GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: longislandhunter on November 08, 2015, 08:43:02 PM
-
My Disco .177 had a damaged valve stem and was leaking air so today I took the time to completely disassemble the rifle, replace the valve, replace all the old seals and give everything a good cleaning. After putting her all back together I took her outside to my 30 yard backyard range and got her sighted dead on with the GAMO Hunter pellets that she loves so much. She performed beautifully so I decided to take a drive down the road to my favorite squirrel woods and let her hunt.
It was 3 pm when I got out of my truck and entered the woods so I had less than 2 hours to hunt, but these woods have a very healthy supply of nutters so I was confident I'd get a few shots. Sure enough, I hadn't got 100 feet down the trail when I noticed some movement ahead of me. A good sized grey bolted across the path and scampered up a large maple tree. It took me a few minutes to locate him up at the top of the tree but I had a clear view of the side of his head so I sent a Gamo Hunter on it's way. It struck home with a POP and down came nutter #1 :) Here's a couple of pics of the nutter and the woods where I nailed him....
(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/longislandhunter/Nov%208%202015%209_zpsnunbtaff.jpg) (http://s114.photobucket.com/user/longislandhunter/media/Nov%208%202015%209_zpsnunbtaff.jpg.html)
(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/longislandhunter/Nov%208%202015%2010_zps7wcjw3c8.jpg) (http://s114.photobucket.com/user/longislandhunter/media/Nov%208%202015%2010_zps7wcjw3c8.jpg.html)
(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/longislandhunter/Nov%208%202015%203_zpshcqj4bfx.jpg) (http://s114.photobucket.com/user/longislandhunter/media/Nov%208%202015%203_zpshcqj4bfx.jpg.html)
I put him in the game pouch and headed off to find another. I slowly made my way over to a section of the woods that has a large stand of black walnut trees, knowing that the nutters have been routinely feeding there. The trees gave off a massive walnut harvest this year and the nutters have been hanging there for weeks feasting on the walnuts. Sure enough as I entered the woods I spotted a young grey feeding on the ground. I leaned up against a tree and waited for a shot. A short time later he scampered up a tree and sat on a low limb giving me a perfect head shot. Pellet away...... nutter #2 lying on the forest floor....
(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/longislandhunter/Nov%208%202015%205_zpsim1mqhap.jpg) (http://s114.photobucket.com/user/longislandhunter/media/Nov%208%202015%205_zpsim1mqhap.jpg.html)
(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/longislandhunter/Nov%208%202015%204_zpslveepehj.jpg) (http://s114.photobucket.com/user/longislandhunter/media/Nov%208%202015%204_zpslveepehj.jpg.html)
Into the game pouch and headed off to see if I could find a 3rd one. I hunted slowly through the woods as the sun started to set and as I was heading back to my truck, only about 15 minutes of legal shooting light remaining, I spotted a grey about 50 yards ahead of me on the forest floor. I started closing the distance but he spotted me and raced for a huge pine tree, quickly climbing to the very top. I lost him in the cluster of branches and needles, but after a few minutes of carefully scanning each limb through my scope I suddenly spotted his eye looking at me :) The Gamo Hunter hit true and down he came, hitting the forest floor with a "thud". Here's some pics of #3 and some pics of all 3 together......
(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/longislandhunter/Nov%208%202015%202_zpsv3uvx1ro.jpg) (http://s114.photobucket.com/user/longislandhunter/media/Nov%208%202015%202_zpsv3uvx1ro.jpg.html)
(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/longislandhunter/Nov%208%202015%201_zpsc5rvnxf2.jpg) (http://s114.photobucket.com/user/longislandhunter/media/Nov%208%202015%201_zpsc5rvnxf2.jpg.html)
(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/longislandhunter/Nov%208%202015%2011_zpsxe6qighc.jpg) (http://s114.photobucket.com/user/longislandhunter/media/Nov%208%202015%2011_zpsxe6qighc.jpg.html)
(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/longislandhunter/Nov%208%202015%2012_zpspmkny369.jpg) (http://s114.photobucket.com/user/longislandhunter/media/Nov%208%202015%2012_zpspmkny369.jpg.html)
I got out of the woods just as the sun was setting, made my way home and cleaned my harvest. The disco performed beautifully after her maintenance and 3 nutter meals in the freezer.. just doesn't get any better. ;D
Hope you like the pics.
Jeff
-
Good hunt. 3 meals?
Richard
-
Thanks Richard. Yeah, 3 meals :) 1 nutter fried up with some "sides" makes a perfect sized lunch for me :)
I used to be able to devour 2 or 3 ..... and probably still could if I force myself, but 1 good sized fried nutter along with some "add ons" will make me happy nowadays :)
Jeff
-
Great story and pictures!!
Oh, and great shooting!! :D
-
Nice ones Jeff! Congrats! Enjoy!
-
Sounds like great fun. I have not squirrel hunted in a few years but plan to get out there with my Hatsan soon and have some fun too. Bill
-
That is how you do it. Well done.
-
Nice shooting and pics. I like the wood on that Disco.
-
Thanks guys. Yeah, I love the stock on that gun. It is one of the older, original discos. They used to have really nice stocks on them. My later version .22 disco is just as good a shooter but the stock is a completely different, very plain type of wood that to me is just "blah" in appearance.
I have a doctors appt. tomorrow morning but I'm gonna try and get back out in the woods in the afternoon and stalk some more nutters :)
Jeff
-
Outstanding brother and good to see you get out there and harvest some vittles. Super pics too and the area looks varmint rich too. Ed
-
Jeff, well done. I always enjoy seeing pictures of the guns everyone is proud to show off. I always try to include my hunting tools when it comes to picture taking.
What time did you say the meal would be served? 🍽 😉
-
That is such a pretty place to walk in for squirrels, nice shooting, thanks for sharing.
-
Excellent shooting, pics and story Jeff! I bet it feels great to return to the woods and let them know the sheriff is back in town :) It looks like you got your .177 Disco in great shape with the 'tune-up' and shooting really well.
The 2nd .22 Disco I got earlier this year has a very plain stock too, and it's also rough to the touch. It's going to need a lot of work. Another project to add to the long list.
Looking forward to your next hunt.
Harry
Harry
-
Thanks guys.
JEff
-
Harry, take off the old finish and see what is underneath. My wood is blond and has some grain.