A swing and a miss....

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

I was out hunting groundhogs tonight. I know where one lives, and I've been trying to get it.

I sat my folding chair on a dirt driveway, overlooking the field. The soybeans are so full and mature, that the only time I can see one is when it stands up. But I'm sitting there looking my binoculars, and I see a nose and an eye sticking up out of the plants. My folding chair isn't that sturdy, and I use bipod shooting sticks. I could tell looking through the scope that I wasn't very steady. But I did my best to go for a head shot...the only thing I could see. (actually I could only see 1/2 it's head.) Probably about 150 yards. I fired, and I didn't go down. I cycle another round into the gun, but it ran off into the woods.

I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE!

 

[Immike]

I used to go every spring with a buddy to the river bottoms when the soybeans just sprouted and shoot steel until the inevitable live targets got used to the noise. I was waiting for it more than he was and would beat him on the trigger while he fumbled around ranging and note books. Lol I even shot one right behind us 30ft away one day , it would drive him crazy trying to kill one. Lol Heck I got 3 with 2 shots one day !

 

[357Mag]

Ohio -

Howdy !

You might have to wait until the 'beans are " off ", and shoot that critter then.... when he shows-up along the edge margins of the field.
He'll be startin' to fatten up for the hybernation, and will have to stay out longer then; in order to find enough chow.

It's all good !


With regards,
357Mag

 

[MrMajestic]

OVS, I could write a big book on my misses as the honest ones out there could! ;D When setup in a folding chair I try to get settled back so I am supported well and use an adjustable tripod/walking stick. Your small target would make it very difficult, however, passing up a safe shot is not in my vocabulary either! :-[

 

[lpreddick]

THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME ON MON! i was shooting off a table that was not very stable and the range was 300 yds. missed the sob, so i went back yesterday and hid on a hill 100 yds away and set up for a prone shot. guess what? it was 85 degrees but the bugger came out to eat, stood up and...BANG...WHUMMMPPPP! the moral here is ...don't mess with the killer.

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

I think I'll be more secure/steady in the sitting position with shooting sticks than sitting in a folding chair using the sticks. I the future, the chair will be nice for sitting, but when it's time to shoot, down on the ground I go. Beans are too tall for a prone shot.

 

[CaptainMal]

Bought a little table with chair attached. Bummer. Every time you breath it moves the table.

Folding chair with separate table, not "sticks" has to be better. One other thing - What fun to try.

 

[K22]

I think I'll be more secure/steady in the sitting position with shooting sticks than sitting in a folding chair using the sticks. I the future, the chair will be nice for sitting, but when it's time to shoot, down on the ground I go. Beans are too tall for a prone shot.

You actually can shoot quite accurately from sitting in a folding sportsman's chair and using shooting sticks. I've been hunting ghogs and predators like this for over 10 years after switching from a Harris bipod. The key is to rest your elbows on your knees with your non shooting hand gripping the sticks while your feet are flat on the ground. While this system in not as stable as prone with a bipod, with a little practice I'm able to consistently make hits at 250 yards with this system which covers 95% of my opportunities where I hunt.

The reason I switched to this system is that I get a much higher shooting vantage point over sitting or prone affording me more opportunities in the terrain where I hunt. Also, this system keeps me off the ground and minimizes the chance of contacting ticks which are prolific in my area. Also, for me, an old guy , sitting in a chair is a lot more comfortable than sitting on the ground.

The chair folds flat and I've devised a sling for it so I can easily carry it in the field. I can also access it quickly if I want to stalk ghogs, one of my favorite endeavors.

My shooting sticks are the cross type and are home made from two 1/2" solid aluminum rods, cut to 43" height with rubber heater hose on the ends for 10" in length. The sticks are bound together with a loop of 1" industrial grade velcro. This allows me to quickly adjust to any height I need by sliding the loop up or down. The sticks are light weight and very sturdy not flexing under load or shooting. I've shot over 1,000 ghogs with this system and believe me it works - again out about 250 yards for me.

 

[K22]

Speaking of soybeans and ghog heads, I was out on Monday and the beans are about 6 to 8 inches high in my area. Around 7:00 PM I saw a ghog roll out of the tree line into the bean patch. I lost him in the patch until he stood up and started munching on some leaves. I could only see from the head to the shoulder. He was at 234 yards, a long shot for me with that limited profile but I had my super accurate Mark V Weatherby Supervarmint Master. So I took my time, place the cross hairs on the neck and sent a 55 grain Nosler from the 223. Down he went.

I had hit him in the shoulder, a perfect shot and instant kill. It was the only one I saw that evening but I was happy - a great shot (for me) always makes me happy.