GTA
General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Hunting Gate => : longislandhunter September 03, 2007, 02:29:13 PM
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Well, finished up my last day of work this afternoon at 3 pm and headed to the duck farm to spend the remaining hours of the day doing a little pest control,,,, or at least attempt it. I say attempt cause for some reason I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn today.
I was using the .177 Goldfinger and CPL's and I missed just about everything I shot at,,, starlings, pigeons, woodchucks. After I cleanly missed the first 5 starlings I shot at from 20 yards I thought perhaps the scope zero had moved, but a time out from pest shooting and a short target session proved the gun and scope were still dead on.
So, went back to work, and while I did manage to nail a few starlings I just was not having a good day and kept missing one bird after another. I finished out the day by missing two 25 yard shots at a couple of nice G-hogs, but I'd much rather have a clean miss than a bad hit any day.
Don't have a clue why I was shootin so poorly today, and won't make any excuses,,,,, guess the airgun gods just wanted to show me who's the boss :)
But I had a great 3 hours of fresh air (well sorta fresh air----all those ducks make a mighty strong smell) and got alot of good excercise, so it was still a good day. Nothin better than spendin time in the outdoors to soothe the mind.
Gonna head back tomorrow and give it another go,,,, hopefully I'll shoot a little better.
Jeff
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Jeff, did you post this to make the rest of us feel good? Thanks, lol. Hope you have a better outing next time.
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Jeff, I think the air gun gods were in a tiff this weekend. I actually missed two grackles with my Lightning, close misses, sent leaves flying on the branches they were perched on. I was mind boggled, I never miss with that rifle.......geeze. I did put three of their pals in the Wally World plastic bag tomb though.
I think your missfortune was due to that stinky German rifle you were shooting. I think you should send her to me and I'll whip her into shape............. :)
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Not Zen today buddy?. Sometime's one miss compound's on the next one etc. Been there myself and then I start eyeballing the scope, then the gun and then myself. I call it a day and start fresh the next day. All is Zen again and you'll make up for it tommorrow, the Airgun God's can't smile all the time hehe. Ed
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Hey Jeff,
Great account of your hut ! Tomorrow will be a better day, and that's great !
Your a darn fine hunter and a great shot ! I'd say your mind just wasn't into the kill, it was into the outing..:)
Or maybe those QB's have you spoiled ? hehe..he
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I think everybody has been there and had that problem M8 but it's just one of those things we learn to live with heck I have my fair share of hunts like that and also the first thin of is it must be the gun maybe the scope but in the end it's a big NOPE it's just me in this case you.
I have done martial arts since the age of six and one of the things I learned was retarding your form by over practicing one particular technique for to long at one time & I think this applies to everything in life even shooting & hunting especially when you have done it for soooooo long with no breaks it's like a mental block that writers get just a thought thats what I tell myself to stop me getting so frustrated lol.
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Sorry to hear about your troubles Jeff, but now you know how I feel most of the time! LOL.
There's a reason why your (and others) hunt reports are so well received- for me, at least, I like the idea that there's guys and gals out there that can just aim and hit regularly. Otherwise, I might just have to give up (NOT!!!) when I see the scope crosshairs waving from side to side on the bullseye ;~D
Bryan
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Ya know Jeff,some days ya feel like a nut............
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Well, I'm a firm believer that a humbling experience can be a good thing every now and again,,,, kinda keep one in touch with "reality". So since I've had my dose for the week I'll be heading back this afternoon for another try. Gonna bring the same gun and the same pellets and see what happens.
And Stephanie as for your offer,,,,,,,,,,, if todays shooting gives the same results as yesterdays then expect a package on your doorstep shortly :)
Maybe my goldfinger just needs a little vacation, some different scenery and some different critters to shoot at.
:)
Jeff
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Jeff, California is the obvious place to send it for a little breather, give it new life. Let me know, lol.
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Kalifornia? Don't risk it Jeff, that's way too close to the Pacific and salt water breezes are very detrimental to air guns. Remember, Germans (well ok, Austrians) that go to Kalifornia end up in Sacramento as politicians.
Colorado however offers high, arid desert prairie and clean, fresh alpine air, and a wealth of varying game to excercise that unrluy German hussy.
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All these fellow member's willing to help out, what a place we have here hehe. Ok send her here, I'll put her through one of my winter hunt's, that should settle her down. Ed
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Well, took the .177 Goldfinger back to the duck farm this afternoon for another try at pest control. All I can say is..... what a difference a day can make !!! Yesterday I couldn't hit anything and today I couldn't miss :)
I brought some camo netting with me and set up a small blind near an old telephone pole that the birds use as a lookout post. There was alot of worker activity on the farm today, so the shooting was much slower than usual, but I took 12 shots at starlings and dropped all 12 birds. Then to finish out the hunt I nailed 3 pigeons that were stealing grain from the feeders.
Didn't get to take any pics, but I dined on Pigeon for supper :)
The Goldfinger has redeemed herself, so I won't have to bother any of you who so kindly offered to take her hunting for me and get her back on target, but I did appreciate the offers :)
Jeff
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Great Jeff, It was all a state of mind and you found your Hunting Zen again......The Airgun God's got a big smile on their faces and so do you. Ed
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Glad to hear that sassy German rifle is back to doin' her job Jeff.
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Jeff, that is great shooting. Out of curiosity, where do you aim when you shoot birds? Upper chest? Thanks, David
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Hey David,,,,, my favorite point of aim is a clear chest shot. If I can't get that I'll try for a clear shot in the back,,,, I'd rather not have to shoot through the wings if I don't have to,,, but if that's all they present I'll take it cause the Goldfinger has no problem blasting through the wing and continuing on thru to the bread basket :)
Jeff
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It's good to hear your MOJO has returned Jeff,
You know that you can't keep a good man down !
Real good shootin there today, and a tasty dinner..:-)