Funny how things change!

[superchikn]

Was out shooting my D 34P .177 all weekend and some others but this one the most.  It is my newest and my best shooter.  I was working on the trigger and trying different pellets, and holds and even added weight to the stock so i could move the balance point.  I shoot at 30 yds behind my house.  My backstop is the steep bank on the other side of the creek.  Critters walk in front of my targets all the time pretty much oblivious to my shooting.

I almost always line up on them if for no other reason than to watch them through the available magnification of my scope. 

Change number one is that when I was young and dumb nothing would have made it past without my taking a shot. 

So now I watch and consider taking the shot often.  This becomes especially difficult when after punching so much paper and hearing critters all around and thinking to myself where is that little guy, I'll shoot it?  and nothing...

So I finally spotted a squirrel sitting on a branch making a ton of ruckus gnawing on a black walnut.  I had a great shot at 50 yds.  He sat there forever.  Used to be I would have downed him cause I could.  nope did not need to.

So yesterday I'm shooting 3/8 to 1/2" green cherry tomatoes from the vines I had hung on my target frame having a ball impressing the heck out of myself convincing myself I should starting the target contests and here comes another nutter with a black walnut in his mouth as big as his noggin' on the grass within a few feet of my targets.  He even sat up and watched me.  Easy score.  Better yet shoot the walnut out of his mouth.  That should really blow his mind.  And what the heck I've been shooting dimes and better all weekend so this was a no brainer.

Well as I sat there and readied to pull the trigger on what I though would be an hysterical prank on a silly squirrel I relaxed my finger and continued to watch him through my Hammers scope until he mosied on along. 

Used to be I would have not thought about the flier or whatever other potential mishap was about to happen, would not have cared at some point either. 

Now I'm not saying I wont go hunt them or other game.

I'm not saying that starlings and Hosps are safe,  I have gotten rid of several hosps this year.  I have dispatched a half dozen striped rats for my parents which were eating everything in sight a month or so ago.  Although I would rather not take any more because I have always like chipmunks.

My neighbor has asked me to remove a few groundhogs from his property which I will do.

I have tried stunts somewhat like the aforementioned and ended up injuring animals which I then had to kill.  I do not wish to do that and I am glad I have finally gotten to the point where I think things through first.  At least some of the dumb things.

Still think it would have been hysterical to see the look on that squirrels face as I shot the nut out of his mouth.

Oh well I am a pretty good shot with my wristrocket pro and paintballs.  No scope though

[Luis Leon]

Many years ago I did shoot a black walnut out of a red squirrels mouth with my HWK77, he was like hey!! I was younger and dumber, I wouldn’t do it today, you live and learn not to do dumb stuff.

[superchikn]

That is pretty funny.  I'd love to see it but I'll just picture it in my head.

Wait...

[ranchibi]

Ray, you have what I would call wonderful ethics .

[superchikn]

Randall,
That is kind of you to say but I think you are giving me more credit than I deserve.  But I do believe I am a better person than I once was, as can be said for most people.

I think it is neat to have those moments where you realize you just did not do something stupid that you used to would have just done.  I do still do dumb stuff but like most of us I don't do as much of the same dumb stuff as I used to do.

As the late comedian Mitch Hedberg said, "I used to do dumb stuff! I still do dumb stuff... but I used to too!"  He said drugs but the line is great.

Oh well.

[Pelly]

Superchikn,

Good for you! Nice to hear an alternative to all that frenzied sciurine killing.

Pelly

[lizzie]

What a nice story! Thank you!

I've been friends with MANY a'hunter over the years, and for the most part, they had strong ethics about hunting. There were a couple of them, though, that on into older age, just had the "urge" to kill something. I don't guess I'll ever understand that, and it doesn't change the way I feel about them, but it just seems so thoughtless. In spite of the fact that I kill S&S, I can't say that I enjoy it I just do it because for my purposes, it is a necessity.
On the upside, I have found that starlings is excellent table fare!

[AG72]

Going totaly oftopic here, but Mitch Hedberg is one of my all time favorite comedians! So many funny things came out of his drugged brain, here is one: - I find that ducks' opinion of me is very much influenced by whether or not I have bread. I love that one! Here is a page with a bunch of his oneliners: http://www.citypages.com/arts/50-great-mitch-hedberg-jokes-on-what-wouldve-been-his-50th-birthday/475053443
Crazy that it´s almost 14 years since he died...

[Potpie]

It is funny how things change Ray I love your story and I to have done my fair share of dumb stuff but now at 67 I find that shooting paper has a greater appeal then shooting at any thing live.I still keep the chipmunk and skunk population down around the house but other then that its steel and paper for me.Still cant help but think about the look on that squirrels face if you had made the shot.Any way great story   

[superchikn]

Ya know the thing is I still want to shoot live targets,  guess that inner desire/need comes from cave man days and the need to eat.  I just talk myself out of it at the last minute because I do not need to do it.  Not just because I can.

Which reminds me... you know the origin of the word vegetarian right?  Old indian term for "Bad hunter"!