I've been real busy the last couple of days and had little AG time. Saw nutters, told them it was their lucky day, and went on with life.
Last night I took apart my 880 Carbine .22 for a good cleaning and maintenance. I took a few minutes this afternoon to shoot, and took a few of those minutes to sight in the Carbine.
I had about 3 clicks to the right to go, otherwise was sighted back in and I heard leaves rustling. This not too bright rat was making his way TOWARDS my target. I kid you not, he stops directly in front of the back stop, and goes under the leaves. I just scope the moving leaves and wait. He is right in front of the backstop so I know with certainty he is 18 yards away.
He emerges from the leaves and his tail is facing me as he is about to disappear. I sent the pointed hunting pellet in his behind and out his throat. Rolled over onto his back dead.
I finished sighting in my carbine and then walked over to take this pic ;)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1108151540-001_zpsov2czn37.jpg)
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Nice!
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Nice one Tom! A grey ran though and a red was way off in the trees here no good shots to take
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Thanks Chris and Dave!
I forgot to tell this story. 1st thing this am . Gray nutter in a tree, 40 ish yards out. some stuff in the way, but I find a clearing. I aim for the brain, squeeze , and either the nutter moved a tad, or I was just off ( more likely the case) and I shot the acorn out of his mouth. He ran up the tree a little freaked out, scolded me some from a branch, and went about his business slowly getting further and further away from me. This was with The Hammer.
He WILL be in that tree again :D
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Great takes with the Hatsan!
So awesome you were in the right place at the right time to exact some revenge for your lost poultry getting a clean shot on that Bobcat!!!
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Great shooting and pic bro and look forward to Wildcat skull pics. Ed
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Thanks Kevin and Ed! I have the Bob head back in my possession , now to find the time to clean it up.
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Interesting. I never saved a woodchuck skull, but will next year.
This pic is of the track left by an adult bobcat. I took this last year while crossbow hunting. Typical cat, walked out of it's way, to walk across the fallen oak tree where I took this pic in the fresh dusting of snow. The sheer size of the tracks told me why I had not seen any deer that morning ( Idid ultimately fill all of my tags ;D ) According to my friend who traps almost like it was a religion, this bob would weigh 35 to 40 lbs that made these tracks. The one I killed yesterday was maybe 20 ish lbs. Didn't weigh it, but it was a small one.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1501519_648120911876659_2043893834_o_zpsf2bem7hm.jpg)
yup. that's easy 35-40 pounds worth. big kitty.
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Great shooting on the rat!! You did him in with a Texas heart shot. ;D ;D
BTW: My dad saw a young Bobcat a couple nights ago while deer hunting. He said it was the size of a house cat.
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Great shooting on the rat!! You did him in with a Texas heart shot. ;D ;D
BTW: My dad saw a young Bobcat a couple nights ago while deer hunting. He said it was the size of a house cat.
Thanks Matt!!!
Mine was a small Bob, but if compared to a house cat, size of a pure bred Maine Coon cat. Certainly a youngin. Unlike the track I posted.
Indeed Scott, a big kitty left those tracks.
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There's late then there's me... nice thread, great stories pics, and shooting ;D
Enjoyed every bit of it, could almost smell them nutters cooking...
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(Double post, such happens on a tablet)
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Thanks Steve!
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Bobcat skull pics. I'm going to let nature do the rest of the cleaning.
The in pic. Next to the eye. There is a round hole there, there is still some meat around it making it look broke out, butit isn't. The nice round hole doesn't showwell in the pic. The far right side of what looks broke out is the hole
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1112151552-001_zpsvrcdedn8.jpg)
But the interesting part is this. There IS an exit hole. And a good sized one. The CPHP did a nice job making a mess of things. That hole is much more defined in the pic.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1112151551-002_zpsad1goxxu.jpg)
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So cool..a bobcat with the Striker. Thats good stuff man.
How do you get the skull to that point?
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So cool..a bobcat with the Striker. Thats good stuff man.
How do you get the skull to that point?
