Author Topic: Greetings from Kansas!  (Read 10288 times)

Offline atchman2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1199
    • http://dxsinc.com
Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #15 on: June 10, 2010, 05:10:25 AM »
Got another rabbit this morning-on video!  I grabbed my TF 89 and headed out the door.  Before I opened up I had seen a couple moving along the windbreak.  I walked up as close as I could and got into a good offhand firing position.  The Super Dome went straight and true nailing him right in the fusebox!  I'll look at the video in a bit and get it up on the net for you guys to see.
\"These birds are crapping on you even when their dead those are some bad dudes....\" Wingman115

Offline DougT

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 232
    • http://
Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #16 on: June 10, 2010, 10:18:23 AM »
My buddy shoots ground squirrels (much smaller that prarie dogs) at 200-300 yards with his .223 and a 6X scope.  Your 12X Barksa should be fine.  You don't need 24X to shoot something the size of a cat at that range.  The bullet is still flying pretty fast and hasn't dropped much at that range.
Hammerli 850 HPA .22 & Leapers 3-9x32  --  TF-89 .22 & Leapers 4x32
---------------------
2010 air rifle kills
288 starlings
235 pigeons
6 crows
25 other birds
56 ground squirrels
3 tree squirrels

---------------------
2009 air rifle kills
181 various birds
57 various squirrels

Offline atchman2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1199
    • http://dxsinc.com
Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #17 on: June 14, 2010, 08:31:56 PM »
Yeah, but you buddy is probably a LOT better shot than me :)  

I never was happy with the zero on the rifle.  I'm just not sure it was shooting anywhere close to the target.  I could see them pretty with the 12 x scope.  I guess my point was it would have been a LOT easier with a larger scope.  

This week I'm going to take it out to Jim's farm and bench rest it.  I'm going to get some cheaper military ammo to get it close and then zero it with my the hollow points.
\"These birds are crapping on you even when their dead those are some bad dudes....\" Wingman115

Offline atchman2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1199
    • http://dxsinc.com
My Newb Coyote Hunt
« Reply #18 on: June 14, 2010, 08:35:11 PM »
My Newb Hunting Experience

I've been out in Northwest Kansas for the last five days or so to attend the Herndon Ox Roast (which is tomorrow if you are nearby). I carried my coyote hunting stuff with me from Tennessee thinking that I would see a gazillion of them! That was not the case....

One of the locals told me that a lot of them were killed by the mange. I have no reason not to believe him as some of the other folks on the forum have had areas where the mange has greatly reduced the numbers of coyotes.

The first day I tried a couple of stands near a natural spring. It is a pretty wooded area with one of the few creeks running out of it. There was a good place to park the pickup over a nearby hill. I took my Mojo Critter and El Cheapo caller to try. The wind was actually to our side as I couldn't get into a good position to be able to see. I tried for about half an hour with no response.

Later, I went to my prairie dog town. It is in a large valley with water, but not much cover since the crops are just now starting to grow (corn). I figured they would be near there since there are prairie dogs and lots of young deer. The wind was perfect for this one, but I didn't see or hear anything.
My nephew and I spent a couple of evenings using the siren with no success. The areas looked pretty decent with some cover, water, and such, but they may have been just too close to people.

After my brother-in-law Kyle poisoned the prairie dog town, there was only a few left. I shot a bunch of ammo at them in a futile attempt to take them out. The ones that were left over were pretty twitchy so I wasn't getting enough shots. I burned a bunch of ammo until I was down to my coyote ammo (hollow points for my .223 HandiRifle). I was having a hard time with my 12x scope, I really needed one with a better magnification for shooting the really long distance ones.

After that I gave it a rest and went to hunting rabbits and grackles with the air guns. I bagged a few rabbits and a few grackles so I was pretty happy. Besides I didn't have to walk very far and could run back into the air conditioner. Very Happy

There was a place that I wanted to go. It is my wife's cousin's place. They don't live there, but they farm it still while living in town. They have a series of hay field surrounded by some of the largest cottonwood trees I've ever seen. All the fields were recently cut and the hay bailed. There was lots of cover for animals all around.

My real problem was that I had made a plan at those other locations just knowing that there were coyotes. I also was humbled by the hot Kansas weather and so to go down here I just carried: my RuffiDawg, my ELK Howler, in my pocket I had a Primos KiYi which I really like. I had my rifle with 7 rounds of ammo and that was it. What was missing? NO SHOOTING STICKS and I left my binos in the pickup truck about half a mile away.

