First weekend of the season

[tjk]

This morning was a day I've waited for for a long time. Not yet chilly, but enough of a brisk to don a long sleeved T and a sweater. Loaded up the arsenal, the youngin', and the D-Cam and hit the woods with a buddy from work. Now I decided to take two guns,...the 34 Diana (.22), and the .177 Sierra-Pro. Since my friend Pete is a powder-boy, I let him use Miss D, and I the SP. Shooting the Diana is basically a no brainer and I wanted him to get the best first impression and experience with shooting air rifles. The SP takes a bit more finnesse to shoot, so I chose to carry it. Thesquirrels have been wreaking havockat his MIL's farmhouse, high-wireing the powerlines from the woodsand getting into the attic. At first she thought I was joking about using "BB-Guns" to cull them down, but now she's a firm believer!!! Pete stayed around the house to patrol the lines, but I decided to "get 'em where they breed". We started at 8 am and stayed until 11:30. After about 10 minutes I hopped the fence with the first one. Things died down so we walked the tree line in the pasture and stalked the area. Pete took a few shots that were difficult to say the least, and I tried my best to circle around and flush them out. Still he enjoyed the AG experience. Said he couldn't wait for the leaves to fall so we could track them better in the trees. Me Too!!!! But all in all, it was an awesomeday to get out and enjoy the great out-doors!! At the end of the hunt, I bagged five with the SP. Two were infected with "wolves", bot-flies, or whatever they're referred to in different regions, so we tossed them in the brush for the coyotes and possoms.The other three were clear of parasites, and came home to my house and are soakin in salt-water at the present time. The first pix is Pete holding the Sierra-Pro over the take, and the second pix is a close up. the three on the right are in the fridge, and the two on the left are for the scavengers. Pete has a way to go before he can shoot AR's effectively, but we might have another member to the AG family before it's all said and done. Ma in Law was tickled that we lowered the BT population too!!!! tjk

[tjk]

Sorry for the sloppy thread folks. Tried to edit the damn thing and it won't let me hit enter at the right places!!!!! Friggin computers!!!! Arrrrrrrr. tjk

nice work Thomas,
nothin better than coming home with a bag full.

[tjk]

Thanks Craig, Thinkin' BT pot-pie for tommorrow's supper. People think it's nuts to eat these critters,...but they just don't know what they're missing!!!!! tjk

[only1harry]

Wow good shooting!  5 squirrels with the trees full of leaves is really an accomplishment this early in the Fall.  Sounds like you guys had a strategy and it worked really well to make them move and lock in on their position.  Kudos to turning your friend on to airguns.  I 'm going through that now with my brother-in-law only because I think he 's going to hurt himself one of these days with the powder burners.  He shoots anything that moves and will aim anywhere, even the tail of the critter with the choke of his shotgun full opened..  All he does is injure animals.  Of course there 's something in it for me too: his 3 wooded acres full of coons & g-hogs!  :-)

[longislandhunter]

Excellent story and great pics...  Congrats on a fine hunt....  My squirrel season opens November 1st and I'm counting the days....  

Looking forward to your next hunt  :)

Jeff

[JOHNNY QUEST]

They won't let us shoot them with airguns in texas so we have to rimfire em..  
 great story and great opening weekend for ya ...  Thanks for the report and good luck next time..

 Randall

[fatback]

Nice shooting and great story Thomas!!! looks like the start of a good meal  keep up the good work !! and keep the pictures coming.

[shadow]

Fine shootin and story Thomas, love thew pics. Ed

[tjk]

Thanks for the comps fellas. Although I'm no big fan of cold weather, it will be nice to see the leaves fall and really open things up. As soon as I get the twinns ready ( 0035's) we'll take them out for some sportier hunting. As mid powered rifles, accuracy and shot placement will be of the utmost importance!!! But inside 25 yards they'll still take game!!! I've decided to change things up on my first 0035, and have been getting very nice groups using the Beeman Cromags. The Beeman SB's are great for paper,....and game, but seem to be a tad light for her. The Cro's keep the gun  shooting with a more distinct 'pop', and less twang on the Patriot spring Bob installed, and I don't feel much velocity loss if at all. Seems like there's too much power in that spring for the SB's. The 0035 from Wes, has about 300 pels through her since I got it, and the barrel is getting seasonned to my taste. Used crossman pointed hunters for the break-in,... would have prefered wads to get a more even leading through the barrel (JMO), but wal-mart was out of stock. Next for her, a decent scope.  For low-end rifles, these two are very accurate,........and fun to shoot!!!!! tjk

[gamo2hammerli]

Excellent shooting on those nutters tjk.  Glad you have an accurate Sierra Pro.

[tjk]

Thanks Stan, I've got to give CDT credit for the work he did on it. Still very much a tempramental gun, which has to be shot everyday to keep the accuracy within reason. All my other guns including those with a heavy trigger pull are fairly easy to shoot on target, but with this particular rifle, it's almost like being married to it!!!! She demands constant attention,...but the flip side of the matter is, that she will deliver if treated  and held right. I've often wondered why this gun is so finicky, and all I can think of, is the powerful Maccarri Tarantulla spring in it, and being  a relatively 'a light-weight' rifle add's to the recoil of it. No twang by any means,...but more like a whip cracking off. Kinda like dropping a 350 in a Miata sports car!!!! A real hot rod she is though. I want to thank everyone for their words of incouragement here and on previous post,....when I was ready to wrap her around an oak tree!!!! Thanks GTA Fam. A Great Place to Be!!!! tjk

[TexasShooter72]

Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about!  Good job...   and nice shooting!  Whew!  That motivates me to the hilt!