GTA
General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Hunting Gate => : longislandhunter November 27, 2007, 01:47:36 PM
-
I had just finished having a late lunch, fried squirrel of course, and I looked out the sliding glass door into the backyard. As I scanned the trees I saw 3 pigeons perched high in the trees. I ran down stairs, grabbed the QB-57 .22 , loaded up with a RWS SHP and quietly exited the basement bilco doors.
I crept over to the corner of the house and quickly took a peek. Yup, they're still there. I picked out a bird that gave me a clear shot, put the scope on his chest and pulled the trigger. The instant the gun fired I knew I missed since I felt myself jerk the trigger. I haven't shot the QB in a while so I guess my finger was "out of tune" with the trigger. The funny thing is the birds just sat there. I could tell they were spooked when the gun fired and the pellet crashed through the leafy canopy but they just sat there.
I loaded another SHP and took aim again, fired and another clean miss. Can't explain that miss, I thought it was a good shot, but a miss is a miss no matter what the reason. I was still amazed that the birds, clearly very nervous now, still did not fly away. They hopped onto other branches but wouldn't fly. Thanking the air gun gods for this 3rd opportunity I loaded yet another pellet and took aim at the same bird. Took a nice deep breath, gently pulled the trigger to the point where I knew it was gonna break and then evenly applied the last bit of finger pressure necessary to release the spring. The gun fired and I heard a loud "POP" and saw a puff of feathers. The next thing I saw was the bird falling to the ground, landing with a "thump".
To my amazement the other 2 birds still remained perched in the tree. I was getting ready to load another pellet when I suddenly saw something large take flight from high in one of the trees,,,,, it was a huge hawk. I suddenly realized why the pigeons wouldn't fly away during my shooting,,,, that hawk was just waiting for them to take flight so he could snatch some lunch. I guess I was so fixated on the pigeons that I just never noticed the hawk sitting up there on top of the tree.
As soon as the hawk had taken flight the remaining pigeons took off, staying low to the tree tops, and headed back in the direction of the highway bridge they call home. There has been a lot of activity at my bird feeders lately and I guess the hawk noticed it as well. I'm hoping I get to see him again, would love to get a better look at him.
Anyway,,, the QB-57 .22 did it's job and scored again. After retrieving my bird I spent about 20 minutes shooting metal spinner targets and had a blast. I did notice that the 2 piece scope mounts that came with the Golden Antler scope has started to "creep" a little bit, so I think I'm going to swap them for a 1 piece accushot mount. The .177 QB57 has a 2 piece accushot mount sitting on it and that scope hasn't moved one bit, but I think I'll go with the 1 piece on the .22.
After posting this I went back down to my workshop and remounted the golden antler again using the same mounts it came with,,,, this time I really cranked down on the bolts and applied blue loc-tite first. Will let it set for 24 hours and try another target session to see if it moves. I'll give the rings one more try before swapping them out for accushots.......
Jeff
-
Great account of your afternoon Jeff,
What a sight to behold, a Red Tailed Hawk, up close and personal !!! Both out for a little lunch....
I have two verities of Hawks here that I see most often, the Red Tailed and the Goshawk, they both prefer their lunch on the hoof though. I stacked up a few squirrels for them some years ago, and only had a Turkey Vulture stop in for lunch !! I was fun watching him as he dined.
Thanks for sharing this with us !
Bill
-
Another fantastic hunt story my friend, pigeon is good eating for sure.:) The ol hawk was watching you just waiting for his turn hehe and the QB is rockin for sure. Ed
-
Good report, Jeff! That's neat that you and the hawk are working so well together. My brother, who's visiting down here from Alaska for a few weeks, noticed the same phenomenon a couple days ago when he was at the coffee shop downtown (here, not Alaska) where a Coopers Hawk that's apparently nesting somewhere in that area was keeping a number of pigeons "treed" on a building till he flew off.
But just to let you know, you're now forcing me to push the button on a -57 before the end of the day (or as soon as I can finally decide on .177 or .22 -LOL). I can't help it... I haven't pushed a button in a while, and Christmas will be here soon, and I've gotta get it outta my system ASAP ;~D
Bryan
-
And still the Shadow lurks at night without his QB-57 in his arms. :) While his other mates areenjoying the hunt and game that the QB-57 finds....:) Wonder when he will pop for a QB-57 night stalker... Only the Shadow knows... hehe Gene
-
Push that button Bryan !!!!! (I love spending other peoples money).
As for .177 or .22,,,, up to you, but having both I can tell ya they are both great little shooters. After work today I'm gonna race home, get into camo, set up my pop up blind in the yard and try and do some "sniping" :) with the QB....
Jeff
-
Holy smokes, fellers, you guys really know how to apply pressure! I'll say it again, Gene, that's a fine looking night-stalker you've got. That's how I want mine to eventually look.
I just ordered a QB-57 in .177 from SouthSummit. I'll let ya know when it gets here.
