Wow...First Blood With A Gun...That I Didn't Know I Even Owned ! Graphic Picts

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Fellow GTA Hunters this is a hunting story that I really am at a loss to tell....Its Complicated !


First of all, I have been absent from the GTA Hunting Gate Since Last June.
My wife suddenly developed Severe Migraine Headaches and started having Neurological Seizers of an unknown origin or cause.
It has been nothing but... Doctors, Hospitals and Testing....three and four times a week..all summer long ...right up until yesterday.
The good news is that she is recovering and is about 95 % well now.  The bad news is no-one can tell us exactly what happened & WhY.
This is why none of you guys have seen me around for a while or replying to your hunting stories and posts.
Up until tonight ..I have not shot a gun either... since all of this started.

So now...with that being said...there is still more to say.
I sold my 22 Cal Benjamin Trail NPXL 1100 TODAY.... to another Hunter and GTA Member.
See this post on that > https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=162787.msg155815951#msg155815951

I had just returned from going into town, to ship this rifle, when our rural postal truck showed up at my place.
OK..Mike the postman jumps out with two boxes addressed to me that I did not order or knew were coming to me.
Right away I knew what the long box was...A GUN !  After I picked up the smaller box ..I knew what that was too..A WHOLE LOT of Pellets.

OK...Soooo.. I had just shipped a box like that ....BUT... I did not order anything !  What Is UP With This ?

So after I opened everything up there is 8 Unopened Tins of really great pellets..that I Like... in all the calibers that I own.
In the long box is a Totally "PRISTINE"   22 Cal Walther Talon Magnum Spring Piston Rife
Plus Two Hunting Gunstocks that will fit some of my other guns.
Plus a NICE 22 Cal Barrel that will fit my 25 Cal Hatsan Vortex Edge Rifle

WOW.!  Somebody Knows ME ..Really Good !   More Like... Reading My Mind...Type Good !

You Guys All Know ..SteveP-52...Right ?   MR Hatsan... Himself !


Well... HE ...GAVE Me ..all of this !!!   ...and Right out of the Blue too !

Stunned and Amazed I was !   Really Stunned and Amazed !   And Very Thankful and Greatfull Too !

This was Great Kindness and Generosity that I just did not expect today !


OK..so now to the Hunting Part of this story.
It is 2:15 am right now and around 1:00 am...I gets out of bed because I can not sleep..because of ALL OF THIS ..AND.. THAT NEW GUN.
I can't stand it any more so I goes down stairs and out into my garage and start shooting this Walther Talon Magnum into the woods out back and at a spinner, that I have set up, out there at around 25 yards.  I did not have the flood lights on but I do have a security light on to sorta light up the dark backyard.
Well I get about 5 shots off wth this gun, that I have never shot before, and out from the shadows comes a raccoon.
OK..I've got my 2 hunting licenses ( one State and one Treaty Of 1864 Tribal) and it is hunting season but I don't normally hunt in my backyard.
I do THAT.............way out in the woods....... under Fair Chase Conditions.
I think about it some and come to the conclusion that This Is Fair Chase....Kinda...Sorta..Maybe.
I will be shooting a gun and pellet that I am not familiar with.. under low light conditions at night.. with Open Iron Sights.. at 25 Yards.
The Raccoon can Fully see Me and What I am doing and my Movements.  It is not running away... nor is it... one bit scared of me either.
In fact.. it is taking up a challenge position on me ..in my own backyard.
So my decision is to either pull the trigger..or close the door and park the new rifle for the night.
The problem is ..this rifle is a Spring Piston Rifle and not a gas ram gun. Parking the gun for the night ..loaded... is not the best idea... for this new spring ...in this new gun.
But THE Thing that was bothering me the most was....I Really Don't Like Being Chased Out Of MY Own Backyard.. by some Ornery Raccoon.

So I loaded up the Walther Talon Magnum from my brand new tin of JSB EXACT 22 Cal 18.13Gr Domed Hunting Pellets and took an off-hand shot.

The light was not good but I could see the shine of its eyes real well and I could see the the True Glow Irons Sights very well.

The raccoon put its paws on a tree out in my backyard and exposed the top back of his head to me

I lined up this off-hand shot... aiming for ...the center top of his head ...and connected with a well placed killing shot.

The shot was slightly off center (of my aiming point)....I got to practice with this new gun.

It was...One Shot   -   One Kill.  -   Dead Right There.


Well guys..thats how my day went today..,.How About You Day  ?   


Best Wishes - Tom

[Tater]

Glad to see you back Tom, sorry to hear about your wife's health issues. Keep us posted.

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Nice shot. I just scored me a trash panda too. No where near as graphic as you lol, but a 1377 with 14" .22 barrel and 15~ feet distance.... got some good advice in chat, i didnt have to rely on luck to hit em the eye socket like the previous lucky kills. He/they need to stop fishing in or pond.

Skeeeets

Thank You fir your reply.

The Really Graphic Picture... was the ...THE EXIT Wound.   WOW.

I thought that one would have been a little ....Too MUCH ...to Post.


Best Wishes - Tom

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Glad to see you back Tom, sorry to hear about your wife's health issues. Keep us posted.

