We had GREAT weather here today. Unusually warm and calm for late November. About 72 degrees and a very slight breeze. Well, my wife wanted to take the new baby to her parents house for a visit today since it was so nice out. Then she said the magic words... "You can bring your guns 'cause we're gunna be there a while." WOO HOO!!! My In-Laws live on a 2.5 acre patch in an unincorporated area. Their backyard is almost nothing but fruit trees for the first quarter acre and woods from then on. Needless to say, I packed up my newly aquired & tuned Quest 800 and a couple tins of pellets.
After we get there & go through the whole "Hey how ya been?" song & dance, I'm out the back door like turds through a goose! As soon as I get to my usual clearing I see the fruit orchard just teeming with life! Starlings & Sparrows EVERYWHERE! Then I think to myself "MAN! I thought I overhunted this area!" But I was after Nutters today and I was in the mood for a good stew! Popped the rifle case open, chambered a Predator and took a quick test shot. "Yup, she's still spot on!" Loaded another and headed off into the woods. After about 10 minutes of walking I come to the spot where I usually see all the nutters. I still hunt for about a half hour. Nada. No movment, not one hint of a bushy tail. So off I go to my other spot and again no nutters to be found.
After about 2.5 hours and no squirrels in sight I head back and decide to snipe some starlings. I know, I know...What a waste of GOOD .22 cal Predators. But after my dismal squirrel hunt, I NEEDED to kill something(s). I get back to where my rifle case was and set-up shop at the picknic table under a hedge apple tree. First shot was at a starling 22 yards away and about 5 foot up a plum tree. Set the scope to Max zoom, adjusted the AO and took aim on the dirty birds neck. The pellet struck home and the starling fell to the ground without as much as a twitch.
Next was on another starling, same distance same tree. He was startled by the shot on his buddy. Took off and came back not 2 minutes later. Just enough time for me to load another predator & scan for his position. He was tucked behind a good sized branch so and I couldn't get a shot so I waited him out. Sure enough, he hopped out and presented me with a nice profile. Juuuuust as I squeezed the trigger he started to take off & the pellet grazed his back. Got a few feathers, but he flew off full of life and FEAR.
Right about now all but a few birds are gone. They most likely got spooked and took off. Well, except for one! It was a Hail Mary shot... Put the crosshairs on hime & adjusted the AO until my sight picture was nice & crisp. Loaded a pellet, and took aim. "No...HIGHER!" I thought to myself. So I placed the crosshairs above it's head and squeeeeeezed. THWOP!!! Feathers EVERYWHERE. The pellet struck home with such authority it sounded as if someone just smacked a tennis ball with a broom stick. I took a look at the yardage the AO was set to. Just under 50 yards. I think "NO WAY!", so I paced it out. Turns out I was right...It wasn't just under 50 yards. On the contrary, it was just OVER at 53 yards! Once I get there I check the carcas over. The pellet connected with the meaty part of the starling's breast and everything behind it before finally exiting just behind the opposite shoulder joint. Killing him instantly. GREAT bird hunt so far.
Now I'm juiced up and need a smoke. Pulled a camel from the pack and just as I begin to light it I FINALLY see what I came here after. A NUTTER!!! He was about 19 yards out in a small fig tree twitchin his tail. "Whooooooooa NELLY!!! No time for a cigarette now!" Flicked the cancer stick & loaded the rifle as fast & quietly as I could, dropped to one knee and just as I get my finger into the trigger guard I hear crunching leaves and in a spanish accent "SAMUEL!!! You better not be shooting at the squirrel!!!" . My wife struck again and scared away the ONLY nutter of the day.... Well Ya win some and ya lose some. Shortly there after, I pack up and head to Jack in the Box for a Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger, Curly Fries & a large Root Beer. Aaaaah, comfort food!