Thanks brotha! I boiled it in water to soften the meat from the bone. You can only get it so fr that way or you also soften the bone. Made head cheese basically ;D
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Good start on the wildcat skull and after the cleaning process is done and the skull has dried check the teeth for looseness. You may need to add a touch of glue I use super glue, I've actually carefully pulled the loose ones on my skulls and added a drop of glue to keep em in place. Ed
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Nice work Tom.
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thanks T and Ed. Thanks for the tip Ed!
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Very cool Tom!
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Looks like you got a big enough exit hole, you could stick a straw in there, and s-u-c-k the brains out ::).
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mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm brains
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I haven't been spending much time with the AG's as crossbow opened here, and I like to crossbow hunt as well. So my mornings befroe heading off to work have been all about the crossbow.
Well this male red nutter has been taunting me every morning and just before dark for a week. always in the same tree as I hurry to open chicken and duck pens, or to close them. Chattering away like a fool. See's me and runs for it. This afternoon I was in the yard doing chores, putting the snowblower on the 1964 Simplicity Landlord and I heard him bark. Came right in the house and grabbed the Daisy 1000s ( made by Hatsan..2005 version 3) loaded a CPUM and went out next to a duck coop. I scanned the area and found him knawing on a nut on a branch. Blissfully unaware this predator was 35 yards away ;D . I steadied myself, sideleaning on a duck coop to brace myself. I found the opening between branches and squeezed. Thunk in my ear ( no spring twang .......nice tune ;) ) and POP. The CPUM went right where I wanted it to. Through the neck into the brain. I watched it fall from the tree and death dance. Victory is mine ;D
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1115151530-001_zpszpp84qnu.jpg)
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OK, story similar to Disco Daves. I shot a red nutter yesterday who has eluded me for a week. This morning I had a very exciting crossbow hunt. No deer down but I had the king of the swamp 15 feet from me! And an owl flew 4 feet away from me.
Both were heart pumping moments. Well the king of the swamp was a 20 minute moment ;D
I return a few hours later and go about my morning chores. Taking care of the birds. I get by the duck coop and a red nutter starts scolding me and I spot him. I put down the feed bucket and head right in the house to the gun cabinet to grab the Daisy 1000s I used yesterday. I walk out and I hear him, over about 30 yards from where he was, can't find him. I lean the AG against a fence and go about my chores. After I let everyone out I heard him again. I sat behind the duck coop and waited. I saw him and heard him. Yelling at the world. Finally he stood still in the crotch of an iron wood tree about 20 yards away and I squeezed. POP! Out of the tree he fell.
So this red nutter ran in all of the same tree's, same exact route as yesterdays nutter. So maybe this was the one eluding me? Or twins were eluding me? In either case another nutter for freezer camp ;)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1116150939-003_zpsxzwmqsbh.jpg)
And the owl that nearly clipped me. He is the blob in the tree. Wasn't quite sunrise yet.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1116150626-003_zps5nyvgbhb.jpg)
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Great shooting and pics brother and the ole wise Owl didn't snag your harvest. Ed
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Thanks Brotha Ed!
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nice shooting on the reds . They are some annoying twitchy little pests . Never seen an owl while hunting , very cool .
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Nice one Tom! Mine might not have been the one, I saw one at the base of the tree today ( could be new, there is one across the road this afternoon also at the same time) Also a red far off running though the trees. I think they are in winter stealth mode now with the leaves all down. They are mostly sticking to the trees or near them.
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Thanks guys!
Triplets????????????
Nope, this one is female :D
Busy today getting ready for winter :(
Fixed the electricity in my workshop, I was working on leveling the outdoor wood boiler that sank in the rear. I was at a frustrating point and needed a diversion......and a red chatters out back. ;D
I go to the front porch to grab the Daisy/Hatsan 1000 and a CPUM. I head out to the duck coop and wait. sure enough, going over the same tree's a red nutter. This crazy female clearly just had 10 cups of coffee. Running around branches like a nut. Finally she stands still. Same 20 yards as this morning, same tree as a matter of fact. Squeezed and watched her fall from the tree.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1116151454-003_zpsxtp9n2ii.jpg)
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Another nice one Tom!
