Took a forty year old friend hunting for the first time in a long time :)

[Atchman2]

This morning my wife didn't feel like hanging out too much so I pulled on my clothes and went to "The Bluff" to hunt again.  My RWS 350 was upstairs from the night hunt (that I didn't do), but I didn't want to lug it up and down the ridges and steep hills.  

At first I considered my Gamo Whisper.  It is light, accurate, and easily capable of taking a squirrel.  My other thought was my 20 gauge.    I wasn't in the mood to clean half a dozen squirrels so I left it at home.  Then my eyes ran down the rack and there she is-my forty year old Sheridan Blue Streak!  Light, accurate, and powerful, plus I don't have to deal with holding it "just right".  

I grabbed it, and a small hunting bag and set off to "The Bluff".  Now I'm almost ashamed to say that I shot at no less than SIX squirrels and saw many more. None of them were easy shots and the leaves are just SO thick.  A couple of times I had squirrels pinned against the real bluff and they simply went down over it!  I was thinking I had them but I forget they can climb down too.  

I shot more today than I've shot in a long time.  The Blue Streak is just SO much easier to carry than my heavy springers!  Since I hadn't shot it in awhile, I came back home and aimed at a target I had in the backyard. Bullseye!  Next shot-Bullseye!.  Yeap, it was me.  

I have my Gamo squirrel setup right now with the smallest diopter at about 12 yards.  I pumped up the Sheridan and shot-down it went.  Now I know for certain it was me.  

Had a great time anyway.  If I would have had the 20 gauge I would have been cleaning at least 10 squirrels (a limit in TN).  Oh well, it was fun to get out and hunt with an "old friend".  

Last night, the ding donger was going off like crazy, but I was being a good husband.  My wife let me go squirrel hunting earlier in the night and it was all I could do to keep from leaping up and going outside.  

Fortunately, it went off during a commercial, so I got up to take a peek while she went to get a drink.  As I opened the door there were shadows running everywhere!  I saw at least four shapes that I figure were some coons and maybe a possum.  Since I had my coyote camo on I reached in my pocket and grabbed out my "Coon Squaller".  HOLY COW!  THREE coons charged back into the clearing ready for a fight!  DARN! My NV camera was off, my gun was inside.  All I could do was enjoy the show.  

Last night was garbage night for half of the subdivision.  I should have known to stay up all night hunting as the coons and possums were out in force.  

Here are some game camera shots at least.  One of the possums looks just like Possumzilla from last year!  It is HUGE!  Maybe he did get a chance to spread his seed.  


One of the coons I scared.   The rest were moving too fast for the camera to catch.  It has a 30 second delay.  


Here he is!  Son of Possumzilla! He is a monster sized possum!  I couldn't believe it when I saw him from the deck last night.  I didn't even need to look through my scope to see this dude.  

A couple more visitors.

[longislandhunter]

Another great post Randy and I love those night critter pics 

Don't let those missed shots with the Sheridan bug ya, it happens to us all.  I'm a firm believer that a good humbling experience is good for us all once in a while.  I get such experiences all the time  

I too have a Blue Streak down in the gun safe.  It was the very first adult air rifle I ever bought.  I saved up my allowance money for a long time, along with any money I could earn from odd jobs around the neighborhood.  When I finally had enough money my mom walked me down to the sporting goods store in town and purchased the rifle for me.  I remember that day like it was just yesterday.  I was 12 years old and I'm 53 now so that makes my rifle 41 years old.   I can still feel the smile on my face as the guy behind the counter reached across and handed me the box   My Blue Streak shoots as hard and straight today as it did 41 years ago.  I don't shoot it much but you know what ?  Your post has inspired me and when small game season opens up she's going hunting !    Thanks for the post Randy, brought back a flood of memories.

