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General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Hunting Gate => : June 19, 2007, 07:08:32 AM

: One down, many to go...
: June 19, 2007, 07:08:32 AM

Howdy from western NC.

I'm brand new to adult airguns. First of all let me say how pleased and priviledged I am to be able to participate in this forum. I'm impressed with the comraderie (if that's how you spell it) and the civility you all display compared to other forums that I've seen, not just airguns either. I found this place accidentally while Googling for user reviews on the Hammerli Storm that Natchez had in their sale e-mail a couple or three months back; luckily, one of the first hits linked to the GTA with "vinceb"'s comprehensive review and I stumbled into the back door of this fine establishment. I didn't end up buying a Storm; just to get myself started I headed over to WallyWorld and purchasing one of the Daisy Powerline 1000 combos and a tin of pellets, but thanks to other reviews on the Daisy, I knew what I was getting into before the purchase. So far I'm not learned enough to give any advice, but in the short time I've been reading, I've already benefitted from the knowledge here, purchasing a B26-2, a couple of B3's, a few scopes, and most recently I ordered and received a .22 CFX from Pyramyd. I've got a lot of sighting in and shooting to do. If I hadn't had previous unavoidable conflicts with this past weekend, I would have introduced myself sooner and done my best to attend the Centerville Shootout down in SC. I could go on about my new-found hobby (and probably will eventually), but I'd better get to the meat of the matter.

This past Sunday afternoon, I heard one of the local gang of crows calling to the others. After several unsuccessful attempts over the last few weeks to ease open the sliding glass door, step onto the deck and take aim without one of the sentries giving away my intent, I was getting a little frustrated. This time though, through the kitchen window, I saw that the offender would be crossing behind the trunk of a large tulip poplar in the side yard so that he wouldn't see the door, so I figured now was my chance. Grabbing up my amber safety glasses and the Daisy, still with open sights, and cocking it (with the tune 'Volga Boatmen' running through my head), I dropped a flatnose pellet into the breech. Carefully sliding the glass door back, and positioning myself so that I could brace against the doorframe, I waited in hopes that he'd walk out from behind the tree. I could tell that his buddies were cawing my position in to him, but he apparently didn't believe them, or maybe just didn't care. He continued out from behind the tree, turned around, went back, then came out again and stopped. That was all it took.

An instant after I pulled the trigger (on this rifle it's more of a jerk than a pull), I heard the emminently satisfying thump of pellet impact. He didn't fly away, but turned in my general direction with a look as if to say "What the...", and I had barely enough time to realize that I'd never get another pellet loaded before he flew away, possibly wounded. After about two seconds, though, he did a half turn on one leg and fell over motionless. Here's a picture of the participants (except me, of course). I went out later to see how far the shot was, thinking maybe around 30 yards, but it turned out it measured 120' which, if my calculator is correct, is 40 yards. I don't think that would be typical shooting for me, although this was actually the Daisy's second blood; the first was a starling at about 20 yds, so the gun can do its part if I do mine (I like that phrase that several of you have used, and hope you don't mind a newbie like me co-opting it;~). I just gotta practice, practice, practice.

Anyway, I figured this was as good an excuse to introduce myself as any. Thanks for the opportunity.

Bryan

: Crows are tough to hunt
: 3n00n June 19, 2007, 07:38:44 AM

Terrific job againsta murder of crows,'lookouts' arealways on the prowl.Even using coveror blinds,still I've only gotten one ~and that was two years ago.(http://forums.beerandshots.com/images/smilies/confused.gif)

: Congrats,,,
: June 19, 2007, 07:51:17 AM

Them crows seem to have armor plateing,,, good shooting.

: Re: One down, many to go...
: Skip June 19, 2007, 07:54:20 AM

Welcome Bryan
Good shooting.
I am kind of new here myself but I have been reading the GTA for a while. I think you have found one of the best forums. These guys are all true Gentlemen, and are very helpful. I know I’ve learned a lot. You say you’re new to airguns but it sounds like you’re on your way to filling your rack. Well good luck at thinning the herd I’m sure I will be reading your future posts, I like pictures. As they say here GTA is a great place to be.

: Welcome, Bryan!
: daved June 19, 2007, 09:16:00 AM

And nice shooting!  Not only are crows tough little buggers, but I think they may be smarter than most of us, too :-)!  Glad you found your way here, always nice to have new members drop on by.  You do realize that this disease we call airgunitis is incurable, don't you?  The only treatment is the (preferably frequent) purchase of additional airguns.  Sounds like you're already well into the treatment :-)!  Later.

Dave

: RE: Glad to see another.....
: patton123 June 19, 2007, 10:12:23 AM

Powerline user. Great shot on a smart, tough bird.

Forgot to mention.....that trigger can't be that bad. (40 yard  kill w/ irons)  Awesome

: RE: Glad to see another.....
: longislandhunter June 19, 2007, 12:06:21 PM

Welcome Bryan, enjoyed your post immensely.  Nice shot on that crow, they are definitely a tough bird to bring down.  I have a powerline 1000 in my gun safe, matter of fact I have that rifle set up as my "night hunting rifle".    I have a laser/light combo mounted on the scope and it's a deadly combination.  

I'm glad you found your way to GTA,,, it really is a wonderful place to hang out.  I am looking forward to your future posts.

