Trying to stay sane

[shadow]

without having the GTA forum to ease the heavy load of each day,go hunting. It's been pretty slow in the hunting department here with the off and on rain and between tunes I would sneak away to hunt before the lovely Wife grabbed me for a honey do project. The  G-hog's are pretty twitchy this year cause when there out it's grab a quick bite and dash back to the den. I did spot a a half a dozen baby G-Hog's  around a barn that's in the "no kill zone" but I know that they breed there every year then momma kick's the youngsters out and the cross the road to to my private hunting grounds to house up in the empty dens here, just a matter of time. Last night looked promising with no rain in the forecast for the evening so I loaded up the hunting gear and grabbed the Trail NP since she's been screaming to hunt again. By 9:00pm I was set up with the trail lamp's mounted and lite and me in the the hide sipping on a cup of my favorite Java blend, good to be in the wood's again. Several hours had passed without any action but that was about to change when out of the darkness appeared a young Bandit. With the NP already in position I just slowly dropped in behind the glass to get a better look at this fella and I could clearly see that he was a young one with his not so bushy tail and fur coloring. He had stopped just past the first lamp and was giving me a beauty of a frontal shot as he sniffed the night air for possible food or danger. The cross hairs were already locked onto front and center of his skull and danger had already left the NP's barrel in the form of FTS. The sound of a solid hit echoed in the night and the Bandit dropped right to his belly but without a death dance. This one just tucked his head into his chest and shook for a moment then slowly rolled onto his side and expired. I took a second from watching him through the glass and reloaded then made my way out of the hide and down the game trail keeping a sharp eye on him since he went down so fast. I arrived at the harvest and gave him several "are you playing possum pokes" but by the look's of the almost perfect third eye and the blood coming from his ear I knew that I had shut down the fuse box. It was going to be a fairly early night I thought as I gloved up and went to set him up for some pic's. It worked out perfectly since it just started to rain so I grabbed the scope cover's stuck them on then gave the shooter a quick wipe down then quickly shot some pic's. I went into double time mode as the rain was getting ready to really cut loose I stuffed the harvest in the game bag stowed the NP and shut the lamps off then high tailed it out of there. I made it out of the pitch black wood's with my little flashlight guiding the way then across the field and to the rig, I'm out of here. By the time I had made it back home and had the shop open for dressing out the Bandit it was raining steady but no worries as I lovingly wiped down the NP and put her to bed then went to work dressing out the nice harvest. We have some light rain this morning but if it break's up I will get out and see if I can get one of those elusive G-hog's The Bandit was taken at 22yrd's with the Trail NP and Beeman FTS pellet. Ed

[ezman604]

Excellent shooting and thanks for sharing the story and photos Ed.

Happy Shooting!!!!

Dave

[shadow]

Thank you brother and it worked out nicely with me getting a harvest and GTA up and running again. Ed

[dk1677]

Nice shooting Ed! and great pix! Missed your hunts!

[shadow]

Thanks bro and with GTA down and the slow hunt's I was ready to go native lol. Ed

[Checco]

Excellent shot Ed.
Great placement.
Is that three for the NP now?

[shadow]

Thanks bro if memory serves me right I think two Bandit's and one Country Rat. Ed

[1377x]

nice shooting

[only1harry]

Ed, it seems everytime you go out looking for G-hogs you bag a coon or possum, hehe  

Nice shot on that bandit!  I think your Trail XL has paid for itself already  

Too bad it's a no-kill zone around the Barn with all those young G-hogs running around.  They will migrate away from the barn like you said when they get kicked out, and you 'll get another chance at them.  I have not spotted 1 young one yet.  I think I took all the adult ones before they had a chance to breed or give birth

Nice pics!  Keep after 'em!

[shadow]

Thanks brother's and Harry My shooter is just the Trail NP THE XL is it's big brother and more power but the NP holds it's own in the hunting field. Ed

[shadow]

and Harry I think Jeff has the big XL don't you brother Jeff?. Ed

[TheKnot]

nice pic shadow sweet gun . you mention dressing out the raccoon how do you cook them so they taste like something a first timer would eat thanks, chris

[longislandhunter]

Great shooting and harvest buddy,, great pics too....  As for the XL.... yup, I do indeed have a .22 XL.  Matter of fact just the other day I was shooting her in the backyard range switching her over from CPHP's to 18.1 gr JSB's.....  I wanted to give her a little more down range smacking power so she'll be eatin the JSB's for awhile  

Anyway, great hunt buddy,,, I love your night hunts and always look forward to them....

Jeff

[only1harry]

Sorry I forgot you have the regular NP Ed.  Yes Jeff went for the XL.  He likes the more powerful guns now, hehe.  Have you noticed how he hasn't hunted with the R9 or 34P anymore?  It's all high-power guns and PCP's now, hehehe.  Just kidding Jeff!    Look who is talking (me)?!?  

[atchman2]

Outstanding shooting and story!