Got home from work this afternoon at 3:30 and really needed to "de-stress" so I decided to take the new .22 CFX out on her first hunt. Grabbed the gun case containing the CFX, filled my belt pouch with the Beeman FTS pellets the gun loves so much and headed for the duck farm.
There were plenty of starlings and pigeons at the farm when I arrived, but due to a pair of large hawks cruising the air space directly above the farm the starlings wouldn't stay put anywhere long enough to target them. So, I decided to still hunt around the farm and look for some woodchucks. I figured the G-hogs would be a good test for the gun.
As I slowly worked my way around the farm I came to a large tree that has a very large limb that almost hangs down onto the ground. I sometimes sit under this limb to get out of the sun and also when squirrel hunting as it acts as a natural blind. The tree is located at the bottom of the farm where the stream runs the length of property. I know that the underbrush and bushes on the edge of the stream are a favorite place for the G-hogs to burrow so I should've been more careful when I stepped out from underneath the limb but I just stepped out from under the foliage and came face to face with a good sized G-hog, about 10 yards in front of me, munching on fresh grass. Surprisingly he froze in place, just looking at me, so I actually had time to get the gun up, sight him and shoot. I pulled the trigger and knew instantly that I had missed. I knew I should've held the crosshairs just a little lower, but I was to excited and shot right over his head. He ran off and disappeared into the thick bushes on the edge of the stream. Kicking myself for not being more observant and for blowing an easy shot, I continued my trek around the farm.
I made my way to the far end of the farm and spotted 3 squirrels raiding a grain feeder about 50 yards in front of me. I hugged the tree line as I approached, but they saw me and scooted away, taking refuge in a large mullberry tree 15 yards from the feeder, however they a serious mistake by doing so. This mullberry tree is basically isolated and I knew I had them cornered. I backed off about 10 yards, set up my backpack folding stool in the middle of some thick bushes and sat down to wait them out.
Sure enough after 5 minutes they began to move around the tree. It took me 30 minutes but one by one I picked them off with a single head shot apiece. The Beeman FTS did it's work well and each squirrel dropped like a rock. I also nailed a dove that was pilching grain from the same feeder the squirrels had been raiding. I Put the squirrels and dove in my game pouch and continued my still hunt.
As I neared a group of grain feeders I noticed a flock of pigeons on the ground about 30 yards away. Picked out the closest pigeon, applied pressure to that beautiful gold CDT trigger and the pigeon rolled over dead. The remaining flock took off and headed for the other end of the farm, so I picked up my bird and continued the hunt.
I was working my way back to my truck and as I slowly worked my way along the length of one of the large barns I noticed a brown head staring at me from a small field 100 yards away. I peered through the scope and saw a large G-hog looking in my direction. At first I thought he was looking at me, but from watching him I realized that he was actually keeping an eye on one of the large hawks that was working the same end of farm that I was approaching from.
While the G-hog intensely watched the hawk I slowly made my way to a shooting position 25 yards from the G-hog by using some old trucks, grain feeders and a serious of grain towers as cover. I set up my stool next to a large grain tower that gave me perfect cover while I waited for a shot. As I watched the large G-hog through the scope I suddenly realized there was another, smaller G-hog about 3 feet to the right of the larger one. They were both lying underneath a large piece of old, rusted farm equipment that has been lying in that field for a long time.
I decided to take smaller G-hog (he'd be more tender) so I put the scope on his head and waited for him to poke his head out just a little further. 20 minutes of waiting paid off and as soon as he inched a little further out I put the scope between his eye and ear and pulled the trigger. Heard the "Thwap" and saw the blood spatter. The G-hog quivered for a few seconds and layed still. I retrieved him and went back to my seat to see if the larger G-hog would come out again. Sure enough, 10 minutes later the large G-hog stuck his face out fare enough and I took a shot. Nailed him right behind the eye. He was a really old gnarly bugger, really scruffy so I decided not to take him home. I pushed him back down into his burrow and filled in the opening as best as I could.
I took a couple of pics when I got home so I could show off the .22 CFX's handiwork. She proved herself to be an effective hunter, I will make sure she gets her fair share of duck farm hunts this summer. :)
Jeff
