For the last few years Chipmunk populations around here have been very low. I know people kid me about being the cause, but I know it is more environmental - lack of food at times (due to weather), a robust Hawk population, and some other factors. Anyway, I watched the populations around here decline greatly - this year looks to be different ;-) We had showers on and off today, so I spent only about 45 minutes hunting the little suckers - and netted a half dozen. I took 4 using an FX500 with the power adjuster set on low- ranges were between @37 and 55 yards. I spotted one from the shop door, so grabbed the FX500 and when I cycled the bolt, hit the last pellet stop - so quickly grabbed the .30 Bobcat and cycled a 44gr JSB .30 pellet. This one was right at 50 yards based on where he was, and when I took the shot, I swear, I could see through the scope that it looked like he blew up like a balloon when the pellet struck him. This is the entry -
the exit was down around his hip on the back leg - he had basically been cleaned out.
I then took the .30 to the back of the yard, and set up along a drainage wash. There is shooting potential up to about 65 yards on this wash. One side rises from the level I am, to maybe 10-12 feet, the other side of the wash rises in two steps, one maybe 10 feet, then another up to about 30 feet. I think there was a logging trail here many years ago - but it is a PRIME chipmunk habitat. I was looking to get a few at the top of the rise, at around 65 yards -
While I was sitting and watching for movement, one popped out from under a root ball at perhaps 25 yards. I figured "why not?" Beaded up on him after loading another JSB 44gr pellet, and let the shot fly. I hit him smack in the nose. This one I chose not to photograph, as it basically turned his head inside out. Both eyes popped from their sockets, his nose(and lower jaw) from the eye sockets forward, the entire back half of his head, and half his back was just gone.
the exit was down around his hip on the back leg - he had basically been cleaned out.
I then took the .30 to the back of the yard, and set up along a drainage wash. There is shooting potential up to about 65 yards on this wash. One side rises from the level I am, to maybe 10-12 feet, the other side of the wash rises in two steps, one maybe 10 feet, then another up to about 30 feet. I think there was a logging trail here many years ago - but it is a PRIME chipmunk habitat. I was looking to get a few at the top of the rise, at around 65 yards -
While I was sitting and watching for movement, one popped out from under a root ball at perhaps 25 yards. I figured "why not?" Beaded up on him after loading another JSB 44gr pellet, and let the shot fly. I hit him smack in the nose. This one I chose not to photograph, as it basically turned his head inside out. Both eyes popped from their sockets, his nose(and lower jaw) from the eye sockets forward, the entire back half of his head, and half his back was just gone.