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Thanks Disco Dave! I think it's time to make some nutter chili for the opening of rifle season on Saturday ;D
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Tom, you are posting so many kills, I have a difficult time keeping up with your pictures. Was that eight today - or was it nine?!? ;) Well done.
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Thanks Mike! Just 2 reds today ;) .
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Another Red nutter from the same tree. I don't know where they all are coming from this year. For everyone i kill I hear a few more. Maybe Disco Daves portion of the state has the gray nutter factory, and the red nutter factory is on my side of the state.
20 yard shot, just like the last couple. Same tree as the last couple. Perfect brain shot with a winnie dome out of the stock other than trigger modded 901. It was a tougher shot than it sounds like. I had to find an opening in the small branches to sneak the pellet through, to get to the brain. This nutter was pretty well hidden, but not well enough ;D
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1119151426-002_zpsvysqxqam.jpg)
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Nice work!
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Fine shooting and pics brother and between you and brother Dave it's raining nutters in the Hunting Gate lol. Keep it up and nutter chili is good for sure. I've slapped together many critter dinners for folks including nutter chili, Bandit chili etc. and they loved it. Be sure to let em know what their eating first if you want lol, This is great what kind of meat is that lol lol. Ed
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Thanks Phil and Brother Ed!
Nutter chili is good but nothing beats woodchuck in chili sauce. Best darn chili I ever ate. Or on it's own, just the woodchuck in the sauce. Delicious!
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/DSCF3450-001_zps24oexphk.jpg)
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Sure looks good Tom! Nice shooting! I have had a lot of reds this year for some reason , They are still around but in winter stealth mode now. I did get a grey today.
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Thanks Dave! The Reds must have had 2 litters this year. Just far too many of them. Well, less now ;)
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Nice shooting, Tom. How many do you have so far this season?
I was look on Wikipedia for information about the American Red Squirrel. It said they are widely distributed across North America; but I don't see any around Louisiana.
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Thanks Mike!
You know, I didn't keep track this year so I don't know.
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Nice shooting, Tom. How many do you have so far this season?
I was look on Wikipedia for information about the American Red Squirrel. It said they are widely distributed across North America; but I don't see any around Louisiana.
I don't see 'em up here either.
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Yummy looking vittles there brother. Ed
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Yummy looking vittles there brother. Ed
My grandfather used to hunt woodchucks with a recurve bow when I was a wee lad. He cooked them up for us like this and a few other ways. i grew up on eating woodchuck and it is simply delicious.
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I'm back ;D
Big game ended 2 days ago. Back to trapping and nutter hunting ;)
Got a few trap sets in yesterday and went out to hunt and check the line this am. Traps were empty but
I'm slowly walking my way from set to set, and I hear a red nutter barking. Can't see it. So I back out, wait 10 minutes and slink back in the area. I stalk and see a nutter eating on a branch 10 yards from me. I see the red tail. I aim and squeeze to sent the .22 Crosman pointed hunting pellet on it's way. DRT brain shot. No death dance. I walk up and I got one of those strange red/grey hybrids I get once in a while. Barks like a red, built like a red, but a tad larger, and is about 1/2 red and 1/2 grey. Weird critters.
Now to find room in the freezer for him. :o Both are kinda full :D
Oh, yeah, used the Daisy 880 .22 LW barreled carbine.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/1224150731-002_zpsa0d3hs9m.jpg)
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I was trying to be patiente, Tom; but it is about time that you have returned to this thread. 🙂
That is an unusual critter and a new one on me - it's the first one I see. There are no Red's in this area.
Merry Christmas.
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Great shot Tom!!!
Bow season ends here in mid January. I am after a 8-10 pointer right now. I had him 30 yards from my ground blind and could have shot as my bow is sited in at 30 but I did not feel confident enough.
Merry Christmas,
Matt
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Thanks Mike and Matt! I know the feeling Matt, I had a close encounter with a monster during crossbow season..... here is the story I wrote about it.
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=99988.0 (http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=99988.0)
Mike, all big game long I mentally killed nutters. I found some really good spots. If our weather holds out, i'll thin the herd a bit
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Thanks Mike and Matt! I know the feeling Matt, I had a close encounter with a monster during crossbow season..... here is the story I wrote about it.
