The Hunting Gods are angry...

[Jonesin]

First off I'd like to thank all that served in the Armed Forces. You deserve more than I can give. Happy Veterans Day.

So, today I had off for Vets Day so I thought I'd do a bit of hunting since it's been a month or so. Loaded up the Big Cat and my gear and off I went to the "local" WMA (an hour drive) in Skyline. I didn't get out of the house until 8am or so and drove on up. Passed the first parking area and there were 6 cars...not a good sign. Got to the second area and there were 8 cars. What the heck, I drove all this way, let's do it. Decided to hunt in some lowlands along a creek I have been wanting to check out. I saw the first squirrel within 10 minutes of me getting there while walking the woods line. Stalked to within 40 yds of where I thought he was last and set up camp. About 30 minutes or so had passed and I hear the faint crunch of gravel in the parking are and a couple car doors slam. No biggie. Then I hear some bells about 5 minutes later sounding like a miniature Salvation Army person at Christmas. I soon hear loud talking and laughter. GAH! Next thing I hear is loud them busting the brush about 75 yards off...seems a couple guys want to do some grouse/woodcock hunting in my general area. First bad sign. I get up and walk off.

Right now there are 3 different seasons going on...black powder, archery and small game which is the reason for all the cars and hunters. As I'm heading up the mountain I see a hunter walking out to my left. I head out to the right to avoid him and stalk up a path towards the Appalachian Trail at the top of the mountain.

About 15 minutes into my slow walk (not slow stalk, I was slow walking) I hear a nutter bark to my right about 50 yds off. I spot a tulip poplar with seeds still in the trees. I set up and not 2 minutes later notice a nutter. I take a shot...and MISS. I know what tree he's in and he doesn't boogie out so I set up. About 10 minutes later I see a head. Take a shot and MISS. Now I start cussing in my head. I wait another 45 minutes and he doesn't give me another shot.

Back to the path. I slow walk and spot a chipper within 20 yards. I take aim and...MISS. WTH? I am REALLY cussing silently at this point. Reload and continue to slow walk. I hear activity about 15 minutes into my walk and set up. About 20-30 minutes later I sight another nutter and take aim for the chest, not wanting to take chances, and MISS. Now I am totally P.O.'d. I pick a spot on a tree about 35yds out and shoot three shots. See pics below. I was aiming dead center of that circle. I walk the mile or so back to my car and consider my .22 Marlin but decide to call it a day. Stop off at my local 7-11 to pick up beer and notice Busch in RealTree Camo and buy that to try and please the Gods.


Cliff

[dk1677]

Nice day in the woods anyway, sorry your hunt was a bust. Offhand shots? could be hold or scope

[Froghunter]

Cliff,

I had issues about to weeks ago. I rezeroed and connected the last to shots on squirrels. I'm still kind of knew to this AG thing and try to shoot it every other day to see how it shoots.

Good Luck and enjoyed your post of your hunt and enjoy your cold one!

Froghunter

[Atchman2]

Just some advice.  I've had issues with guns that shoot well the day before and THEN when I take them out they are off!  Now I even have a light outside my house so I can zero it in the dark! I just hate to waste a day shooting a gun that I'm not confident of shooting. 

My powder burner gives me heck all the time. It is a LOT harder to zero that bad boy.

[Jonesin]

Nice day in the woods anyway, sorry your hunt was a bust. Offhand shots? could be hold or scope

Nope. That was rested with a firm, but light, hold (the way I usually shoot to zero in). You can tell the group is pretty small as that circle is about the size of a nutters head. Any time I've had issues with my hold the spread has been pretty large. I did blame myself at first but after those 3 test shots...well...I don't think it was me.

I checked all the scope screws and the loctite is still holding. The last time I was out I missed from pretty close as well but don't have an area I can shoot every day, or even every week, as I live in a townhouse community. I am heading out to my parents for Thanksgiving so I can check the zero there and also sight in my 890.

I did, at one point, "hear" Atch in my head as I was making the long walk off the mountain say "Should have had the scatter gun!"

Now my confidence in the gun is shot as the last time I had a good day I took 3 in about 20 minutes with all head shots at about 30-35yds. This was my "go to" gun as I prefer the .22 and none of my others are sighted in at this time. Should be a fun Thanksgiving.

