Squirrel activity has been slow to non-existent this month. I think I have 4 for January??
Not today. Rainy off and on, and just a pretty dreary day. I spotted one on the fence top in the back yard, and when I got out back, it was a trio of squirrels traveling together. One broke east, the other went under the fence south, and the other hopped up a maple in the back of my neighbor's yard.
I followed the one to the east since it was closest. I had to stand still for a while, but finally spotted her up in the oak tree. It was a perfect presentation on the elbow of a main branch right on the truck. Safe backstop, and a nice profile to boot. Let her have it and she dropped to the ivy below. Took her right above the left eye.
Daystate Regal XL + JSB 18.13 + standing braced. Range 17 yards.
I headed back inside since it was raining pretty well at this point. As I put my prize up on the bench to take a look, I spotted the nutter that went for the maples. She was pretty far back, but I think I had a shot.
I set up my folding chair, grabbed the sticks, and had a seat. Man, this was a pretty far one. She was sitting on a branch about 20 feet up, and was quartering slightly towards me. I had a very small target window, but I just felt like this was a shot I could make with a good platform.
I was using the Gamo Coyote Whisper in .22 this time. I have a UTG 4-12 x 44 on it, and I leave it on 12x. I had figured out my holds on ranges out to just under 45 yards, so I felt I had this one within my wheelhouse. I should have grabbed my range finder, but I did not want her to move on.
I line up with one mil-dot holdover on her noggin and let it fly.
POK! She tumbled forward like a statue and plunged to the ground. Wow, that was so awesome that it literally surprised me. I was second guessing myself and got over to under the tree as quick as I could thinking that maybe it was just a wounding shot.
I got over to under the maple, and sure enough, DRT right at the base of the tree. Holy cow. That was pretty cool. I hit her in the left chest area, so the pellet dropped more than I had anticipated, since the range was further than I estimated. The pellet lodged under the skin mid-body. I dug it out, and it was still in pretty good shape. I've attached some pictures.
Gamo Coyote Whisper + JSB 14.35 + Seated with Sticks. Range 53 yards (laser range finder). This is my second longest shot on small game. I have one other of 54 yards with my HW95. However, that was a relatively 'easy' side profile shot. I think this is my most difficult to date. Pretty happy with that.
Oh, saw two other squirrels in the distance. Things are certainly picking up.
Here's the first one from the oak...
Here's the gal at 53 yards. Got lucky on the underestimation of my hold over..
Pellet held its shape pretty well even though it traveled through some bones and about 4" of meat.
Different angle. Decent rifling out of the Coyote.
Not today. Rainy off and on, and just a pretty dreary day. I spotted one on the fence top in the back yard, and when I got out back, it was a trio of squirrels traveling together. One broke east, the other went under the fence south, and the other hopped up a maple in the back of my neighbor's yard.
I followed the one to the east since it was closest. I had to stand still for a while, but finally spotted her up in the oak tree. It was a perfect presentation on the elbow of a main branch right on the truck. Safe backstop, and a nice profile to boot. Let her have it and she dropped to the ivy below. Took her right above the left eye.
Daystate Regal XL + JSB 18.13 + standing braced. Range 17 yards.
I headed back inside since it was raining pretty well at this point. As I put my prize up on the bench to take a look, I spotted the nutter that went for the maples. She was pretty far back, but I think I had a shot.
I set up my folding chair, grabbed the sticks, and had a seat. Man, this was a pretty far one. She was sitting on a branch about 20 feet up, and was quartering slightly towards me. I had a very small target window, but I just felt like this was a shot I could make with a good platform.
I was using the Gamo Coyote Whisper in .22 this time. I have a UTG 4-12 x 44 on it, and I leave it on 12x. I had figured out my holds on ranges out to just under 45 yards, so I felt I had this one within my wheelhouse. I should have grabbed my range finder, but I did not want her to move on.
I line up with one mil-dot holdover on her noggin and let it fly.
POK! She tumbled forward like a statue and plunged to the ground. Wow, that was so awesome that it literally surprised me. I was second guessing myself and got over to under the tree as quick as I could thinking that maybe it was just a wounding shot.
I got over to under the maple, and sure enough, DRT right at the base of the tree. Holy cow. That was pretty cool. I hit her in the left chest area, so the pellet dropped more than I had anticipated, since the range was further than I estimated. The pellet lodged under the skin mid-body. I dug it out, and it was still in pretty good shape. I've attached some pictures.
Gamo Coyote Whisper + JSB 14.35 + Seated with Sticks. Range 53 yards (laser range finder). This is my second longest shot on small game. I have one other of 54 yards with my HW95. However, that was a relatively 'easy' side profile shot. I think this is my most difficult to date. Pretty happy with that.
Oh, saw two other squirrels in the distance. Things are certainly picking up.
Here's the first one from the oak...
Here's the gal at 53 yards. Got lucky on the underestimation of my hold over..
Pellet held its shape pretty well even though it traveled through some bones and about 4" of meat.
Different angle. Decent rifling out of the Coyote.
