I haven't been able to get to the duck farm in quite some time but today I finally got in a couple hours of hunting . I got home from work at 3 pm, got into my hunting clothes and opened up one of the gun safes to pick out a weapon. I started to reach for the .22 Talon but the .22 Panther caught my eye and I decided to take her. My plan was to hunt for birds and G-hogs and even though I usually do my bird hunting with .177 rifles my Panther is so darn accurate that I knew she was the perfect choice,,,, she's proven herself on G-hogs before and her accuracy makes long shots on small targets like starlings very do-able if I do my part. I grabbed the Panther, the CPH pelletes she loves so much, and headed for the farm.
It was 91 degrees at the farm according to the digital readout in my truck and that was in the shade. I didn't see any G-hogs when I first pulled in but it was still early and I figured they would wait for the sun to dip and the temp to lower before coming out to feed. I loaded up and headed for the shady perimeter of the farm. I figured I'd stalk slowly around the farm and see what I could find, however my plan was hindered a bit by very tall grass which was growing all around the perimeter of the farm. Usually the grass fields on the farm are kept low by either the farmers mowers or the ducks themselves, but for some reason the grass was almost waist high in some places and knee high in most others. I slowly worked my way through the grassy fields and did surprise some G-hogs in the tall grass, but getting a shot was not an option since they would immediately run off into the grass. I decided to work my way to one of the large barns and sit and glass the farm to find a G-hog to stalk. As I was slowly working my way through one of the fields I suddenly saw a small G-hog feeding in a low patch of grass about 30 yards ahead of me. He hadn't seen me so I had the edge. I got down low in the grass and slowly started closing the gap. Every once in a while I would pop my head up above the grass and take a look and I realized that he was feeding in my direction. I worked my way to the edge of the lower grass and sat and waited . Sure enough the G-hog was still feeding right towards me,,, I could just barely see the top of his back in the grass. I got the rifle into shooting position and waited. The G-hog was 20 yards out and slowly closing the gap. I sat motionless in the grass and watched as he worked his way to a position 15 yards directly in front of me. I waited until he finally stood up to take a look around and sent a CPH screaming toward his left eye. the pellet slammed home and the G-hog fell over onto his back, his tail sticking straight up doing that twitching action that usually signals a fatal hit. I immediately loaded another CPH and approached, but a second shot was not necessary, the CPH had done it's work. I put my dinner in the game pouch and headed off to find another target.
As I was walking back to my truck to place the dead G-hog under the truck in the shade I suddenly noticed a large G-hog feeding greedily at a grain feeder near a large barn that was about 75 yards away. I decided to stalk him by making my way to the large barn and then completing my stalk by working my way through the barn to the opposite end. If I could get to the far end of the barn it would put me in a position that was only 25 yards from the feeders that the G-hog was raiding. I went slowly and finally reached the far end of the barn. There was a large ground level opening, used by the ducks to enter and exit the barn, and through this opening I could see the G-hog in front of a feeder, his face buried in the duck grain. As I got ready to take aim the G-hog suddenly stopped eating, turned and starting waddling towards the opening in the barn I was near. I instantly realized what was happening,,,,,, the G-hogs burrow was inside the barn and he was headed home after his feast. I knelt down and just waited. Sure enough the fat G-hog waddled right into the opening and into the barn, the distance between us was 10 yards. He stopped and froze as soon as he noticed me but it was to late. The trigger was pulled and the CPH was on it's way. I heard the pellet slam into his left eye and he went down like a sack of potatoes. Tail went up in the air, quivering wildly and then it was over. This G-hog was much larger than the first one and very fat,,, can only imagine how much duck grain he's eaten,,, but he won't be eatin anymore :)
As I retrieved the G-hog I noticed something else that was brown standing in front of one of the feeders,,,, it was a young rabbit. Well, if he's eatin grain he's fair game, so I put the crosshairs on his noggin and sent a pellet his way. At the impact the rabbit jumped about 3 feet high, hit the ground and started kicking his back legs wildly. His death dance only lasted about 30 seconds then he gave up the ghost. As I was walking the fat G-hog and the rabbit back to the truck I noticed a small flock of pigeons feeding at some grain feeders 50 yards from the truck. After placing the rabbit and G-hog in the shade under the truck I made a slow stalk towards the pigeons. I managed to get within 35 yards and decided it was as close as I was gonna get because the birds were getting nervous. I picked out a large pigeon, fired and immediately heard the "POP" and saw the pigeon fall forwards. The flock lifted off and took flight but my pigeon just lay there. The pellet had hit him in the chest and put him down for the count. Went and retrieved my pigeon and headed back to the truck. Back at the truck I was getting ready to leave when I saw a couple of starlings land in a tree 40 yards off to my right. I had a pellet loaded so I figured why not take a shot. Picked out a bird, fired and watched him topple from the tree and hit the ground. God I love that Panther :) !!!!! I retrieved the starling but he's not in the pic cause I saw a feral cat with some kittens hiding in the weeds near my truck so I tossed the starling over to them,,,, I figured the kittens might like a snack. The mother cat grabbed the bird and her and the kitten disappeared further into the bushes to enjoy their snack.
Before cleaning my kills at home I took some pics for my GTA buddies to enjoy. Hope ya like em...... Felt good to get back out and do some hunting..
Jeff
