Another Gray w/.25 EDgun Lelya 2.0

[Ezana4CE]

I spent about 45 mins hunting the woods behind my old man’s place. I managed to pick up some activity after about a half-hour and caught this sow on a tree trunk about 30 yards out. I kneeled down, sat my rifle atop my hand that I’d flattened over a fence post rail, steadied the reticle around the eye/ear area and took my shots. I hit it with the third shot I missed the first and hit her with next three shots. The first shot to connect (my second shot) was a neck shot in front of the shoulder that sent her flipping and flopping. Because there were others and I knew I wouldn’t go to retrieve her immediately. I sent a follow up shot I wasn’t sure if it connected and sent a second. After cleaning her I realized all three shots hit her.


Because I left her by the base of the tree trunk and moved in search of the others I could hear in another area, I’m reminded that remembering where your quarry expires is a part of the hunt. I took about a half hour in unfamiliar woods and two flashlights to find the carcass. She’s now cleaned and in the freezer.

 

[L.Leon]

Good, honest hunting tale. Follow up shots are the right thing to do when in doubt. I like that nighttime photo, really captures how dark the woods can be.

 

[sasquatch]

Great airgun and nice shooting 

 

[Ezana4CE]

@L-Leon and @sasquatch Thank you both. I don't mind sending follow-up shots. My aim is to prevent wounded animals from escaping and suffering. It was just good to actually see some activity for a change. Lately my other hunting grounds have been a lot less active. I hadn't seen any squirrels on my last 3-4 outings. The squirrels around my dad's place are used to being hunted with PBs so they didn't know what was going on with shots from the Lelya. After the first shot landed next to the sow, she hopped around on an oak tree trunk looking a little confused. Before the second shot came she managed to eke out a couple of barks and then I silenced her. It was also windy and her barks didn't sound loud at all. There was still movement in an adjacent area. I moved toward activity, but had to let them go in order to try to find my quarry before the sunset. All-in-all I appreciated the brief outing, search included.

 

[Ranchibi]

Ezana, great hunt and shooting and recovery! Nice photo....sure was dark when you weee hunting!

 

[Ezana4CE]

Ezana, great hunt and shooting and recovery! Nice photo....sure was dark when you weee hunting!

@Ranchibi I should have mentioned that I started hunting before sunset and I stopped stalking squirrels as the sun lowered on the horizon so I could retrieve this one before dark. When I went back to the spot I shot her from I had trouble determining which tree she was shot on. Then when I thought identified the markers I made a mental note of and I went into the woods I had an issue gauging distance in the low light. As a result I spent the last minutes of daylight searching in an area that was too close to my shooting position using a cellphone flashlight. I had to leave the area, ask my old man if he had a flashlight, then come back and resume my search. I was about ready to give up when I saw her white belly. I found her on my third sweep of the area after working my way further into the woods. So it had gotten dark by the time I found her.


I also forgot to mention that I just cleaned the barrel the day before and the four shots I took on this hunt were my first since cleaning my Lelya. I still have not leaded in the barrel again. 

 

[bertman77mk2]

Ha! Good shooting. Leyla is probably my favorite off-hand gun.