Jeff

: RE: One down, many to go...
: Big_Bill June 19, 2007, 01:02:00 PM

WELCOME Bryan,

To the G.T.A., The FRIENDLIEST AIR GUN FORUM ON THE WEB !!!

Great post, you out smarted one of the smartest birds out there, and posted a picture !

I see that you contracted Airgunnitis, but don't worry, there's no cure !

I look forward to readingthe accounts of your futurehunting exploits .

And thanks for all your kind words, now your one of us, and were just one big happy family.

: RE: One down, many to go...
: June 19, 2007, 02:40:31 PM

Welcome Bryan

With your pictures and words, now that is a nice way to introduce yourself.
Thanks for sharing that with us.
I look forward to seeing your name on the forum here.

: RE: One down, many to go...
: SDale June 19, 2007, 02:43:26 PM

Welcome to GTA!

Good shootin' too!

I've got some crow hunting tips for ya if you want em or NOT! hehehehe

I used to hunt crows all the time, but the supply around here has seemed to dry up. Maybe overhunted?

Anyway...
-Decoys can be made from Wire Coat Hangers and black plastic bags. Just straighten out the hook on the hanger, bend the hoop into a shape similar to a crow and cover it with a plastic bag. Leave a bit hangin off the back to look like a tail. THen stick the straightened out hook into the ground. The breeze should catch it & move it around.

-Another way to decoy crows is to use a rubber Owl and a couple of the garbage bag decoys. Put the owl out with a few decoys around it and a couple up above (scouts). Crows can't resist an owl fight! Especially if it's a good one!!!

-Another good thing to set out with the decoys is a small Mirror. Crows are vane little suckers. They see that shiney thing from the air and land. They'll fight over it just to look at themselves!

-Don't EVER let a flock of crows see you pickin up a carcass after you've made a shot. They're SMART!!!  If they see you pickin in up, they'll know whats up!

I've got some crow calls in .WAV format. If you want em, shoot me a PM with your E-Mail addy and I mail them over!

Have fun! Crow hunting is a CHALLENGING sport! Even more challenging when using an Airgun!

: RE: One down, many to go...
: Gene_SC June 19, 2007, 10:33:48 PM

Great intro post Bryan. Glad you took your time and looked around before buying your airgun. The GTA is a great place to come to and learn from each other. I have been shooting for about two years and learn something new every week in the GTA. We have many knowledgable members and some very talented ones as well..:) Not to mention the fact that we are one big family here and do not yell or scream at each other.. hehe. Now we can look forward to your hunting and air gun posts..:)

A Big Welcome to the GTA

Gene

: RE: One down, many to go...
: June 20, 2007, 03:31:08 AM

Thanks to everyone for that almost overwhelming welcome. I knew I found the right place after spending a couple weeks reading through previous posts on the various Gates.

I don't want to leave the impression that I'm any kind of a marksman at this point. It was definitely a fortuitous (which in this case means dang lucky) shot, but  I was awfully pleased to finally get some positive results. My eyes have finally gotten to the point of maybe probably needing glasses (I'm not in denial, no sir), so open sights may be problematic as time goes on without them. But once I get a scope or two mounted and sighted in at various distances, watch out, ya feathered varmints!

SDale- thanks for the tips on outsmarting a frustratingly smart bird. I'm definitely gonna try some of them. My idea of a lure was to maybe leave a McDonalds bag with a half-eaten Big Mac pinned down out in the lawn; trouble is, I couldn't come up with a way to properly dispose of the other half of the burger. Landfills around here won't take 'em anymore LOL.

Patton123- For all it's "faults" I really enjoy the Powerline too; I still gotta find a way to shove some sound-deadener into the plastic buttstock, and maybe improve the trigger pull, but for now she's got a steady job as my backdoor gun.

Gene- I'm only about 40 minutes north of Greenville SC, so I hope to get down to you and CDT's vicinity one of these years, at least to get a GRT-III for my new CFX, which I need to start getting to know mo' better.

Bryan

---Finally, an addiction I can live with :~D

: Crows love those McFries the most
: 3n00n June 20, 2007, 03:59:26 AM

Seemsfolks get all weird when ya pull out a bb-gun in the McParkinglot.(http://www.getphpbb.com/phpbb/images/smiles/eek2.gif)

(http://www.airgunhome.com/agforum/images/smiles/uzi.gif)(http://www.airgunhome.com/agforum/images/smiles/runaway.gif)(http://www.airgunhome.com/agforum/images/smiles/runaway.gif)(http://www.airgunhome.com/agforum/images/smiles/runaway.gif)(http://www.airgunhome.com/agforum/images/smiles/runaway.gif)(http://www.getphpbb.com/phpbb/images/smiles/rlp_smilie_312.gif)

I think I may just stick to trying to lure the crowsoutto Centerville . . .(http://www.airgunhome.com/agforum/images/smiles/geek.gif)

: Re: One down, many to go...
: June 20, 2007, 04:10:27 AM

^^ woa   :-P

: Re: One down, many to go...
: shadow June 20, 2007, 12:28:41 PM

Fine shootin Bryan, crow's are elusive fellow's and so very smart indeed. I see you found the Hunt Gate ok hehe. Again Great shot and pic. Ed