First big game with my Piledriver

[hybridvigor]

Idaho allows air guns for hunting so I thought I’d see how bear hunting would go. I set out a bait and had bears in a couple days. The big guys only came in the middle of the night but there were some pretty ones in the day. One small red with a white chest but he got a pass for next year. The sow and cubs spent a lot of time emptying my bait. Finally got a nice big black to come in right at dark but he was very skittish and didn’t give me a clean shot. The next evening he did a repeat of coming in and getting scared and running off. Didn’t take him too long until he was back and this time he gave me a nice broadside shot. Bad idea for him. Double lung shot at 65 yards from the ground blind. He only went 21 yards!
250 pounds, 6 feet nose to tail
Piledriver 457, Mr Hollowpoint 365

 

[Rich_B]

Woohoo, great job.

 

[Compressed_Precision]

Awesome! Nice work!

 

[Badgerfarm]

NICE!!!!!

 

[AmosBurton]

Gonna be a nice rug! Congratulations!

 

[iAMzehTOASTY1]

Heck of a score! Great job!!

 

[Ranchibi]

Heck of a shot there! Nice pic! Congratulations

 

[Nomadic Pirate 66]

Phenomenal !!!!!!

All those folks that keep repeating that Airguns aren't ethical for big game hunting need to rethink their stand on the matter.

 

[Gerry52]

I'm blown away! That's, by far, the biggest ground squirrel I've ever seen! Seriously though, congrats! Pretty damn impressive.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Outstanding!!

 

[hybridvigor]

Thanks for the kind words.
Here’s an update:
Found the slug while cutting meat. Split into 2 pieces and was in the off shoulder. Wow, soft lead.

Making some breakfast sausage and cured/ smoked hams. Yummy. And rendering down the fat for some good old bear grease!

 

[kayaker]

Congrats on a successful hunt ! Do you have any plans for the skull and claws ?

 

[hybridvigor]

Took the hide to the taxidermist to get tanned and skull done. He was a fighter and had lots of scars and wounds. Probably wouldn’t make a good rug but I can change my mind anytime. Plus I already have a nice rug and a 1/2 body mount on the way ( last year’s bear)

The news just gets better all the time. I found out today that I was successful in the draw for moose. Short range weapon only moose hunt! Air rifles qualify! Also pistols, muzzleloader , shotgun slugs, and bows. Statistically high success rates in this area. Wish me luck. I plan to do a better job of documenting the moose hunt than I did with the bear.

 

[Blackpaw]

Welcome, that is one big ground hog.

 

[westcoast Dawg]

Airgun moose hunt!

 

[Hal4son]

That is pretty cool. Looking forward to the moose tales. When does that season open?

 

[hybridvigor]

Moose season is August 30- November 23. Unit 63A. I plan to go scout before then. May have to skip elk hunting this year.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Moose season is August 30- November 23. Unit 63A. I plan to go scout before then. May have to skip elk hunting this year.

Moose season in a few weeks. Letttt’s gooooo!!

 

[hybridvigor]

I have been doing some scouting and talking to people about the area. Planning to hunt the rut starting the last week of September until I fill my tag.
Saw this guy while we were running the river scouting.

 

[Contndr35BB]

Took the hide to the taxidermist to get tanned and skull done. He was a fighter and had lots of scars and wounds. Probably wouldn’t make a good rug but I can change my mind anytime. Plus I already have a nice rug and a 1/2 body mount on the way ( last year’s bear)

The news just gets better all the time. I found out today that I was successful in the draw for moose. Short range weapon only moose hunt! Air rifles qualify! Also pistols, muzzleloader , shotgun slugs, and bows. Statistically high success rates in this area. Wish me luck. I plan to do a better job of documenting the moose hunt than I did with the bear.

Great hunt & shot . Hope your moose hunt is successful !