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=99988.0 (http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=99988.0)
Mike, all big game long I mentally killed nutters. I found some really good spots. If our weather holds out, i'll thin the herd a bit
I did see that post Tom. I do a lot of mental killing of nutters while hunting to.
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Nice one Tom!
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Thanks Disco Dave!
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For a New York guy you sure are good with that li'l Texas Brush Popper.. ;) (can't help myself born a Texan) Keep meaning to build one but no luck on finding the garage sale metal side 880s yet, maybe this year... did find a couple brass bolt 760s but not what I want...
I liked what little I saw of N.Y. when I was at Ft. Drum for a couple months... smack dab in the middle of winter... Stayed in ten man tents for a while... back about 1980
For some reason some woodchuck tamales sound good now...
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Almost forgot Merry Christmas! eve...
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Thanks Kirby and Merry Christmas. It's funny as I live a few hours from the Crosman factory and I find more old Daisy's at tag sales than I do Crosmans.
Merry Christmas! Enjoy the family time.
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Good to see you back out there and chasing em through the brush. ;) Great shooting and pic bro and keep after em like I know you will. I know I need to get after em harder myself but the critters have their own plans and sightings thin. Deep in camo projects for da brothers on GTA once finished will get back into the "shadows". ;) Ed
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Thanks Ed! Indeed the predators are not acting themselves this mild winter. Which is indeed good for my chickens.
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I've been busy building 880's and cigar box guitars, as well as trapping, not leaving much nutter time. Mating season must be beginning as red nutters have been chasing each other around the yard.
I loaded a new 880 I built , pumped it up, and put it on the porch. Link to the 880 build here: http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=103212.0 (http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=103212.0)
I went outside to grab soldier from my shop, carried the 880 and saw this red nutter, a bigun , at 15 yards. Took him with a vitals shot at 15 yards, standing offhand. Now to clean him quick and get back to work :D BTW, rolled over dead right there.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/0202161142-001_zpsixhwv9ih.jpg)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/0202161142-02_zpstumlonpy.jpg)
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Nice shooting Tom!
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Nice shot!!
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Thanks Disco Dave and Matt!
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Great shooting and pics bro and good to see you back out there. I just had a break from camo project's and harvested a C-rat on a nutter hunt lol. Ed
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Great shooting and pics bro and good to see you back out there. I just had a break from camo project's and harvested a C-rat on a nutter hunt lol. Ed
Thanks Ed! Funny how the game thing works isn't it? Hunting one thing, something else shows up. I once killed a raccoon on a crossbow deer hunt. The thing came up the hill and was going to run me over, so I stopped it ;D
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LOL :o well it was ether you sling an arrow at em or go hand to Bandit combat. :o ;) Ed
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I was out cutting firewood all day today. Armed of course ;D . I had my new favorite 880 build with me.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/0207161052-002_zpspwqbjga8.jpg)
The build to that is here: http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=103212.0 (http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=103212.0)
Saw quite a few, always when a chainsaw was in my hand >:(
Until this red/gray hybrid freak presented itself while I was loading the truck. Easy 20 yard brain shot. One more for the freezer.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/0207161444-002_zpswo0cu3hb.jpg)
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Nice one Tom!
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Thanks Disco Dave!
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Nice shooting!!
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Nice shooting!!
Thanks Matt! My 880 is catching up with your 2100 quickly :D. I may have to chrony 20 pumps for yuks just to see how close I am ;D
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Nice shooting!!
Thanks Matt! My 880 is catching up with your 2100 quickly :D. I may have to chrony 20 pumps for yuks just to see how close I am ;D
I would be interested to know what it is doing at 20 pumps. As far as a your Daisy shooting faster than my 2100... I say it can not be done. ;D Just kidding!! Would be cool to have a 900 fps daisy. 8)
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Nice shooting!!