At least though I remembered my pickup and wind discipline. To be honest after the last few days I didn't expect to see anything (BIG MISTAKE). While I did pretty well at the start I skylined myself trying to get into a good spot for a stand. It was such a beautiful location! I could see hundreds of yards, the wind was perfect, but I was too casual moving in. I saw a large deer down near the hay bails. Off to the left another smaller one. Right in the middle was a smaller shape and I said to myself “I wonder if that is a coyote?” when I saw it hightail out of there! BUSTED! I didn't even get to raise my rifle! He was at least 250 yards away. DARN!

It is a huge section at least three miles of meandering ditches and cottonwood trees. I was more cautious the next time and setup on a point. I was able to crawl into it. It was perfect! I managed to call a cow, a wild turkey, and a rat (I mean a deer they are EVERYWHERE!) I could have hit the deer over the head. I guess the RuffiDawg kinda sounds like a fawn distress. She was a little puffed up to be sure.

I move about half a mile this time down to the last hayfield. It was perfect too! Nice field of view, perfect location for coyotes, wind in the best direction possible. I even remembered to sneak into the right way. However I blew the mouthcalls until I almost ran out of breath. Maybe my earlier escapades have ran them off? Beside me was a kinda dike that the tractors used to get into the field to bail. It ended in the other end of the pasture.

Casually I got moving down the hill. What is this? Off to my left its a coyote! It was circling downwind from my calling location! He saw me first and was moving at high speed. I managed three shots with my single-shot rifle before he went over the last rise. DRAT!

Can I list all of my mistakes?

1)No shooting sticks! Trying to hit one without some sort of rest was pretty pointless. I shouldn't have even started hunting until I went back to the RV and got them.
2)If I had my shotgun (back at the RV) I could have nailed him.
3)No binos. While you don't need them as much in TN they are mission essential in the wide open prairie.
4)Having failure in mind. I knew better moving into an area. After the last few days I just figured I was wasting my time. If I was prepared, I would have had my shotgun and shooting sticks at the very least.

Anyway, I wanted to share some hard learned lessons. I've read and watched so much I should have known better, but I think sometimes you've got to make some early mistakes to really learn and have those mistakes have some consequences.

What I have done better since I've been out here is I've learned to make better sounds on my hand calls. While I'm not Les Johnson, I think I can make my RuffiDawg sound a lot like his now. It is amazing how that after a few hours of practice you can get pretty good at the sounds.

After our Predator Hunting Seminar in TN, I bought an ELK Howler. It was kinda hard to learn how to use to be honest, but now I can howl pretty well with it. I would play the sounds on the electronic caller and imitate them. It has given me a lot of confidence in those two calls (and the KiYi which is a VERY easy call to master) that I just try with hand calls for awhile when I get back home to TN.
\"These birds are crapping on you even when their dead those are some bad dudes....\" Wingman115

Offline shadow

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11453
    • http://airguncamo@yahoo.com
RE: My Newb Coyote Hunt
« Reply #19 on: June 15, 2010, 01:07:28 AM »
Hang in there brother plenty of hunting time still ahead of you. Ed
I airgun hunt therefore I am... };)  {SHADOWS Tunes & Camo}  airguncamo@yahoo.com

Offline dk1677

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1436
    • http://
Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #20 on: June 15, 2010, 03:31:41 AM »
As Ed said hang in there! Better luck to ya! have Ed send you some Zen ;-)
Hammerli 850, Beeman RS3 ,Gamo viper express,Crosman 180

Offline ezman604

  • Owner/Executive Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 886
Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #21 on: June 15, 2010, 04:06:34 AM »


Thanks for the updates and details Randy. It's like bringing us along with you on the hunt and we appreciate it. Since a lot of us are locked in at work while you're out vacationing in the great middle America.



Good luck brother, have fun and hang in there, targets will present themselves.



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)
QB57 (l

Offline atchman2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1199
    • http://dxsinc.com
Rabbit Hunting VIdeo and final thoughts
« Reply #22 on: June 15, 2010, 05:32:49 AM »
Well I made it back from Kansas last night around 1:30 AM.  We drove 16 hours.  We did have a nice diversion by stopping at the Arch in St. Louis, MO.  Since I'm a big chicken when it comes to heights, the kiddos, grandkiddos, and wifey went up while I watched the dog and just enjoyed sitting by the river.  

I really didn't have time to hunt after Friday. I took a couple of shots at grackles but there were so many family members coming and going I just couldn't really get in any quality time.  On top of that the wind was gusting at times at over 30 mph and it rained a lot.  

On my last day of hunting I did manage to get a video with my game camera!  I should have had more game camera shots, but I was so busy with family stuff I didn't have time to do that much real air gun hunting.  