Bryan
-
Way to go Bryan,,,, congrats... :)
Jeff
-
ORDERED! today on my lunch lol lol lol lol hehehe. There will be QB57 in Shadow's hunting stable shortly, I'm thinking "ShadowCamoDesigns" Urban Camo hmmm. I know, it was time to get one and see what I can do to her.......hehe lol lol. };) ~> Ed
-
Well it looks like the Nite Hunter Shadow has pushed the button for the QB Night Stalker.. hehe Can't take the heat.....:) Press da Button buddy.. :)
Gene
-
Hey Buddy,,,, congrats on the soon to arrive QB57. I'm lookin forward to seeing what it looks like when you're done with it :)
Jeff
-
Thank's Guy's, this is gonna be a fun project for sure. Ed
-
Jeff,you made me order one also, although it is really for my kid as he fell in love with the one you had posted in the photo's with the squirrels you harvested with it. It just arrived from Archer Airguns the other day. Of course I had to clean it up and test fire it, while he was at school. Cool little gun.
-
Great,,, hope your son likes it... Let us know how you make out with the rifle. I really like mine, one of my favorite "backyard" guns.....
Jeff
-
Well Ed, I know mine won't end up looking as good as yours will once you get through with her, but maybe at least mine will arrive before yours does, cause I ordered it during morning coffee break yesterday, and that's a 2-hour headstart on yours- LOL! Gotta take those small victories when ya can ;~D
'Course, now I've probably jinxed myself and you'll have yours all dressed up and ready to hunt before mine even arrives-- more power to ya, feller!! heh, heh... I did get an email this morning saying that SouthSummit has shipped the package, so hopefully it won't be long now.
Bryan
-
Nothin more exciting than being notified a new shooter has been shipped to your door !!!
Looking forward to your review on it once you get it.....
Jeff
-
Robert, they seem to be really good at getting us to do what we'd probably do anyway without their help ;~D
I wouldn't have it any other way- LOL! My guess is that you'll have to order one for yourself too after your son gets his.
Bryan
-
Well my son was very happy with the. 177 Qb-57. We spent a couple hours shooting at the new Gamo squirrel target his aunt also got him for his birthday. First groups ran about 5/8" to 3/4" for several rested five shot groups at 10 meters , shot indoors with cheap Walmart Crosman CP HP's and the cheap small scope the gun came with. It does have a long, long trigger take up that finishes with a not to creepy short final stage. That trigger is perfect for small short fingers. Regardless, I think the gun is a winner and the only issue with it so far is some looseness in the fore-end that I will have to address. Even with the screws tightened down as hard as can be , there is still some movement. The anti-bear trap safeties that it has ,are the best I've seen on a cheap gun. Good for a gun that could be used by a kid, or new b's. I will buy a better scope for it. We will then see how it does on the squirrels that raid the feeders in the yard in late winter.
-
Jeff,we live in the Florida panhandle and are on the tail-end of a awful bout of ''red tide''.The local inshore fish kills have been to say the least,devastating.With 2 of my favorite inshore fall and winter fish(mullet fall/sheephead winter) mostly dead on the beach rotting.Well,as anyone who has ever lived on the coast can attest,the Osprey is one of the most resourseful birds of prey.These birds eat EVERYTHING.Well,being an avid in-shore angler for 30+ years I've,witnessed there hunting tactics many,many times.With the redtide(and the fish .AND there rotting carcasses) all but gone,the Osprey have moved inland.When their about the dove seek shelter under the canopy's of the eight oaks surrounding my house.Of course they see the Osprey and avoid flight.It's like trying to get a Pheasent off the ground.Fun shooting.You shoot 1 and rest move away and ''hunker down''.And thank goodness....... the'' tree rats'' have found out that there's a price for chewing up everything I own.They have become''real squirrels'' again!You have to actually hunt them now,not blast them from the window.Ahhh,the subtle rythms of nature,without the''redtide''I would not have such options!Nor would me and mine have re-discovered air-gunning.Everything happens for a reason!The gun?A beater@best Powerline1000.177,Crosman premier match wadcutters.Nothing special.Will our collection of airguns grow?Well,we all know the answer to that!lol..I just want to say as well that since joining this site I have saved myself SO much time and money,it's a plethora of information.Awsome site.Awsome folks.
-
Hey Chris,,
I've had the pleasure a couple of times of seeing ospreys out over the water hunting. They are masters at their craft for sure. Nothing exhibits the perfection of hunting skills like a bird of prey doing their thing, poetry in motion..
As for the that "beast" powerline 1000,,,,, I have one myself and while I'll agree it is certainly a raw beast I'll also be the first to say I love the gun for it's sheer power. I actually have 2 of em,,,, one in synthetic stock and one in wood and I love em both. They are without a doubt the hardest hitting .177's in my gun safe. The trigger is is terrible, but I've gotten used to it and both my guns are dead on accurate. Taken many a squirrel with each of em. I didn't buy em for elegance,,, I bought em for power and that's what they give me.... :)
As for the GTA,,,,, you are correct,,, this is simply the best place to be !! Friendly, knowledgeable and helpful people who love sharing the airgun experience,,,,,, it just doesn't get any better.....
Jeff