It's been a while since I've picked up an airgun. The wet winter combined with the "Bull Incident" last Fall that damaged my Impact took some wind out of my sails as far as getting out with my airguns. Now that Spring is trying to get started I've got the urge. The appearance of ground squirrels, turkeys, and increasing Eurasian doves hasn't hurt.
Yesterday morning after running into town to get some of those super-expensive water troughs for landscape/planters, I was seeing turkeys everywhere on the way back. I decided to grab the Sam Yang 909 .45 and make a short 5 minute drive to a separate parcel of the ranch. I've been telling myself that this year I was going to use the 909 for turkeys; the .25 FX just wounds too many birds and the .308 Texan needs wheels to pack up and down the hills. And while I'm pretty good with the Texan offhand, the 909 is so easy and comfortable to aim/shoot/carry that it's the smart choice for 100 yards and under.
After arriving at the area, I did a drive through along the ranch road and right at the end there was a tom chasing a flock of hens. He was about 50-60 yards from the road which is perfect since I'm zeroed at 60. I drove past the flock, and then just stopped the truck, got out and used it as a blind. The tom was so focused on the hens that he didn't run off. I had to wait for him to turn because all I had to shoot at was a big fan facing me. As soon as he turned, I aimed center body and let fly. The bullet hit home and he went down flopping in a heap. He never got up, and I let him finish moving before walking up. Heck of a nice tom, and a nice treat not having to walk miles up and down mountains.
Today I did the same thing. Glynnis and I were planning on sturgeon fishing, but she's been working insane hours (full time at the regular job and catering every weekend) and so I didn't wake her up this morning at o'dark thirty to catch the daybreak tide. Instead, I went back up the hill to see if I could score another one while she slept in. I left at 7:15 and was back with a tom at 7:45.
When I drove up, I saw a tom walking in the open field at about 200 yards. There was no way I could get close for a shot, except for the fact that there was a row of cow feeders right between us. He was staying put, and I could keep the feeders between me and him by crouching. So I closed the distance while watching to make sure that he didn't scoot out left or right. With the rising sun, my shadow was stretched out about 50' and I was sure that would bust me, but I somehow got away with it. As I got closer I kept checking my range card to make sure that I wouldn't miss. Once I was inside of 50 yards all of that became moot. I took full advantage of the feeders blocking me and when I took a peek over the top the bird was at about 20 yards. He started walking in my direction so all I had to do was take a knee and wait for him to pass the end of the feeder, which is exactly what he did. I delivered the slug at 15-20 yards. The bird ran about 75' and then laid down.
I saw the long beard and thought that the bird was even bigger than yesterday's. Not the case at all. While it had a super long beard, the spurs were short and it might have been the skinniest bird I've ever shot. Both breasts fit into a sandwich baggie. Yesterday I couldn't fit both breasts in a gallon Ziploc. Whatever, that's hunting.
Great to get back out, and especially great to christen the 909. It's a pleasure to shoot and a fantastic turkey gun.
Yesterday morning after running into town to get some of those super-expensive water troughs for landscape/planters, I was seeing turkeys everywhere on the way back. I decided to grab the Sam Yang 909 .45 and make a short 5 minute drive to a separate parcel of the ranch. I've been telling myself that this year I was going to use the 909 for turkeys; the .25 FX just wounds too many birds and the .308 Texan needs wheels to pack up and down the hills. And while I'm pretty good with the Texan offhand, the 909 is so easy and comfortable to aim/shoot/carry that it's the smart choice for 100 yards and under.
After arriving at the area, I did a drive through along the ranch road and right at the end there was a tom chasing a flock of hens. He was about 50-60 yards from the road which is perfect since I'm zeroed at 60. I drove past the flock, and then just stopped the truck, got out and used it as a blind. The tom was so focused on the hens that he didn't run off. I had to wait for him to turn because all I had to shoot at was a big fan facing me. As soon as he turned, I aimed center body and let fly. The bullet hit home and he went down flopping in a heap. He never got up, and I let him finish moving before walking up. Heck of a nice tom, and a nice treat not having to walk miles up and down mountains.
Today I did the same thing. Glynnis and I were planning on sturgeon fishing, but she's been working insane hours (full time at the regular job and catering every weekend) and so I didn't wake her up this morning at o'dark thirty to catch the daybreak tide. Instead, I went back up the hill to see if I could score another one while she slept in. I left at 7:15 and was back with a tom at 7:45.
When I drove up, I saw a tom walking in the open field at about 200 yards. There was no way I could get close for a shot, except for the fact that there was a row of cow feeders right between us. He was staying put, and I could keep the feeders between me and him by crouching. So I closed the distance while watching to make sure that he didn't scoot out left or right. With the rising sun, my shadow was stretched out about 50' and I was sure that would bust me, but I somehow got away with it. As I got closer I kept checking my range card to make sure that I wouldn't miss. Once I was inside of 50 yards all of that became moot. I took full advantage of the feeders blocking me and when I took a peek over the top the bird was at about 20 yards. He started walking in my direction so all I had to do was take a knee and wait for him to pass the end of the feeder, which is exactly what he did. I delivered the slug at 15-20 yards. The bird ran about 75' and then laid down.
I saw the long beard and thought that the bird was even bigger than yesterday's. Not the case at all. While it had a super long beard, the spurs were short and it might have been the skinniest bird I've ever shot. Both breasts fit into a sandwich baggie. Yesterday I couldn't fit both breasts in a gallon Ziploc. Whatever, that's hunting.
Great to get back out, and especially great to christen the 909. It's a pleasure to shoot and a fantastic turkey gun.
