Rabbit/Squirrel hunting thread (Page 5 of 7)
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Originally Posted By bug_eyedmonster:
Hey folks, I'm relatively new to this stuff, I've been varmiting about a dozen times in the past year or so. It seems last year, about this time here in northern/central CA, there was more to shoot. I dunno if I'm doing it wrong, but we have two ranches we usually go to, both have cattle and the damn squirrels and gophers dig holes everywhere and cause problems for the owners (friends). When we first started, we'd just walk around, and when we spot something, we'd shoot it. Nowadays, it seems like we can't find many around, and when we do, they scatter like crazy. I've tried to sit somewhere and wait for them to come back out, but they don't seem to be coming back. At the other ranch, there are a couple of flats that are about 200-300 yards in diameter. Same thing, we lay out prone, shoot, and now there's nothing around. An oldtimer we bumped into once said to whistle if they start to run, and they should stop in their tracks. I'm going to try that next time I go out. I read somewhere there's a distress call, but haven't found anything on that. Any tips? I had a similar problem with rabbits, but it seems like they are slowly starting to come back out. I'm headed out again in a couple of weeks, but my friend who owns one of the pieces of property sid that he's seeing a few around again. The rabbits I've seen/shot are both cotton tails and jacks. The jacks are pretty easy kills, they are much bigger and I usually get them pretty far away... but the cotton tails seem to know I'm trying to line them up in my sights. As soon as I get my rifle up, they start running like there's a fire. Any ideas on them as well? Thanks in advance, any help would be greatly appreciated... hopefully i can contribute to the pictures as well! Jerry I downloaded an app on my ipod called Primos STL. Hook it up to a speaker and when the ground squrriels run i use the Mouse Squeeze call and churp it once. They stop dead, litterally. i always go to a field and post up with my table, do a 10/22 close range and AR15 long range. nothing shows? o well, bad day hunting is better than a good day at work!! |
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Originally Posted By punisher07:
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z105/new1_2007/falconry/012-1.jpg i am using a 900 harris hawk for my rabbit hunting, gonna try her on squirrel next yera!  Falconer FTW! |
"A government that does not trust it's law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is itself unworthy of trust." - James Madison
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Originally Posted By punisher07:
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z105/new1_2007/falconry/012-1.jpg i am using a 900 harris hawk for my rabbit hunting, gonna try her on squirrel next yera! I should have bought a falcon.......... |
If you mess with the BULL, you get the HORNS.
Cottontail taken with a suppressed 12 gauge shotgun. Also shot several other rabbits and lots of prairie dogs with suppressed .223 and .300 Blackout AR-15s, but that's nothing new around here.
Here we are sniping p-dogs. 
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Honey Badger don't care. Honey Badger don't give a shit.
I went out tonight to sight in a new scope and rifle and when I was done, I was just sitting there on my shooting mat putting some info in my dope book when my son says "Hey, a jackrabbit!" I look up to see this big ol' jackrabbit about 50 yards away rolling around in the dirt, so I slowly open a box of ammo, load a round into the chamber of the rifle, and roll into the prone position. The rabbit never saw me until it was too late and a 168gr Hornady TAP round slammed into his boiler room - first blood for my new rifle. What you see in the picture below is the exit wound, but what else is in the picture is the weirdest thing I have ever had happen when shooting a jackrabbit - I blew the rabbit's heart out, whole and complete and without a scratch, and it landed right where you see it in the picture. Craziest thing I have ever seen.
And every good shooter needs a good spotter. 
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Honey Badger don't care. Honey Badger don't give a shit.
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You take your laptop hunting with you?! |
Honey Badger don't care. Honey Badger don't give a shit.
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got this tiny one today
the smallest I have ever seen used a 16 gauge 870 instead of the 31 
these two are from last weekend 
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I have to return some video tapes.
shikata ga nai
May your first day in hell last ten thousand years, and may that one be the shortest.”
sowoneul malhaebwa
shikata ga nai
May your first day in hell last ten thousand years, and may that one be the shortest.”
sowoneul malhaebwa
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Originally Posted By finnman1:
Loving the pics, but some of the posts here are disturbing. "Bubba got 200 rabbits this weekend" Really? Do you REALLY need to destroy the WHOLE Population? Thank you for ruining hunts for your neighbors when they go to take out thier kids hunting. Assholes. Bag limits are there for a reason, I'm pretty sure the guys that set them might know what they are doing. As for the guys that post pictures of kills that are way over the bag limit, I know several of them have an eradication permit. I'll apologize for them killing animals that damage land, endanger cattle, and destroy crops. You, being from Iowa, should understand that. |
"A government that does not trust it's law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is itself unworthy of trust." - James Madison
ATF should be a convenience store, not a government agency.
ATF should be a convenience store, not a government agency.
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I agree, Im surprised I see people taking rabbits or squirrels with anything larger than .22's. I drop all my game using one of my new favorite toys, a game whisper. .177 8 grain at about 1050 fps with glass and they are all DRT. I've even taken a squirrel from about 7 yards sitting out for him all day in my yard with a beeman p3 which is only about 450 fps, definitely not appropriate unless I was set the way the shot was made. you guys must be blowing them to mist. Originally Posted By Keith_J: Well, I got another squirrel this morning. Got to keep them under control, otherwise the pecan crop suffers. Heard them before dawn. Once light was good enough, I snuck around. Perched on a low limb 25 yards distant was a small male, looking right at me. I eased the safety off, pulled the butt firmly into my shoulder and aimed right below the jaw. Through the 3 power scope, I knew I had hit right where I aimed. I heard it fall in the brush and after a bit of searching, found it. Now I was using my RWS 48. But in my rush, had taken flat points instead of hollow points. The difference? Less penetration. Upon skinning, the pellet was found in the upper left shoulder, just under the skin, after it had DESTROYED the neck. No spinal cord left. Lungs were just a bit bloody. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y104/weisseluft/IMG_1693.jpg The air rifle is an effective hunting tool, if the pellet is moving at 1050 FPS. Pointed or even hollow point pellets usually penetrate completely. The lighter H points shed the front portion, then the back keeps on going. Pointy pellets just zip though. Flat nosed and the heavier Crow Magnums usually stay in the squirrel, just under the skin on the other side unless all major bones are missed. I've connected with them out to 55 yards. Each one an instant kill. The .22 long rifle must really be an overkill. |
"Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt. That's the first thing they teach you."
