Author Topic: Greetings from Kansas!  (Read 10289 times)

Offline atchman2

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Greetings from Kansas!
« on: June 07, 2010, 07:10:24 AM »
Well I made it out here despite my RV breaking down only 50 miles from my final destination. :(  

I got to go try and shoot at prairie dogs with the air guns.  I kept missing high and couldn't figure it out.  Well the scope screws on my 350 were loose!  I had my air gun tool kit with me.  I loosened the screws the rest of the way and then used blue Locktite.  I've let them dry all night.  Even my TF 99 was acting up on me when I got here! Stock screws were the culprit there so it was easily fixed.  

The TF 89 and the Whisper have behaved themselves well, but my nephew and son-in-law were shooting them.  Anyway, I have the air gun problems sorted out-for now.  

I've tried for coyotes a couple of times with no success.  However, I've seen the usual gazzillion deer, turkey, and pheasants! Yesterday I even saw the first jackrabbits I've seen in years.  It is nice to see stuff.  

My .223 lost its zero and so I shot it a bunch of times to get it back close.  I'm still not convinced of its zero so I'm going to head out on some flat land and try it again.  

Today I woke up and went coyote hunting, but it was raining to beat the band!  Even the prairie dogs weren't around.  Again though deer-everywhere!  Are they the new rats?

Anyway, it looks like the son is coming out now so I hope I can go shoot some prairie dogs today.  

Atch
\"These birds are crapping on you even when their dead those are some bad dudes....\" Wingman115

Offline longislandhunter

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RE: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #1 on: June 07, 2010, 07:24:58 AM »
sounds like a great place to be with an air rifle or powder burner Randy,,,,,    Keep us posted on your hunts.  Sure wish I was there with ya, just to see all that game running around....

Jeff
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Offline dk1677

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Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #2 on: June 07, 2010, 03:40:39 PM »
Glad you made it safe! Hope you get some critters to post here!
Hammerli 850, Beeman RS3 ,Gamo viper express,Crosman 180

Offline ezman604

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RE: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #3 on: June 07, 2010, 04:01:16 PM »


Randy, glad you made it even with the vehicle issues. Keep us posted and hopefully you can gather some good photos and have some great hunts. I spent several years in Wichita and the surrounding area while stationed at McConnell AFB. Stayed out there a few years after retiring. I miss it sometimes.



Have a good vacation brother Randy and keep us updated.



Happy Shooting!!!!



Dave



Crosman/Revelation 760 PumpMaster (Vintage 1967)
Powerline 1000S .177 (semi-tuned by me)
Benjamin Super Streak .177/.22 (semi-tuned by me)
Benjamin Trail NP XL1500 (bone stock)
Benjamin Trail NP XL1100 (project gun)
TF89 .22 (tuned by Gene)
Winchester 1000WS .177 (semi-tuned by muwah)
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Offline 1377x

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Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #4 on: June 07, 2010, 06:58:14 PM »
good luck hunting

Offline JimH

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Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #5 on: June 07, 2010, 07:50:07 PM »
Looking forward to your photos! Burner had or not.
\"You\'ll put your eye out!\"

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Offline shadow

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Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #6 on: June 08, 2010, 01:26:40 AM »
Keep us posted bro, hope you drag something back for the supper table. :) Ed
I airgun hunt therefore I am... };)  {SHADOWS Tunes & Camo}  airguncamo@yahoo.com

Offline atchman2

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Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2010, 03:59:17 AM »
Well yesterday it rained so the ground was mush.  Last night it rained and it looks like it again today!  Yesterday I fired nary a shot at anything.  Even the prairie dogs didn't come out.  

Last night I tried the siren for coyotes, but didn't hear any.  One of the locals said that the mange got them all.  I may call around to the adjacent counties and see.  I did see some coyote tracks near my prairie dog town.  Hopefully it will dry off today so I can shoot SOMETHING.  I'm seeing lots of critters mostly -RATS (I mean deer).  They are under almost every tree!  I may walk the roads today for rabbits if nothing else.
\"These birds are crapping on you even when their dead those are some bad dudes....\" Wingman115

Offline atchman2

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Pictures at Last!
« Reply #8 on: June 08, 2010, 06:28:51 PM »


Well the score today is still low but it isn't zero! Walking around this morning I nailed a Grackle at 25 yards or so with the TF 89 shooting Superdomes. For some reason my China guns LOVE German pellets! He was sitting in the top of an old dead tree. I fired offhand and dropped him. He plummeted into the windbreak. Since I was warned about rattlesnakes I decided not to go try and find him. This afternoon my kids were riding bikes and found one! My brother-in-law Kyle, dispatched it with a shovel to the head. It was a nice on with about seven rattles. I'm glad my kiddos know what they look like!



Later in the morning I went out to the prairie dog pasture with my wife, father-in-law, and Kyle. We were going to burn down two old buildings that were out there. They were so rickety that they weren't worth saving. In a few minutes two barns, and two HUGE piles of old tree branches were up in flames. I was 300 or so yards away and I could feel the heat.



I had missed a couple of shots at the dawgs with the .223. I'm sure it wasn't zeroed correctly, but I wanted to burn some rounds anyway. I moved down to get away from the burning barn a bit. I took a couple more shots at some to get the range and they bailed back underground. Patiently I sat on my nice turkey hunting cushion with my rifle on my home made shooting sticks. Finally one came out of his hole and started sneaking over to the next one. The first shot was high, as I suspected my zero was off in that direction. I dropped down about 2" and fired. This time he pitched over and went down-first kill for the HandiRifle!