Thanks Matt! My 880 is catching up with your 2100 quickly :D. I may have to chrony 20 pumps for yuks just to see how close I am ;D
I would be interested to know what it is doing at 20 pumps. As far as a your Daisy shooting faster than my 2100... I say it can not be done. ;D Just kidding!! Would be cool to have a 900 fps daisy. 8)
I don't think this one will. With this one I'm trying to get the most I can, without modding the valve or main body at all.Even the transfer port is still stock sized. Only part that isn't original Daisy is the hammer spring. Now on the next .177, I'll go hog wild and port , polish, drill out the transfer port etc etc. That one could be interesting. ;D
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Nice shooting!!
Thanks Matt! My 880 is catching up with your 2100 quickly :D. I may have to chrony 20 pumps for yuks just to see how close I am ;D
I would be interested to know what it is doing at 20 pumps. As far as a your Daisy shooting faster than my 2100... I say it can not be done. ;D Just kidding!! Would be cool to have a 900 fps daisy. 8)
I don't think this one will. With this one I'm trying to get the most I can, without modding the valve or main body at all.Even the transfer port is still stock sized. Only part that isn't original Daisy is the hammer spring. Now on the next .177, I'll go hog wild and port , polish, drill out the transfer port etc etc. That one could be interesting. ;D
I am looking forward to see your results!!
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1st starling that visited us this year that I know of. The youngin didn't last long. 32 yard standing offhand shot. Sorted, washed and lubed 10 grain Winnie dome. Darn thing got stuck in the crotch of the young tree I shot it in. Had to shake it out.
We have large farms 1/4 mile each way from us. So the starlings rarely come to raid our chicken and duck feed, but when they do ;D
Used what is becoming my favorite 880. The 800 FPS $6 FrankenDaisy.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/0215160920-001_zpssghtuqjx.jpg)
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Now it's 2 :D This time side leaned on our garden arbor, 25 yard shot. Same gun, same pellet.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/0215161055-002_zpsqub4hkpm.jpg)
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Nice shooting Tom! None around me yet ( probably all frozen solid :D )
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Nice shooting, Tom, and great thread. First time I read a 12 page thread- in one sitting, all the way through- in a long time. Coulda swore I posted last night...
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Thanks Disco Dave and Bryan! Just got 3 more!
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I got the 2 this morning and went out to cut firewood. I came back and about 15 yellow beaks flew over my head. I went about my business and when done went in the house. I look out the sliding glass door and about 10 Yellow beaks are on a duck coop 15 yards away. I take aim at the best shot, squeeze and TWO dropped ;D
Pass through on the one I was aiming at, took out the 2nd with a brain shot, same pellet :D.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/0215161515-02_zpscpzyeqqh.jpg)
Then a few minutes later 3 of them were back on the same coop. I hd a clear shot at this one and took it. Both shots for 3 birds were 15 yards.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/0215161545-001_zpsljyotylw.jpg)
And a group shot, in my now decoy bush :o
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/0215161548-001_zpsj2mrzwvr.jpg)
I'll see if any more show their lil yellow beaks :D
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Nice double Tom!
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Thanks Jerry!
Just got number 6 for the day :D
Standing offhand 15 yard shot. The wind died down, and the POP was quite satisfying on this one ;D
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u215/stonykill/0215161703-01_zps2hemjhi8.jpg)
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Great shooting and pics brother, digging the decoy tree hehe. Ed
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Nice shooting!! Does the decoy bush work?
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Great shooting and pics brother, digging the decoy tree hehe. Ed
Thanks Ed! You know, a couple of starlings in the area always seems to make more land in the area. So I figured it wouldn't hurt, and the cats down the road didn't care if they were fresh or starting to freeze. They enjoy them either way.
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Nice shooting!! Does the decoy bush work?
Not sure. But this morning I saw the 1st one of the year. Then a 2nd. Killed them, put them in the tree and probably saw 4 or 5 groups of 6 to 15 per group fly in throughout the day. Usually when I was armed with a chainsaw :o . So did it work or was it coincidence ? Couldn't tell you. But I have noticed in the past, that when a few starlings come in, more follow.
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Nice shooting!! Does the decoy bush work?
