Predator Polymag strikes again..

[only1harry]

I was away all weekend at my sister's in PA for a mini family reunion and all I could do is watch the rabbits & Starlings in her back yard, helpless.  Her husband has a Savage .22LR but more for self defense.  He never told my sister he used to shoot anything that moved with that gun before he met her, so she was no clue how many critters that .22 has taken..  She would not let me shoot anything.  I showed my brother-in-law all the hunting pics in my photobucket on his laptop, and he was all pumped up to use that .22LR on some rabbits, but my sister would just not leave the house to give us a chance :-)  So I couldn't wait to get back home and do some hunting.  

I got home around 4:30pm today and by 5:30 I was all set with my Condor loaded with a Predator and watching the trees.  Same time as previously again around 6-6:15pm appears a nutter about 35yds out.  I was actually watching for crows which land on 2 trees about 45-50yds out about every 2-3 days just before dark.  Oh well, the nutter is going to have to do :)  I lost him for a few minutes and then he reappeared a little closer about 28-29yds out and 40+ft up shaking some leaves.  I could barely see some "gray" behind all that foliage so I just waited.  Not more than 5min. went by when I see him get on top of all those leaves and trying to reach some nuts on a taller branch above.  He was facing away from me.  I see him reach up and pull the other branch down.  The thin branch was bent and it looked like he was trying to cut a nut off it.  I figured this is a good time to take the shot before he goes back down behind those leaves and I lose him again.  I aim behind the ear because the back of his head is at a slight angle.  His head was up looking at the top branch when I took the shot.  I heard a "crackling" like sound and the squirrel fell 40ft straight down and "thump".  I searched for him on the ground through the scope and ~3secs later I found him not moving.

The Predator left the muzzle at >1,000fps and entered the squirrel behind its ear.  It traveled through its head and exited out the mouth taking part of the lower jaw with it.  His jaw was completely dislocated and moved to the side with part of it was missing.  I snapped some pics quickly with the flash because I was losing the light fast.  The pic is not that good showing the destruction.  I should have taken it facing the squirrel straight and it would have shown the lower jaw was 1/2" off to the side.  Maybe I 'll run into the crows later this week.  Hopefully the nutters will stay away so I don't reduce their #'s down to nothing.

[shadow]

Great shot Harry, liking the pic's of course.:) A Predator hitting em at that fps is a sure kill. Thanks for sharing buddy.:) Ed

[nalby]

Great shot Harry, I know how you feel about not being able to shoot, my in-laws were over yesterday and they really don't condone killing and wouldn't you know it 5 squirrels were out in my yard just taunting me.

[only1harry]

Thanks Ed & Jim.  I think it's a little too easy with the Condor.  I 'll start using some of my other guns for the nutters and call on the Condor for those 50yd crow shots or long shots on squirrels..   If I don't keep scaring the crows that is, hehe.   The crows would have to be the most challenging small-game for me, more than groundhogs.  Just look at the number of crows we all get, compared to everything else..  If they only had no wings, or a smaller brain..  :-)

[gamo2hammerli]

Nice shot with the Condor again.  Don`t go killing them all.....or you won`t have any left for next year.  Too bad your sis don`t like hunting.....or you could go over there and "clean house".

[only1harry]

Tell me about Stanley.  I was freaking out over there with all those rabbits running around :)  My brother-in-law said that maybe next time when she goes on a business trip.. but it's a 4hr drive from where I live in NY, so it's going to be a little difficult :)  

I 'm trying to cut back on the nutters but it's very hard :(  I 'm concentrating my efforts on a possom that 's been snooping around my garbage.  The only problem is I fall asleep waiting by the window late at night and end up going to bed since I have to work the next day.  In the morning I find the cat food all gone and the bowl 20-30ft from where I placed it.  No doubt the possom is pushing it with its big nose.  Cats don't do that.  Maybe tonight it 'll come out early, we 'll see.

[Crock Pot]

Thats one mean looking gun!!!!!!!!!!!!!