GTA
General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Hunting Gate => : wahoowad May 25, 2010, 04:26:40 PM
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It was going to be a nice evening so I grabbed the Benji Trail XL and a few pellets and headed for a new farm. I was enjoying the fresh smells and big fluffy clouds when a groundhog darted from a creek up to a barn. I slowly moved forward and then saw it several feet up in some stacked lumber. Wow, I thought, he got up there fast! I was no more than 10 yards away so had to work a bit to acquire him in the scope. As I dropped the focus down I suddenly saw two heads and not just one! I tried to line up the two heads for one shot but eventually had to pick one and sent the H&N FTT on it's way. Pop! And he flops off the stack of wood and stops still on the ground. I look back and #2 has ducked, but then reappears. He's curious, but now he's dead too. He watched me chamber another FTT and the Benji sent it into his skull.
At this point I am thinking that I actually had seen a third in the background while taking #2 and I'm also wondering what the heck is going on. It's like a rat infestation on this lumber and I'm scanning, scanning, scanning the area. I haven't moved my feet since I saw #1. Then #3 shows up on the ground where the other two were laying. He sniffs them, looks at me, squats down flat a little bit, but not enough. At 10 yards his head filled my scope and then my FTT filled his head. The carnage was suddenly over as quick as it started. The lumber pile was still. I actually think a #4 had been there but got away.
(http://www.earlysvilleironworks.com/link/barn.jpg)
(http://www.earlysvilleironworks.com/link/3chucks.jpg)
I saw one more groundhog later, a little further along the cow trail but he's in his hole quick. I remember where he's at and will know to approach that spot better next time. This was my first shooting trip to this farm and it worked out well. He also has a good size barn that was full of pigeons and other birds. I'll bring the .20 R9 back out for some work on that next time. On the way home I scored access to another farm where the owner said groundhogs were all over the place and especially around his large chicken houses.
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Now that is an excellent g-hog hunt !!! Excellent shooting and super pics. I really enjoyed your post. I'm glad you and that XL have "become one" :)
I haven't been hunting at all lately,,,,, been busy with my boat and the new smoker I bought... but looking at your pics and reading your hunt has stirred the hunter blood in me..... now I have to go get in a g-hog hunt.....
Lookin forward to your upcoming g-hog hunts buddy :)
BTW...... those DOA g-hogs look like nice tender young ones...... do you eat them ?????
Jeff
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Nice shooting on that trio!
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They did look on the small side. The one I saw later looked like a small dog. I set up on his hole awhile but he never came back out. I already have my stalk approach figured out for next time, and this one will allow for a decent shot with a little bit of range to it. Those three above weren't really as satisfying as I had hoped given I had a scoped gun and I was so close.
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Actually the closer shots are actually the harder ones. Having to compensate for the close range and adjusting your aiming point while your heart is pounding from the excitement is a skill that must be learned from experience..... take pride in those 10 yard shots.... they're not as easy to make as one would think..... :)
Can't tell you how many times I've blown a real close shot by failing to properly adjust the aiming point......
Jeff
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Excellent shooting....of the critters and pictures. Thanks for sharing. Makes me wanna go out and find some moving targets too. (http://../jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-surprised.gif)
May have to take my soon tohave new XL1500 out to my brothers farm.
Happy Shooting!!!!
Dave
(http://../jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-cool.gif)
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Excellent shooting off-hand with the Trail XL!
Those 3 must have been youngsters to hang around after the 1st one got shot, and only 10yds away! That's ok they are just as fun to shoot as the adult ones which are more challenging. I took 5 of them that were only 2-3mos old and another 4-5 or so last year that were about 4mos old towards the end of the summer. They are not as experienced and will pop their head up again after spotting you because they are curious and don't know about all the dangers yet, or they are too hungry and are not thinking like an adult, and want to go back out to eat sooner than later.
Most young ones born in the Spring hang out together until the end of the summer and split up usually by the middle-end of September to get their own burrow. Unfortunately I have shot the last 2 females this Spring and now a couple of big males that I would spot around the neighborhood (and 1 in my backyard last weekend) have moved away to find females. That's the problem when you shoot the females. You lose the males too who will travel several blocks in search of females and they usually don't come back. They hang out where the females are at. As you can see I like having G-hogs around and didn't mean to exterminate them. It keeps it interesting around the yard, the stalking, adrenaline and all that :)
And don't believe Jeff. He is not hunting because he is waiting for all the G-hogs to give birth and the young ones to grow a little and then he 'll go after them with no mercy :) I on the other hand do not have that kind of will power, and shoot on sight without thinking, hehe 8)
Looking forward to your next barn hunts!
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Nice job with the XL. Any day you can shoot 3 G-hogs in one day is a good one. How do you like your XL? What pellet do you like the best in it. My brother has an XL and is still looking for the "right pellet".
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Great shooting and great pics.
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Good job on those three - congrats, and also congrats on scoring another farm to patrol. Sounds like your going to be busy having fun !!!!:D
Paul.
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nice shooting
good haul
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thats amazing nice work you are the man
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Great hunt, shooting and pic's, been trying to drop some G-hog's myself but their playing hardball here. Ed