I was sitting out back at the shooting table with my Regal XL waiting for this squirrel that had jumped into my leland cypress in the corner of my lot. He was traveling along the fence top, and they typically hop up into the cypress because it provides good cover and is right next to a mature white oak. Although the acorns have all dropped by now, they still forage around the area.
I know by now that it is useless to go over there and try to stalk to the tree and get a shot. I usually just wait, and more times than not, the squirrel comes back down the cypress, and travels along the fence top where I usually am offered a shot.
I was catching up on the news on my phone and sipping some coffee. Beautiful morning, and I'm just enjoying the setting. Nature calls and I have to go inside to relieve myself. After that mission is accomplished, I'm coming back down the steps to the garage that then goes into my back yard, and what do I see as I come down the steps? Mr. Nutter.
Really? I've been waiting at that table for about an hour, and NOW you show up? Thankfully, I have a another rifle in the corner of the garage, and I grab the Coyote, my shooting sticks, and have a seat on the bottom of the steps. He is just about at the junction of where my fence top ends, and a mature myrtle begins. They jump into the myrtle, and continue onto the pines in the next lot.
I have one place where I can take a safe shot. This is a 'leap off' point right in front of the last 6x6 post and top cap. Many a squirrel has met his demise here. I flip open the scope caps, chamber a round, and acquire my target. He heard me chamber the round, and is in a pre-jump squat, looking right at me. His head is down a bit and quartered slightly to my right. I let it fly.
THWACK! I see a squirt of fluid fly through the air (morning sunlight has side lit the scene), and the squirrel drops backwards off the fence top. Oh my. That was brutal. I get over to him immediately, and he has just folded and is done. No dance. No twitches. Nada. Wish they all went like this. Love that head down, head-on shot offering.
Entry is right where I was aiming. No exit. Blew that eye right out of the socket at impact.I guarantee that pellet is way down the length of his body. I'll dig it out later to see the damage if I get a chance.
Gamo Coyote + JSB 14.35 + Shooting Tripod + Seated on step. Range 22 yards.
I know by now that it is useless to go over there and try to stalk to the tree and get a shot. I usually just wait, and more times than not, the squirrel comes back down the cypress, and travels along the fence top where I usually am offered a shot.
I was catching up on the news on my phone and sipping some coffee. Beautiful morning, and I'm just enjoying the setting. Nature calls and I have to go inside to relieve myself. After that mission is accomplished, I'm coming back down the steps to the garage that then goes into my back yard, and what do I see as I come down the steps? Mr. Nutter.
Really? I've been waiting at that table for about an hour, and NOW you show up? Thankfully, I have a another rifle in the corner of the garage, and I grab the Coyote, my shooting sticks, and have a seat on the bottom of the steps. He is just about at the junction of where my fence top ends, and a mature myrtle begins. They jump into the myrtle, and continue onto the pines in the next lot.
I have one place where I can take a safe shot. This is a 'leap off' point right in front of the last 6x6 post and top cap. Many a squirrel has met his demise here. I flip open the scope caps, chamber a round, and acquire my target. He heard me chamber the round, and is in a pre-jump squat, looking right at me. His head is down a bit and quartered slightly to my right. I let it fly.
THWACK! I see a squirt of fluid fly through the air (morning sunlight has side lit the scene), and the squirrel drops backwards off the fence top. Oh my. That was brutal. I get over to him immediately, and he has just folded and is done. No dance. No twitches. Nada. Wish they all went like this. Love that head down, head-on shot offering.
Entry is right where I was aiming. No exit. Blew that eye right out of the socket at impact.I guarantee that pellet is way down the length of his body. I'll dig it out later to see the damage if I get a chance.
Gamo Coyote + JSB 14.35 + Shooting Tripod + Seated on step. Range 22 yards.
