Passsed on the raccoons tonight :(

[Atchman2]

I've been so looking forward to raccoon season! I put out my new lights in the trees to try ala "Shadow".  Once your eyes get adjusted there is plenty of light to shoot.  However, there just isn't enough light to film.

I went out in the garage and got my shop light I bought at Lowe's last year.  The bulb on it was burned out.  I think I remember it getting too hot in the snow.  It looks like it is burnt out anyway.  No matter a new bulb or a new light either one is pretty inexpensive.  

I sat outside for about an hour and called it quits because of the light.  I really wanted my first raccoon kill of the year to be on film.  When I came back inside I discovered I had been bitten up pretty bad by mosquitoes!  That never happened when I hunted them before, but I've never hunted them this early in the year.  

Hopefully tomorrow night, I'll have some brighter lights for filming, some bug spray, and the patience to sit out there a lot longer.  

Earlier today I cleaned up the target area of the tin cans I shoot from the porch.  I wanted some nice pictures of the hunt.  The game camera got some new batteries today and the ding donger.

I went out in the garage and grabbed my raccoon target to take a few shots at for practice. Just like before, the POI is different from the lower sniper deck versus the upper.  I also remembered I broke my fence rest.  Again out to the garage and I made a nice place to rest my arm on top of the fence and used the clamp I keep out there to hold it in place.  I grabbed a stool I use to shoot targets and put it on the deck.  It was a nice shooting location!  I re-zeroed the TF 89 for the range, It was shooting too high at that range, just like my 350 last year.  Once I got it dialed in a bit, it was making a nice ragged hole.  I'm very confident of the 89's ability to hit and take out a raccoon or possum with extreme prejudice.  

Anyway, I'll be in the woods by 7:30  tomorrow to go squirrel hunting with Justin.  I went this morning for an hour and saw LOTS of squirrels!  I knocked one down at about 30 yards.  It just crumbled up on the branch and took the death dive to the forest floor.  However, it is just SO thick there I couldn't find it!  Missed another one at point blank range. I should have aimed lower since the gun is sighted in for 20 yards.  He was barking up a storm at me!  I'll drag the video cameras along.  Hopefully I'll get some good footage.  

[Furseeker]

Ok by what time should be expect pictures of a great squirrel hunt? Better luck next time on the raccoons, I was just thinking about heading out and checking the silage pits.

[Backyardsniper1]

Good luck. This must be your week to deal with Murphy.

[only1harry]

Go get 'em Randy!  I hope you get some good video footage

BTW, when you are up very close to a squirrel or other critter, you want to aim HIGH.  Because the muzzle is lower than your scope.  The POI will always be lower, so aim high when closer than 20yds.   

[Atchman2]

I took a couple shots this morning with the air guns.  One of them I thought I hit, I saw it fall down to a lower branch but never found it.  Justin got a one with his .22 rimfire.  The trees are just SO thick I couldn't get a bead on any others.  I should have just given up with the air gun and grabbed the .20 gauge out of the car!  Next time I'm going to do that despite the fact I love air gun hunting.  There is just too much foliage right now. 

I guessing though we saw at least a dozen.  It was a rare windy day in TN so I'm sure there were others about. 

[only1harry]

I like Oct-Nov. for squirrel hunting in the woods.  A lot less leaves on the trees.
Keep going back to that spot.  You definitely got a good spot.  If you saw a dozen, then it means there are easily 50-100 squirrels there.  Don't give up on the airguns!  Lower your magnification to 6-7x. 

I know the biggest problem is getting a clear shot, but it's very important you acquire them quickly through the scope, and shoot fast when you spot one, before they move or hide.  Try to lean on a tree when taking the shot.  Last year when I went for a 3-4hr squirrel hunt as a guest on 32 wooded acres, the guy that invited me was using a B30 (48 clone) with open sights(!) and got 4x times as many squirrels and chipmunks as I did.  I was used to snipping and using higher magnification and taking my time, while he just raised the gun and took the shot within 2secs off-hand.  It then occured to me what I was doing wrong, and once I backed up the magnification which made me find them quicker, and I took the shot as soon as I had them in the crosshairs, I started getting some hits/kills.  Don't look to make a head shot in the woods, especially if you are walking around looking for them.  Just shoot them in the vitals, upper chest area, and they 'll drop, unless you are in a hide or stationary and have a rest, where the squirrel doesn't know you are there, then go for a head shot.  Squirrel hunting in the field is not easy, and can be frustrating.  If it were easy we wouldn't get much enjoyment out of it.   

[shadow]

Those Bandit's will be around waiting for you bro. Ed

[Atchman2]

I'm headed over to Lowe's after the football game to get some new light bulbs.  I found a good looking spot today to hunt raccoons and even found some raccoon scat to verify my findings! 

We are also eating chicken wings at the house.  You never know, some of them may find their way into the compost pile.......

[Atchman2]

I shouldn't have went to bed last night.  It was a critter bonanza!  Oh well there is tonight.

[Atchman2]

Wow! I should have stayed up, but I was SO tired from getting up squirrel hunting the morning before.  I put out the Game Camera the day of the start of hunting season.  Anyway, I'm well rested today so I'm going to stay up tonight and try and get one.  


First Night of Hunting Season Raccoon


Better shot


Nice Possum showed up that night too!

I did a firmware upgrade on the camera before I put it out and changed batteries.  The pictures are much better now.  


Here is my daughter's cat! My wife chunked a rotten watermelon over the fence and the cat wanted to see it if was edible.  However, it took just a nice clear picture.  

Last night I had to go to bed earlier than I really wanted. Here is what I missed out on:











Hope you guys enjoyed the pictures!  I have a new bulb in my 500 watt light.  Since it was less than $10 and bulbs cost $6, I bought a spare light too.