Here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K7De5cqKck&feature=email

I shot it with my Techforce TF 89 at about 30 yards in the offhand position.  He was sitting so still it was actually pretty easy.  Perfect shot in the head and down he went!  The TF 89 is really becoming my favorite hunting springer.  It shoots so nice and hard, is accurate and just isn't as heavy as my RWS 350.  I did my only successful home tune on it, so I think it has a fond place in my heart. :emoticon:

It was a successful week, not the perfect week I had planned, but it was pretty okay.  I got to enjoy hours of hunting and got lots of experience setting up for coyotes.  Just the field time will help in the future.  I got to practice calling a lot!  I also learned to streamline what I carry into the field for coyote hunting.  I think I've been carrying too much stuff or carrying it in an inefficient manner.  I did order a nice new bino lanyard.  I really think I'm going to leave the electronic call at home until I better learn the hand calls.  I can control the hand calls a little better for volume and can make lots of sounds with them.  

When I got back I had FOUR calls to help eliminate coyotes from farms!  I guess my buddy TeamRoper and I have LOTS of work to do!
\"These birds are crapping on you even when their dead those are some bad dudes....\" Wingman115

Offline only1harry

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3155
    • http://
Great video Randy!
« Reply #23 on: June 15, 2010, 01:35:55 PM »
Nice shot!  You can hear the impact and see the bunny jumping up and hitting the ground.  Looks like 30+yds too.  Your TF89 has sure proved itself, and you got it on film.  That's awesome :)
Springers:
Diana 36 .177
Diana 350 .22 (donated by Timmy!)
Diana 350 .177
PCP\'s:
Air Force Condor .22 (Airhog)
Air Force Condor .25 (Talon Tunes)
Air Force Condor .25 (Lemak)  
CO2/Pump:
RWS Hammerli 850 .22
Crosman 2240 Custom .22
A few Crosman pumpers .177

Offline dk1677

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1436
    • http://
Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #24 on: June 15, 2010, 02:32:04 PM »
Nice shooting Randy! And great video!
Hammerli 850, Beeman RS3 ,Gamo viper express,Crosman 180

Offline atchman2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1199
    • http://dxsinc.com
RE: Great video Randy!
« Reply #25 on: June 15, 2010, 04:25:02 PM »
Quote
only1harry - 6/15/2010  9:35 PM

Nice shot!  You can hear the impact and see the bunny jumping up and hitting the ground.  Looks like 30+yds too.  Your TF89 has sure proved itself, and you got it on film.  That's awesome :)


You should have seen it "POOF" the grackles!  It is just a great hunting gun.  

It is easier to carry and shoot off hand than the heavier 350.
\"These birds are crapping on you even when their dead those are some bad dudes....\" Wingman115

Offline Schmidty25

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 395
    • http://
Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #26 on: June 15, 2010, 04:35:23 PM »
Love the vid.  nice gun
Crossman G1 Extreme
Crossman Powermaster model 66
Crossman 1377C-R
Ruger AirHawk

Offline 1377x

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 441
    • http://
Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #27 on: June 15, 2010, 05:45:25 PM »
great video
keep it up

Offline atchman2

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1199
    • http://dxsinc.com
If you are interested in watching something kinda funny
« Reply #28 on: June 16, 2010, 04:47:22 AM »
Well it isn't about hunting but it is kinda funny.  When we went to Kansas we took my son-in-law Zach.  Come to find out he had NEVER shot a gun before!  The air guns he shoots with me sometimes were the first gun of any sort he had ever shot.  I figured though he had at least shot a shotgun.  

Earlier, he shot my nephew's .243.  He was scared to death.  His form sucked so I vowed to help try and improve it before I let him shoot again.  Anyway here is my attempt to show him how to shoot the shotgun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU_XwAtBBkI

The fact is, I was shooting some 3" high brass turkey loads.  These things do have a significant kick to them as noted by how much the shotgun kicked up when I shot it.  I'm 6'2" and over 260 pounds and it rocks me a little.  Anyway it is kinda funny as he wouldn't keep his feet apart so it rocked him a step backwards.
\"These birds are crapping on you even when their dead those are some bad dudes....\" Wingman115

Offline gamo2hammerli

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6261
    • http://
Re: Greetings from Kansas!
« Reply #29 on: June 16, 2010, 10:51:25 AM »
Great hunting report from Kansas.  Keep on whacking those critters whether with air or gun powder.
Gamo: Expotec .177 + Big Cat .177 + Viper .177 + Whisper .177, Hammerli Titan .177, Diana model 24 .177, RWS-Diana P5 Magnum pistol .177, Crosman: G1 Extreme .177 + Storm XT .177 + Sierra Pro .177 + 1377 pistol .177, Air Arms S410SL .22, BSA Scorpion T10 .22, FX Cyclone .177, Remington Air Master 77 .177 + BB\'s,