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General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Hunting Gate => : Furseeker April 25, 2010, 03:06:27 PM

: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: Furseeker April 25, 2010, 03:06:27 PM
I woke up before light this morning and made a thermos full of coffee before hitting the road for an early morning dairy hunt. I can't put into words how peaceful it was to just stand next to the truck drinking coffee, watching all sorts of wildlife and listening to all sorts of birds, ducks, geese, pheasant, hawks, you name it, they were all out in force this morning.

Today instead of chasing every bird I saw I just parked the truck where I had a clear view of the corn and cotton seed piles and let the birds come to me. Now I’d much rather shoot Starlings but the diary operator changed feeds and the Starlings don’t come around much anymore. But he told me the Black birds were costing him a small fortune. I’ve seen the state fish and game guy down there and his method is rather indiscriminant, he waits until a large flock has landed and cranks of 2 or 3 shotgun blasts into the flock, effective to say the least. But I prefer to single out the males and only shoot them. The first picture showing the Blackbirds were from this morning hunt. I only retrieved about 1/3 of what I shot, I’m getting to old to climb fences to go after black birds, that’s what the tell myself when I don’t have my son to go and get them for me. The second picture is from a quick little evening hunt I did down there. I shot about 6 or 7 more blackbirds, these two Eurasian Collared Doves, and this huge black pigeon. All but one of the birds was taken with the 350 Feuerkraft Pro Compact at 45 to 50 yards. That’s about as close as any of the birds allow me to get after several months of hunting down there. It always amazes me how accurate this heavy little rifle is. Anyway enjoy the photos. And I hope everyone had as an enjoyable weekend as I did.
: Re: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: N_Strike April 25, 2010, 09:53:58 PM
Really nice shooting,it's always amazing to feel ma nature surrounding you while she lets you hide in it.
Keep blasting them,
Emi.
: Re: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: shadow April 25, 2010, 10:26:42 PM
Great story shooting and pic's Dave, like the coloring on those black bird's. Ed
: Re: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: dk1677 April 25, 2010, 11:45:08 PM
Nice shooting!
: Re: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: atchman2 April 26, 2010, 02:11:57 AM
That one bird looks almost like a parrot!  Great shooting!
: Re: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: longislandhunter April 26, 2010, 02:43:57 AM
Nice shooting and great pics.  I've never seen black birds with that coloring before, very pretty birds.   Sounds like you had a blast  :)

Jeff
: RE: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: Checco April 26, 2010, 07:52:29 AM
I agree,
I love getting up early & listening to the birds
& just being out there.
I have never seen black birds like that ether
those are so cool.
I have been getting some of those dove around my place though
they are larger than the morning doves.
Great Pictures!
Awesome hunt!
: RE: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: DougT April 26, 2010, 02:39:04 PM
Nice!!!  It's great to have your own shooting grounds that the owners welcome you.
: Re: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: atchman2 April 26, 2010, 04:16:51 PM
Those must be Utah blackbirds.  Everything is strange out there. :D
: Re: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: Wade.S April 28, 2010, 11:52:58 AM
Very nice shooting and photos.
: Re: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: Furseeker April 28, 2010, 04:02:34 PM
I had a chance to sneak back down to the dairy farm tonight. Took the 350 pro compact again and was able to score on 3 more Eurasian Collared Doves at 50 yards, and one black bird at 65 yards, then turned around and missed 3 easy shots from only 34 yards. So tell me how can I score 3 in a row from 50 and then miss 3 gimmies at just over 30 yards? Sorry about the lack of pictures but I got out on the down low, the wife and daughter went to tumbling and I was suppose to stay home and get some work done. If she caught me taking pictures the cat would be out of the bag. Anyone else have to sneak their hunts in like that?
: Re: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: longislandhunter April 29, 2010, 04:20:24 AM
Great shooting on those doves... as for the closer shots... sometimes they are the most difficult.  

Is that barbequed dove I smell  :)  LOL

Jeff
: Re: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: gamo2hammerli April 29, 2010, 08:19:58 AM
Excellent shots at those birds.  Never seen those kind of blackbirds.  Great photos too.
: RE: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: jake April 29, 2010, 02:58:53 PM
great shooting!
: RE: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: airiscool April 30, 2010, 12:16:39 AM
Great shooting Dave.

That's some colorful Black birds you have out there. Sure makes them easier to spot !!!

Sometimes, sneeking in a hunt makes it seem all the better !  :D

Paul.
: RE: Morning and evening dairy hunt.
: airiscool April 30, 2010, 03:52:27 AM
Dave,

"........one black bird at 65 yards, then turned around and missed 3 easy shots from only 34 yards. ..........."

Happens more than I'd like to admit to  :D  In fact, this morning I missed one at 20,... only to nail it at 36 yards.
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.com/airguns/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=27641&posts=10&start=1

I'm going with "old age" as my excuss !!!  :D  :D

Paul