Just getting in from a cool morning hunt. Up around 7am and headed out a few minutes after 8am. It was around 39 F with no wind, clear skies, and dew on the ground. Donned full camo with a thin thermal layer beneath. Great morning to hunt. I made it out into an area in the woods with a few mature oaks, thin sweet gum trees, and older pines. Some of the pines rotted and fell down over some young sweet gum trees causing them to grow bent over. After the vines attach themselves they kinda hold them down. I like finding these because they make good hiding places for me so I situated myself beneath one.
As I’m taking in the sunrise, myriad song birds (and crows of course), I hear a faint rustle in the distance. I glass the areas with my scope and see a gray at the base of a decent sized oak. Clicked off my safety, checked my parallax knob and put it between 15 and 25 yards, aimed for the right eye, squeezed the trigger and let one fly. The familiar sound of the shot rang out and registered like a man flicking small, hollow, air-filled bottle reverberated through the area briefly the. The squirrel was knocked to its side and kicked for maybe 10 seconds in a semi circle. I continued to watch through the scope to see if a follow up shot was needed. The squirrel expired swiftly and no follow-up shot was taken. I left it where it fell remembering the brush as branches around the tree trunk to mark the spot. Before changing locations I went to find and retrieve the carcass. The shot hit a little low and entered in front of the right shoulder. I can’t recall the angle. It wasn’t a broadside or full frontal shot. I think the difference between the POA and POI was my doing. I’m not sure that it moved. Either way I’m good with it. It died quickly without the need for a follow-up shot.
For some reason my body didn’t want to cooperate today. Between the diuretic effect of my coffee, sinuses draining into my throat causing phlegm to tickle my epiglottis, belching, and an ocasional stomach grumble, I found myself moving a few times from areas I’d disrupted with unnecessary noises. In all of my activity and changing locations this was the only squirrel I saw this morning. One is better than none. The falling leaves and branches definitely work into their favor. They all can’t be multiple animal bag days. It was good to get out on such a beautiful morning. I almost didn’t go out, but glad I did. Time to clean this guy up and get some target practice in.
Edit: add pass through photo of carcass. After looking at the carcass I realized that the pellet entered at the top front portion of the right shoulder, passed through at least one lung (they were bloody), cleared the heart and exited through the ribs behind/beneath the left shoulder in the armpit area. I aimed at the eye and missed. When they’re sitting still I try to take my shot as quick as possible before they move. I think that the inaccuracy was on me.
Gear: .25 Edgun Lelya 2.0, Vector Veyron 3-12x-44mm FFP @ 5x magnification, Midway single point sling, shooting .25 JSB Match Diabolo King 25.39 grain pellets.
As I’m taking in the sunrise, myriad song birds (and crows of course), I hear a faint rustle in the distance. I glass the areas with my scope and see a gray at the base of a decent sized oak. Clicked off my safety, checked my parallax knob and put it between 15 and 25 yards, aimed for the right eye, squeezed the trigger and let one fly. The familiar sound of the shot rang out and registered like a man flicking small, hollow, air-filled bottle reverberated through the area briefly the. The squirrel was knocked to its side and kicked for maybe 10 seconds in a semi circle. I continued to watch through the scope to see if a follow up shot was needed. The squirrel expired swiftly and no follow-up shot was taken. I left it where it fell remembering the brush as branches around the tree trunk to mark the spot. Before changing locations I went to find and retrieve the carcass. The shot hit a little low and entered in front of the right shoulder. I can’t recall the angle. It wasn’t a broadside or full frontal shot. I think the difference between the POA and POI was my doing. I’m not sure that it moved. Either way I’m good with it. It died quickly without the need for a follow-up shot.
For some reason my body didn’t want to cooperate today. Between the diuretic effect of my coffee, sinuses draining into my throat causing phlegm to tickle my epiglottis, belching, and an ocasional stomach grumble, I found myself moving a few times from areas I’d disrupted with unnecessary noises. In all of my activity and changing locations this was the only squirrel I saw this morning. One is better than none. The falling leaves and branches definitely work into their favor. They all can’t be multiple animal bag days. It was good to get out on such a beautiful morning. I almost didn’t go out, but glad I did. Time to clean this guy up and get some target practice in.
Edit: add pass through photo of carcass. After looking at the carcass I realized that the pellet entered at the top front portion of the right shoulder, passed through at least one lung (they were bloody), cleared the heart and exited through the ribs behind/beneath the left shoulder in the armpit area. I aimed at the eye and missed. When they’re sitting still I try to take my shot as quick as possible before they move. I think that the inaccuracy was on me.
Gear: .25 Edgun Lelya 2.0, Vector Veyron 3-12x-44mm FFP @ 5x magnification, Midway single point sling, shooting .25 JSB Match Diabolo King 25.39 grain pellets.