Not sure. But this morning I saw the 1st one of the year. Then a 2nd. Killed them, put them in the tree and probably saw 4 or 5 groups of 6 to 15 per group fly in throughout the day. Usually when I was armed with a chainsaw :o . So did it work or was it coincidence ? Couldn't tell you. But I have noticed in the past, that when a few starlings come in, more follow.
Guess it probably does not hurt to try. ;D
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Nawww, that decoying stuff doesn't work. I went to the woods and acted like a NUT for about three hours. Nothing!
Jokes aside, I know decoys work well for birds and some quadrupeds; but I have not heard of anyone trying decoys for squirrels - food yes, but decoys, no.
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Nawww, that decoying stuff doesn't work. I went to the woods and acted like a NUT for about three hours. Nothing!
Jokes aside, I know decoys work well for birds and some quadrupeds; but I have not heard of anyone trying decoys for squirrels - food yes, but decoys, no.
It seems a Camera works :D
https://www.facebook.com/Break/videos/10153922854917792/ (https://www.facebook.com/Break/videos/10153922854917792/)
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"Nutter Video Productions" presents . . . .
Thanks for sharing with us, Tom; it was worth the time it took to view it.
Note to self: Tether the camera!
Note #2: Have pellet rifle handy. ;)
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"Nutter Video Productions" presents . . . .
Thanks for sharing with us, Tom; it was worth the time it took to view it.
Note to self: Tether the camera!
Note #2: Have pellet rifle handy. ;)
That was fun. Of course I mainly noticed the nutter rich environment there. They were everywhere
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Nawww, that decoying stuff doesn't work. I went to the woods and acted like a NUT for about three hours. Nothing!
Jokes aside, I know decoys work well for birds and some quadrupeds; but I have not heard of anyone trying decoys for squirrels - food yes, but decoys, no.
It seems a Camera works :D
https://www.facebook.com/Break/videos/10153922854917792/ (https://www.facebook.com/Break/videos/10153922854917792/)
Funny :D
If it was a cell phone I wonder if he would have dropped it if you rang it...
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nice double on the starling I got a double pigeon before. Have to dive 2 miles to find the nearest starling wish they stayed all yearlong
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nice double on the starling I got a double pigeon before. Have to dive 2 miles to find the nearest starling wish they stayed all yearlong
Thanks! They only stop here when it snows. I have seen them pass overhead the last 2 afternoons, but they just kept flying.
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If I were you I would go over to the farms and shoot them. Around my house any one that lands doesn't make it out. Same with the red squirrels. The starlings and grackles every once in a while they'll be in my chicken duck quail or turkey pens. After they land they get a pellet to there head.
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Good shooting Tom!
It's true. The Starlings don't land on my lawn or by the bait pile either unless it is snowing or it's extremely cold.
I put some cat food out today and not 1 yellow beak showed up. It was in the mid-30's. We got 3" of snow a few days ago but it all melted during the night and early the next day when it hit 54deg and rained :(
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Thanks Harry! I never realized you lived so close to me. Close by NY Standards. Follow the TSP north to the last exit, and I'm 6 miles from there.
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You are pretty far from me. How far north does the Taconic go? Columbia or Rensselaer county? I have used the TSP a lot but only in Westchester and Putnam.
Harry
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You are pretty far from me. How far north does the Taconic go? Columbia or Rensselaer county? I have used the TSP a lot but only in Westchester and Putnam.
Harry
Columbia county. You are pretty far south in the Hudson Valley then. I'm at the other end of it. About 30 miles east from Hudson.
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Still alive and well and killing critters. Just been busy.
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Good to see your still kicking about bro. ;) Ed
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I can relate to that
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I miss reading about your hunts, friend
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Thanks. Some day life will slow back down an I'll write about my adventures again
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You said that 2 years ago :) Hope all is well.
Harry
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Too busy to post a hunt can be a good thing, too. Hope it means business is good. I'll be waiting for that next hunt, though.
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Too busy to post a hunt can be a good thing, too. Hope it means business is good. I'll be waiting for that next hunt, though.
Business is booming. My hunts lately are "look, there is a woodchuck". Stalk, kill, move on. Just busy, which is good.
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This is all before my time on the forum, but it is fun reading.