Cliff

EDIT: Holy &^^&, I didn't even think of this until just now. This may be because of the dramatic temp difference as well. When I last sighted it in it was 70's and it was on. The past couple times I went out it was never warmer than 50. Could that 20-30 degree temp change be the reason why it's off? Just a thought to ponder. The gun was in my trunk on the ride out and it was about 72 in my house and about 40 when I got to the mountain.

[Atchman2]

Yeah, many times during the early fall I should have carried the scatter gun AND the air gun.  That way I can have it both ways.   When I was a kid, I SO wanted one of those over under rifle/shotguns.  That way I was ready for anything. 

So you air gun manufacturers, we need a PCP top or bottom barrel and a shotgun other barrel. 

[dk1677]

Yeah, many times during the early fall I should have carried the scatter gun AND the air gun.  That way I can have it both ways.   When I was a kid, I SO wanted one of those over under rifle/shotguns.  That way I was ready for anything. 

So you air gun manufacturers, we need a PCP top or bottom barrel and a shotgun other barrel. 

  Yes Randy I remember when I was a young teen I got to shoot a 22/410 over under and it was so much fun. Could be the temp Cliff

[Jonesin]

Could be the temp Cliff

Then I would have to ask WHY! Is the metal expanding/contracting enough to pull it off a couple inches to the right and low? Or is it that it may have knocked the scope off a bit from riding in the trunk? I do have a soft sided case (Winchester case from Wally world for $14.99) that I use when transporting and I don't think I can justify a hard case for it at this point in the holidays.

I also shot the .22/.410 combo a few times when I was in my early teens. My Grandfather had one and he loved it. Me? Not so much as the .410 never seemed to "reach out" and touch when I used that lower barrel. I don't remember what the choke was set to if it had any choke at all. At the time I don't think I would have known to check the choke setting.

[Atchman2]

The newer ones you can get with Centerfire barrels and a shotgun barrel with an interchangeable choke! Of course they are about a grand.  

I'd just buy me a little Mossberg pump gun and a CF rifle for that. 

[dk1677]

I am far from an expert but from what I have read its things like the lube also that are affected by the temp. There are so many factors. Did you take any warm up shots before the hunt? Yea the things they have now Randy! 

[Atchman2]

Usually warm up shots don't group like that. They look like a ladder that finally ends at where you eventually wanted to shoot.   I'm guessing he knocked the scope. 

[Jonesin]

I gotta agree with Atch, that group is pretty consistant. I could cover that group with my thumb which rules out something loose IMHO. If the rings/scope/pivot/etc were loose I don't think it would be that tight but that was only 3 shots. There were no warm up shots before missing with 4 previous shots.

And, my Mossberg 500 .20 with 3 chokes does the trick pretty well but I didn't use it (or bring it this time)for a couple reasons. First being that I made a promise to myself to use air rifles for 100% of my small game hunting this year. Second being that I didn't want to ruin anybody else's deer hunting by blasting away but the feather hunters did that for me. That's the problem with hunting public land so close to the DC Metro area...it gets crowded during all deer seasons. Funny thing is I have NEVER seen a deer on that WMA but I have seen sign and heard them crashing off on a couple occasions.

[454 Big Block Chevy]

I would Diagnose that as Temperature differences.  Re Zero and Get back at em.  Any time the temperature changes more than 15 degrees, i double and triple check the zero.  I have shot at night, with lighted crosshairs and a flashlight, just to test how my gun will shoot in the AM.  My favorite time to snipe nutters with the CFX is First thing in the morning.  Luckily for me, that gun almost seems IMPERVIOIUS to the weather differences.  I blame that on a good proper tune.

[Jonesin]

Luckily for me, that gun almost seems IMPERVIOIUS to the weather differences.  I blame that on a good proper tune.

You had to throw that one out there, didn't ya? Just kidding, bro. I am seriously leaning towards either temps or I knocked the thing off in my trunk. Either way, I will be spending a bit of time with her on Thanksgiving. The 890 will take a backseat but will getting a proper sighting as well. The Walther will have to wait as it's going to my Pops for Christmas and I don't want him to see it.

Thanks to all for the input. I was so p.o.'d yesterday I really didn't think about how nice it was to be in the woods again. Even if it was crowded, I had a good time but I didn't realize it until today.