BTW.. with all those nutters up on that ridge I sincerely respect you sir for resisting the "easy path" and breaking out that 20 gauge shotgun 

Jeff

[shadow]

As brother Jeff said we've all been there we want to think that the shooter is off but then do some target testing when we get home and realize it's the shooter behind the shooter. Great pic's of the night critters now Zen up and get after em. Ed

[Atchman2]

I would fill the freezer in one day with the 20 gauge!  I can't wait for some of the leaves to fall!  Then the temptation won't be so bad to break it out!  

I got my Blue Streak for Christmas.  My dad got me a Crossman .22 pump of some sort.  It had a crooked barrel!  When we returned it the store manager felt sorry for us since he didn't have another one.  Instead he offered the Blue Streak he had as a show model and all we had to do is buy the pellets for it!  

One of these days I'm going to hand that gun down to my son Moses.  Pretty soon he'll be big enough to carry it I think.  Maybe he'll be posting on here when that Blue Streak is 80!  

[Atchman2]

As brother Jeff said we've all been there we want to think that the shooter is off but then do some target testing when we get home and realize it's the shooter behind the shooter. Great pic's of the night critters now Zen up and get after em. Ed

Not a question of "zen" up. It is a question of staying up!    The day hunting is killing me running up and down these steep ridges.  I'm so tired from that that I can't stay awake for night hunting!  On the good side, my metabolism is up and I'm losing weight! 

Tomorrow I have to be on the road by 6:30.  I have a coyote infestation case in Middle Tennessee.  This guy raises Rat Terriers and the coyotes have killed one of them.  I'm bringing the cameras tomorrow too!  I'm buying one of his puppies for my aunt.   Sorry no airguns for that!  It is illegal to shoot coyotes with airguns in TN.  Got to be the .223 or the shotgun. 

[only1harry]

Randy, maybe you should look for some "even ground" to go squirrel hunting in?  It's ok you missed 6 squirrels.  Look at it as practice.  Your chance of getting one next time have just increased dramatically  

I 'd like to see some night critters next to some of your guns too   We 've seen lots of night pics, now show us the trophies! 

[Atchman2]

I will try tonight for awhile.  Since it is getting dark earlier the critters are out earlier. 

Six AM comes early on a Saturday!  I want to have a picture tomorrow-of my first solo coyote!

[Jonesin]

Six AM comes early on a Saturday!  I want to have a picture tomorrow-of my first solo coyote!

SO true, bro. I get up at 5:15am-5:30am on a weekdays...that is insane on the weekends but with a 10 month old he thinks 4:30am is time to get up!!

[Lochlainn]

Another great post Randy and I love those night critter pics 

Don't let those missed shots with the Sheridan bug ya, it happens to us all.  I'm a firm believer that a good humbling experience is good for us all once in a while.  I get such experiences all the time  

I too have a Blue Streak down in the gun safe.  It was the very first adult air rifle I ever bought.  I saved up my allowance money for a long time, along with any money I could earn from odd jobs around the neighborhood.  When I finally had enough money my mom walked me down to the sporting goods store in town and purchased the rifle for me.  I remember that day like it was just yesterday.  I was 12 years old and I'm 53 now so that makes my rifle 41 years old.   I can still feel the smile on my face as the guy behind the counter reached across and handed me the box   My Blue Streak shoots as hard and straight today as it did 41 years ago.  I don't shoot it much but you know what ?  Your post has inspired me and when small game season opens up she's going hunting !    Thanks for the post Randy, brought back a flood of memories.

BTW.. with all those nutters up on that ridge I sincerely respect you sir for resisting the "easy path" and breaking out that 20 gauge shotgun 

Jeff

I enjoyed your story about your first adult airgun. Makes me think back to when I got my first .410 when I was 13. It was given to me by a friend of the family who lived in a more suburban area at the time and had no use for it anymore. I felt like my whole world opened up and the woods and field behind our old farmhouse in Vermont we just waiting to be explored. I'll be 30 in Nov but I still remember it like it was almost yesterday.