The first day out for the new RWS 34(ok a refurb from Caebela's bargain cave I just couldn't pass up). I mounted the new Leapers droop mount--worked great by the way--was hitting 6" low previously and sighted it in today with the new CP domes--dead on at 30 yds.--awesome.
We are out in the forest, stalking slowly, 4 steps then waiting for 3 mins., 4 steps and pause, etc... this goes on for what seems like forvever---more like 20 mins.---then, crackle, crackle, crackle, pop---aaah, the sound of nutshells breaking through the leaves and crashing to the earth below---game on. We slowly cirlce around the large stand of oak, hickory,maples and a few other nut-bearers. We move silently and wait, more sounds of shells hitting the ground--we are closing in. We look skyward, nothing, we glass with scopes through the treetops, then silence. He must've seen us, we freeze, then whoosh! he's running and leaping through the tops, tree to tree, leaping again and again--we don't chase--we circle from opposite sides to the next group of trees ahead where he disappeared. He's gone, a grey ghost. We pause, glass through the tops again, nothing, nothing, he's vanished and just then...wait, is it? yes,a hint of a bushy tail---flattened against the branch yet just slightly aloft---aha! I've got him, it proves to be his undoing. I follow the line of tail to the head neck area--his head is flat, not enough to get a shot at. He's frozen, hiding, hoping I don't see him--but I have. The 34 comes up slowly to the shoulder---the crosshairs fall right in line on the shoulder/neck---then squuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeze gently, exhale, relax, relax--don't rush---he's 18 yds. away and 35 feet up---ok, claculate hold under a few inches---don't rush, it exhale---POP! then crashing through the branches, leaves flying, falling falling to the ground with a loud THWAP--ahhh, and then whats this? he's crawling?!, around the tree he goes, thankfully jr. was there to humanely end the ordeal with a quick follow-up shot. And the prize is ours.
Thanks Diana, Cabela's and GTA for allowing me to share
BPH
