A True varmint hunter

[Bobbyboy6br]

my best friends dad passed away today on his 91 birthday . Jerry started hunting groundhogs up in dutchess county New York back in the mid 50s when 222 rem was the caliber of choice for varmint Shooters. As soon as the grass was cut in those fields Jerry was out there scoping the hedge lines for groundhogs.He taught me and my friend Jerry’s son Mitch all the ropes on varmint hunting. We’ve been doing it ever since .Last summer was Jerry’s last varmint hunt at age 90. He loved every minute of it. Jerry you will be missed .

 

[mmcu]

I am sorry for the loss of your friend and mentor.

 

[Bobbyboy6br]

I am sorry for the loss of your friend and mentor.

Thank you

 

[Bill K]

Well he enjoyed what he liked, for a good number of years. Prayers are with the family and his buddies.

 

[thekriebles]

Sorry for your loss. My grandfather played a similar role for me with hunting and fishing while introducing me to a lot people he touched during his years. Honor Jerry by passing along to others what he shared with you.

 

[snert]

Sorry for your loss.

I do hope I make it that long!

 

[Intheshop]

Condolences.

It sounds like Jerry passed on a personal passion. One that will endure,or legacy the thing he loved to do. Simply can't ask anymore of a man than that. Just know he's in a better place,probably fireforming new brass.

I'll send some 22-250's downrange today for you Jerry.

 

[msinc]

Very sorry to hear this...go out there and shoot the next one for him!!!!

 

[pintopete]

Bob, sorry for your loss. I'm sure the void left from Jerry's passing stings quite a bit for you and likely more significantly for his son & family.

My condolences to you and Jerry's family, Mitch, etc.

Peter.

 

[Bobbyboy6br]

Thank you all

 

[drags]

View attachment 1173760 my best friends dad passed away today on his 91 birthday . Jerry started hunting groundhogs up in dutchess county New York back in the mid 50s when 222 rem was the caliber of choice for varmint Shooters. As soon as the grass was cut in those fields Jerry was out there scoping the hedge lines for groundhogs.He taught me and my friend Jerry’s son Mitch all the ropes on varmint hunting. We’ve been doing it ever since .Last summer was Jerry’s last varmint hunt at age 90. He loved every minute of it. Jerry you will be missed .

Hi BobbyBoy6br, my condolences To Jerry's family and yourself. I don't know Jerry but I will miss him too and many more like him that have passed. I started groundhog hunting in SW Penna. in 1959 and so far I haven't missed a season yet if everything goes alright I will start my 61 season this year and I am looking forward to it. I hunt for a few hours almost every morning and shoot the local groundhog shoots on the weekend (I call it shooting paper groundhogs) and that keeps me busy all summer. Also I still hunt the same farm that I started on. When I started hunting groundhogs the rifle sight in at my range was almost as much as it was for deer season not so today, but for me there is nothing like sitting on a Penna. farm on a nice summer day hunting groundhogs. Sorry if I made this about me but your post on Jerry reminded me of some of my mentors. Thanks for the great post.
Drags

 

[DirtySteve]

My condolences to you and his family.

 

[stacy]

Sorry for the family and friends of there loss those true old time varmint hunter have taught all of us bout the sport that we love so much may God bless praying for the family

 

[Bill Norris]

Sorry for your loss. Prayers for family and friends.

 

[K22]

Sorry to hear of your loss. To be able to hunt groundhogs into your 90's is amazing. I'm in my 70's and still addicted to ghog hunting. I prefer it above all other types of hunting. Your post caused me to reflect on one of my most cherished memories which I'll share.

I imagine most of us had a mentor. When it came to small and big game hunting my father was my chief mentor. However he had no interest in varmint hunting.

I became seriously interested in varmint hunting in the late 60's when a friend of my father's purchased a large farm in Greene County in western PA. This was the most beautiful and remote farming area I ever saw. He had a ghog problem so I began hunting them with my "do all" only center fire rifle, a 243 Win equipped w/ a 3 x 9 Redfield scope. I lugged around an old Army ammo box with two sand bags as a rest which required me so shoot from the prone. This system was fair at best. I had to pass up a lot of shots due to the limited field of view from the prone and I wasn't too successful beyond 150 yards with this system. Plus I got my share of wood ticks on me from lying prone on the ground.