Jerry

Thank You for your very kind words and your reply.

I'll keep you posted on my wife's condition.


Best Wishes - Tom

[Airspace]

Hey Tom, great to hear the good news about your wife. Hoping she continues on the rapid road to good health.
Remembering the package you were in town shipping? I told you that Karma would recognize your good deed and reward you well. Enjoy the new rifle and make memoirs with it.

[buddyb]

Wow, that's outstanding Tom, good for you. That's quite the story and your generosity was returned 10 fold.

I can't wait for mine to arrive... and on my wife's birthday too 

[Bicycleman]

Tom, I am so happy our prayers were heard by Him.  Your Mrs. needs to take care to get back to 100%.  Our ladies are so very valuable.
The new rifle and supply of pellets are an early Christmas present for what you and your Mrs. have been through recently.  Too bad for the raccoon.   
Welcome back and I will be watching for more hunting posts.

[ssbn617]

Tom,
  Wonderful story. Just knowing I am in company with people like Steve makes me be able to hold my head a little higher, and allows me to tolerate all the not so nice people out there.
Good health to your wife.
Mitch

[Insanity]

Nice shot and glad to hear your wife is doing better.

[Luis Leon]

Tom, I sorry to hear about your wife. Wishing you the best. Prayers sent. May she continue to get better.

[Wayne52]

Big congrats on the Bandit with your new rifle from Steve (wow that was super of him to send you all that nice stuff)!!!  It's good to hear about your wife doing much better and welcome back

[Hoosier Daddy]

Great story and nice shot Tom.
Glad the Mrs. is on the mend too.
WELCOME BACK!

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Wow, that's outstanding Tom, good for you. That's quite the story and your generosity was returned 10 fold.

I can't wait for mine to arrive... and on my wife's birthday too 

Thanks Buddy.   Lets tell the Gang here about Your New Gun...!     

Hey Guys....I would like to introduce you all to.....Buddy !   



He is the guy that just bought my 22 Cal Benjamin Trail NPXL 1100 Magnum Rifle.
Remember..that is the one that I did a lot of the "Damage With" over the last couple of years.
Buddy is a fairly new member here and a Highly Seasoned Bow Hunter.
I look forward to seeing HIS posts here Too ....With His New Gun !   

Give This Guy... A Big GTA Welcome... to Our Hunting Gate.......Why-Don't-Ya !



Here are the Pictures of the Gun That He Bought from Me !
>  https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=162787.msg155815951#msg155815951



Best Wishes - Tom

[ranchibi]

Tom, so glad to have you back and to know your beautiful wife is feeling better! That is a heart warming story about your new rifle and pellets! Even better is the late nite snipe on that ornery coon! Great shot, smart thinking not to have that spring loaded over night 😉👍. I hope the doctors figure out her medical issue!

[wll2506]

Tom,

A great story and a great shot too.

Most importantly is your wife is getting getter ... I'm happy for her and you.

wll

[only1harry]

Tom, I am really glad your wife is doing better!   Now you can start hanging out here again  

Nice shot on the bandit with open sights!  Its behavior was unacceptable and your action justified.

Members here are the best.  There are a lot of stories like yours.  For ex. I helped a member here a long time ago with his Condor, and next thing I know I get a 66cf 4500 tank in the mail manufactured less than a year before!  Many stories like that..  I am glad you got to experience the "GTA spirit" and generosity.

Harry

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

OK..Gang..and fellow GTA Hunters !

Here are a few recent pictures that I took in Daylight.

The show the Pristine Walther Talon Magnum Rifle and the tree where I shot the Raccoon at.

You can see things a little better in this pictures because they were taken this morning and NOT At 2:00 Am in the Dark. 

I am really impressed with this rifle that SteveP-52 gave me.

It is not the CANNON that I just sold Buddy ( buddyb)  but it it still has plenty of power and is fairly accurate too.

Not as accurate as buddy's New 22 Cal Benjamin Trail NPXL 1100 ....

but I'll make it as good as I can get it to ......just like I did Buddy's Rifle.

The Walther is about 8 1/2 pounds un-scoped and has very good open sights.

It is made for Walther by Hatsan and is real close to being a 125 Magnum with the Quatro Trigger and such.

I guess that I now have to look for a suitable scope for this new rig....Decisions...Decisions...Decisions.....

All it takes is MONEY...Right ?   


Best Wishes - Tom

[35 shooter]

Tom,

Sorry to hear your wife has had such a bad time this year... glad things are better and will pray for her full recovery.

Congrats on the new rifle from Steve and the good shot on that coon! What a way to start the season!

You gave a fantastic deal to a member here and recieved an even more fantastic package in return... enjoy that new rifle.

I continue to be amazed at the character of folks on this site... makes one proud to be a member here!

[Relentless Holiday]

Great shot Tom, First blood.  It was great what you did for that guy, I saw that few days ago.

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Hey Tom, great to hear the good news about your wife. Hoping she continues on the rapid road to good health.
Remembering the package you were in town shipping? I told you that Karma would recognize your good deed and reward you well. Enjoy the new rifle and make memoirs with it.

Guy

Thank You !     You were Sooo Right about Karma ! 


Best Wishes - Tom