To follow up on the squirrel hunting log, I went out Saturday morning and sat on a big rock in a spot known to hold squirrels. I saw nothing. Got bored, so I played with a little call that I had and nothing. I got my phone out and texted a sick friend to check on him, then texted another who was setting up a PRS match at one of the local clubs. I was not competing this month as I got exposed to COVID - again and was supposed to be quarantined and avoiding contact with people. Thus, I was in the woods instead. I told my friend that I had not seen a thing and was going to pack it in. As I stood, I saw a branch on an oak about 40y away bounce and sway. The conditions were nigh on perfect. Cool, overcast, it had rained the night prior and when the squirrels moved it caused drops of water to fall.
I hunt with my ears first and my eyes second and I could hear the forest come alive with movement. I spotted the first moving through that oak but the only time he stopped all I could see in the scope was the tip of his tail, lol. Then two more went rat racing around and around a tree trunk to my right. I turned but the were too quick and disappeared. Then a 4th jumped from one hickory to another behind me and I turned once more just in time to see it vanish behind the tree trunk. As I was glassing that one a 5th tree rat came in riding the tree tops to join the party from the south. Two more for a total of seven joined shortly thereafter. The forest is lush and thick this time of year. We have had excess rain and it has caused a rapid growth cycle of the trees. Spotting a squirrel is hard. Spotting one stationary is even harder. I was spinning in circles trying to catch one in my sights. I climbed up on my rock for a better view but no joy. My shooting stick is too long, so I adjusted it downward only to spot another squirrel in the top of one of the nearest trees and so I adjusted it to its max height. Then one off to my West was spotted on a large tree trunk down low and not moving.
Hot damn, I thought as I slid my off hand down the shaft of the shooting stick. Found my squack, still frozen in my scope. It was a longish shot and I was less than steady. I moved my right foot back a few inches to get a more stable stance and Oops, my foot slipped off the edge of the large boulder I was standing on and I nearly fell on my ass. Caught my balance and steadied myself once more, taking careful aim at the fat Grey in my sights. Slowly squeeze the trigger, waiting for the surprise break, then "RING, RING, RING", my cell phone rang. WTF?? trigger breaks, the Mask let only a "Poof" of a sound out of the muzzle of the Bergara, and the squirrel also heard my phone ring and jumped up the tree trunk as the 40g slug hits the tree where the squirrel had just been a moment before with a disappointing thud. !@#$%, lol. That is why they call it hunting and not shooting/killing. Last year's ARA National Champion was on the line asking about our sick friend. I sat down on the rock and we had a nice long talk about several subjects and about 30 min later, I hung up and all the squirrels were long gone. Oh well, I never care if I kill one anyway. I just like to hunt them. Plus, it gives me a great excuse to to buy more rifles. Below is pick of the little Bergara, BMR with the Dead Air Mask attached, taken from the boulder in the story. Enjoy.
Irish
haha!
lol