This was the days before there were a preponderance of field shooting aids. It wasn't until I met an old timer who introduced me to the concept of using 'cross sticks' as a field shooting aid similar to the one's the old Buffalo hunters used that I began to become real successful. At first I used it in the sitting which was an improvement. Later I added a portable sportsman's chair shooting from the sitting position off the chair with the cross sticks with both elbow resting on the knees. Good things really started happening fast. It took me a while to become proficient but soon I was making shots in the 200 yard range fairly regular. As I became better at it my effective range increased to about 250 yards. This was also the days before there were range finders.

His gun of choice was a 222 Rem also with a Weaver 10X scope. An unselfish man to the core, he introduced me to a number of new farms and we become hunting partners. I didn't keep account of our kills in those days but we shot a lot of ghogs. It's amazing how successful you can be with a sporter rifle and a simple 3 x 9 scope if you know your rifle, have an effective field shooting aid, and a good mentor. Still have very fond memories of those days.

 

[Bobbyboy6br]

Hi BobbyBoy6br, my condolences To Jerry's family and yourself. I don't know Jerry but I will miss him too and many more like him that have passed. I started groundhog hunting in SW Penna. in 1959 and so far I haven't missed a season yet if everything goes alright I will start my 61 season this year and I am looking forward to it. I hunt for a few hours almost every morning and shoot the local groundhog shoots on the weekend (I call it shooting paper groundhogs) and that keeps me busy all summer. Also I still hunt the same farm that I started on. When I started hunting groundhogs the rifle sight in at my range was almost as much as it was for deer season not so today, but for me there is nothing like sitting on a Penna. farm on a nice summer day hunting groundhogs. Sorry if I made this about me but your post on Jerry reminded me of some of my mentors. Thanks for the great post.
Drags

Thank you so much for responding back a great story to hear and good luck hunting this summer

 

[Bobbyboy6br]

Sorry to hear of your loss. To be able to hunt groundhogs into your 90's is amazing. I'm in my 70's and still addicted to ghog hunting. I prefer it above all other types of hunting. Your post caused me to reflect on one of my most cherished memories which I'll share.

I imagine most of us had a mentor. When it came to small and big game hunting my father was my chief mentor. However he had no interest in varmint hunting.

I became seriously interested in varmint hunting in the late 60's when a friend of my father's purchased a large farm in Greene County in western PA. This was the most beautiful and remote farming area I ever saw. He had a ghog problem so I began hunting them with my "do all" only center fire rifle, a 243 Win equipped w/ a 3 x 9 Redfield scope. I lugged around an old Army ammo box with two sand bags as a rest which required me so shoot from the prone. This system was fair at best. I had to pass up a lot of shots due to the limited field of view from the prone and I wasn't too successful beyond 150 yards with this system. Plus I got my share of wood ticks on me from lying prone on the ground.

This was the days before there were a preponderance of field shooting aids. It wasn't until I met an old timer who introduced me to the concept of using 'cross sticks' as a field shooting aid similar to the one's the old Buffalo hunters used that I began to become real successful. At first I used it in the sitting which was an improvement. Later I added a portable sportsman's chair shooting from the sitting position off the chair with the cross sticks with both elbow resting on the knees. Good things really started happening fast. It took me a while to become proficient but soon I was making shots in the 200 yard range fairly regular. As I became better at it my effective range increased to about 250 yards. This was also the days before there were range finders.

His gun of choice was a 222 Rem also with a Weaver 10X scope. An unselfish man to the core, he introduced me to a number of new farms and we become hunting partners. I didn't keep account of our kills in those days but we shot a lot of ghogs. It's amazing how successful you can be with a sporter rifle and a simple 3 x 9 scope if you know your rifle, have an effective field shooting aid, and a good mentor. Still have very fond memories of those days.

Great story thank you so much for responding back it’s nice to hear stories like that about back in the day good luck hunting and be safe

 

[rebel]

Great story thank you so much for responding back it’s nice to hear stories like that about back in the day good luck hunting and be safe

Bobby, first - he had style. The blue shoes are killer.
My parents didn't hunt or own guns. I got my first at 16, with reluctant parents. I have a mentor still, but due to age, wear and tear and a few surgeries he won't get more than 15 miles from his house. I miss, no I ache, for us to trout fish or grouse hunt together. We really never had much to say to each other because we knew what we were thinking. I miss that an awful lot and he is still with us. Your buddy is perched upon the greenest field imaginable,targets everywhere, happy as can be.
No worries my friend.

 

[troupe]

Great tribute, there is magic and peace being out in the fields. God Bless