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Originally Posted By Keith_J:
Well, I got another squirrel this morning. Got to keep them under control, otherwise the pecan crop suffers. Heard them before dawn. Once light was good enough, I snuck around. Perched on a low limb 25 yards distant was a small male, looking right at me. I eased the safety off, pulled the butt firmly into my shoulder and aimed right below the jaw. Through the 3 power scope, I knew I had hit right where I aimed. I heard it fall in the brush and after a bit of searching, found it. Now I was using my RWS 48. But in my rush, had taken flat points instead of hollow points. The difference? Less penetration. Upon skinning, the pellet was found in the upper left shoulder, just under the skin, after it had DESTROYED the neck. No spinal cord left. Lungs were just a bit bloody. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y104/weisseluft/IMG_1693.jpg The air rifle is an effective hunting tool, if the pellet is moving at 1050 FPS. Pointed or even hollow point pellets usually penetrate completely. The lighter H points shed the front portion, then the back keeps on going. Pointy pellets just zip though. Flat nosed and the heavier Crow Magnums usually stay in the squirrel, just under the skin on the other side unless all major bones are missed. I've connected with them out to 55 yards. Each one an instant kill. The .22 long rifle must really be an overkill. This is why I prefer my 17HMR 
ETA: Click on picture for video. |
"A government that does not trust it's law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is itself unworthy of trust." - James Madison
ATF should be a convenience store, not a government agency.
ATF should be a convenience store, not a government agency.
my friend made a awesome head shot on this one with a 17 mach 3?? I forget, not the 17 HMR but the smaller one. was about 75 yards. blew its brains all over the tree behind it
and my kills 
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shikata ga nai
Some will say, that I'm no good, maybe I agree, take a look, then walk away. That's all right with me
sowoneul malhaebwa
Some will say, that I'm no good, maybe I agree, take a look, then walk away. That's all right with me
sowoneul malhaebwa
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Originally Posted By JeredMD:
Bday weekend hunting trip =) http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x247/jerede/DSCN02711.jpg Rockin the Coach Gun 
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x247/jerede/DSCN02681.jpg trusty 870 http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x247/jerede/DSCN02641.jpg found this feller on a stump in the woods. This was a GREAT trip 2 tree rats, a dog and a 6 pack, sounds like a good day to me. |
"A government that does not trust it's law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is itself unworthy of trust." - James Madison
ATF should be a convenience store, not a government agency.
ATF should be a convenience store, not a government agency.
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Originally Posted By Joenavy85:
Originally Posted By JeredMD:
Bday weekend hunting trip =) http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x247/jerede/DSCN02711.jpg Rockin the Coach Gun
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x247/jerede/DSCN02681.jpg trusty 870 http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x247/jerede/DSCN02641.jpg found this feller on a stump in the woods. This was a GREAT trip 2 tree rats, a dog and a 6 pack, sounds like a good day to me. 4 tree Rats and a couple doggies It was an awesome BDay!
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Blessed be the LORD, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle. - Psalm 144:1
From a few years ago... First kill with my first rifle, at the ripe old age of 22
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"I HOPE THAT YOU REMEMBER YOUR GOD GIVEN FREEDOMS, AND REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REGIMES INTENTIONAL DESTRUCTION OF OUR ONCE GREAT COUNTRY, AND DIE IN A PILE OF SMOKING BRASS." MOLON LABE !"
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Originally Posted By soldierman79:
My son shot this one with his .22 this weekend. http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss251/soldierman79/IMG_20130120_090500_zps708b4c93.jpg Good to see the younger guys still getting out there. Specs on the gun? |
"A government that does not trust it's law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is itself unworthy of trust." - James Madison
ATF should be a convenience store, not a government agency.
ATF should be a convenience store, not a government agency.
|
Originally Posted By Joenavy85:
Originally Posted By soldierman79:
My son shot this one with his .22 this weekend. http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss251/soldierman79/IMG_20130120_090500_zps708b4c93.jpg Good to see the younger guys still getting out there. Specs on the gun? It's a Remington Model 597 .22 that was passed down from his Uncle. |
si vis pacem, para bellum
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Originally Posted By Carabinero1979:
This winter has been AWESOME for rabbit hunting! I have a bunch of crappy cell phone pics... but here's a decent pic of a bunny I shot yesterday... http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2231/2207065474_f310ca38aa.jpg?v=0 This looks right above Eagle Mountain if I'm not mistaken 
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"You see, what had happened was..."
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What Make Model is this PCP Air Rifle? I think it is beautiful. |
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Originally Posted By scorpionmain:
What Make Model is this PCP Air Rifle? I think it is beautiful. It is a Theoben Rapid in what I assume is.25cal.. It also appears to have an aftermarket shroud. I have a Theoben Rapid "MFR" ( Regulated & factory shrouded version ) in .20cal 
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Originally Posted By punisher07: http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z105/new1_2007/falconry/012-1.jpg i am using a 900 harris hawk for my rabbit hunting, gonna try her on squirrel next yera!  |