After waiting a few more minutes, I went back to the truck to get the video camera. I stepped off the shot and it was 149 paces (about the same in yards as I have BIG feet). When I arrived I found the prairie dog, but I didn't find most of his head! Anyway, I was pumped, took some pictures, and when I was done it was time to eat lunch.



When I went back to the truck I kept waiting and waiting for my wifey to finish. So I went back to SHOOT SOME MORE! This time I caught one unaware with his head out of the hole. I had adjusted the scope down four clicks to hopefully get it to shoot 1" lower. I hit him right at the level of the hole and blew him to bits! So my last two shots at least I was two for two. So $10 worth of ammo, which is $5 per dog; and I complain about pellet prices. :D



I decided I hated the stock scope on the rifle and "stole" the Barska scope from my TF 99. It is a 12x scope with an adjustable AO and mil dots. A LOT better than the POC that came with the rifle. When I got it mounted, I took it out and shot about 20 rounds through it to establish a zero. I put two in the bullseye and decided it was okay. I can't group a powder burner nearly as well as I can group an air gun.



Hope you enjoy the pictures of my adventure.  






This is my hunting spot. It is probably the only remaining prairie dog town in Rawlings County, Kansas. It is about to be no more as Kyle needs to use it for cattle. I'll have to find a new place to hunt the next time I'm out here.






The first kill ever for my .223 HandiRifle! It is a H & R with a bull varmint barrel. I like it because it is light and easy to carry. Hopefully it won't be long until the next victim!





This is my rifle and the "Bi-Fur Pod" shooting sticks. I made them from directions on varmintal.com They are standing over their first kill.






It is a kinda low-res picture, but here I am happy about my first firearm prairie dog kill!



\"These birds are crapping on you even when their dead those are some bad dudes....\" Wingman115

Offline dk1677

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Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #9 on: June 09, 2010, 03:26:13 AM »
Nice shooting! Thanks for the pictures!
Hammerli 850, Beeman RS3 ,Gamo viper express,Crosman 180

Offline atchman2

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More Pictures: rabbits and rattlesnake!
« Reply #10 on: June 09, 2010, 10:14:22 AM »
After the poison there are so few prairie dogs it isn't worth it! This morning I tried but I left my #O#&(#$&#($&# shooting sticks back at the farm! I shot at a couple and then gave up. I'll be there aren't a dozen left and that really isn't worth fooling with.

This morning I bagged another rabbit. I shot it with my TF 89 air rifle at about 30 yards. I've also bagged three grackles/cowbirds/blackbirds (to folks from Tennessee). The air gun puts a serious hurt on them! Anything under 40 yards is dead meat from the air guns. You can get a couple of shots at them over that though.

I'm going to try coyote hunting at a couple of abandoned farms late this afternoon. I haven't seen any evidence of coyotes in the proximity! Maybe they are down near the creek bottoms a bit more.

My brother in law thinks they have a COUGAR at his old farm! He wants me to go "call" it for him! I told him my little popgun .223 isn't the rifle I'd want to have if one showed up! Razz


Anyway here are some more pictures of today.  I've attached the "gun camera" to the TF 89 so you guys will get the "Cowbird Cam" in the morning!  Hopefully I'll get some good video for you!  One rabbit was shot by the .223, the other one was by the TF 89.  The rattlesnake fell to the "True Temper" spade wielded by Kyle.  :D

(NOTE:  You will also notice the blood special effects on the rabbit.  Through a little trial and error I think it got it just right.  I just want to give a shout out to Shadow, LongIslandHunter, Furseeker, and Only1Harry for their excellent blood special effect advice)  :emoticon:
\"These birds are crapping on you even when their dead those are some bad dudes....\" Wingman115

Offline shadow

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RE: More Pictures: rabbits and rattlesnake!
« Reply #11 on: June 09, 2010, 02:40:10 PM »
Outstanding shooting and pic's brother and hope to hear about a Yote or cat harvest. :) Ed
I airgun hunt therefore I am... };)  {SHADOWS Tunes & Camo}  airguncamo@yahoo.com

Offline dk1677

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Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #12 on: June 09, 2010, 02:45:14 PM »
Great pictures and shooting! Keep 'em coming!
Hammerli 850, Beeman RS3 ,Gamo viper express,Crosman 180

Offline 1377x

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Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #13 on: June 09, 2010, 05:32:24 PM »
congrats on the first handirifle kill
and you have something to show for your efforts
have fun

Offline atchman2

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Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #14 on: June 09, 2010, 07:25:35 PM »
Thanks guys! If I can roll out of bed early tomorrow I should bag some rabbits and grackles before breakfast.  They are really active here in the morning.  

I was just about to pull down on one tonight when my nephew started his car and ran it off.  I've got the TF 89 and the Super Domes ready to go already along with my camera gear.  

I shot about 50 more rounds at the last few prairie dogs at WAY too far for me to shoot.  The scope I have just isn't good enough for shooting such a small target at long distances.  It is fine for most stuff but I really needed a 24X scope.  At over 300 yards they looked like dots.  Even in my binos they are pretty hard to spot.
\"These birds are crapping on you even when their dead those are some bad dudes....\" Wingman115