I think I can't hunt anymore

I don't have a purpose to hunt, or pest, these days. I am sure if I did I would. I was always more of a varmint person so hitting small things from braced, prone or bench was the thing.

Now, for me air guns works very well. In the "winter " I am often a 50-feet indoor shooter. I generally use a NRA/USAS 50/50 target. Usually from a bench. The 10 rong is a period. It keeps me entertained!

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Have you tried air rifle silhouette? I’ve been trying it out the last few months and having a lot of fun. It’s definitely challenging shooting out to 45 yards while standing freehand. The chickens are at 20 yards, the pigs at 30, the turkeys at 36 yards and the rams are at 45 yards. I really sucked when I first started trying but after a few months I can see my progression. I wish there were actual meets close to me but I’d have to drive about three hours to attend a match. I just practice in my yard and try to get better. Give it a try.
Kenny
We shoot silly wet in the SF Bay Area every first Sunday of the month.. Diablo Gun Club…check the website..
 
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I go into the woods (Yes we have woods in Northern California) whenever I can.
In my arms is my trusty HW35, .177 wearing peeps.
I am just roving (walking for the un-learned) shooting at whatever pops up.
A discarded coke can, a scrap of paper, an acorn or pine cone.
On the rare occasion when I had my dachshund with me, I would shoot a chipmunk for his lunch.
I buy a deer tag every year and an upland game tag.
California's game warden’s need the money (there is still illegal pot growing and a large bear gallbladder market, you know?), but I have not shot a deer in 30+ years nor have I harvested any upland game.
If I wanted to shoot game, I would but the grocery stores are well stocked and the meat is already wrapped.
I do enjoy big game hunting in Wyoming but my partner (In Kansas) and I have not been picked since 2010.
Something is happening in that state but I have my four antelope so I am happy.
If we hunted as a young person and elect to not do so now, that is our decision and our decision should not be cast out to influence others.
Let the next and following generations enjoy the thrill of a hunt with whatever arms they choose to use.
Being a hypocrite is not a desirable trait.
Not unlike some people (I won’t name names)who cheeseburgers five times a day in his youth and then after leaving the White House had quad bypass surgeries. He has the temerity to dictate to the rest of what we should and should not eat while he enjoyed his life as he saw it.
I am sorry for the rant at 5:15am but it had to be said.
Enjoy life as YOU see fit and disregard the comments and suggestions of others.
Happy New Year!!
🥳
 
I go into the woods (Yes we have woods in Northern California) whenever I can.
In my arms is my trusty HW35, .177 wearing peeps.
I am just roving (walking for the un-learned) shooting at whatever pops up.
A discarded coke can, a scrap of paper, an acorn or pine cone.
On the rare occasion when I had my dachshund with me, I would shoot a chipmunk for his lunch.
I buy a deer tag every year and an upland game tag.
California's game warden’s need the money (there is still illegal pot growing and a large bear gallbladder market, you know?), but I have not shot a deer in 30+ years nor have I harvested any upland game.
If I wanted to shoot game, I would but the grocery stores are well stocked and the meat is already wrapped.
I do enjoy big game hunting in Wyoming but my partner (In Kansas) and I have not been picked since 2010.
Something is happening in that state but I have my four antelope so I am happy.
If we hunted as a young person and elect to not do so now, that is our decision and our decision should not be cast out to influence others.
Let the next and following generations enjoy the thrill of a hunt with whatever arms they choose to use.
Being a hypocrite is not a desirable trait.
Not unlike some people (I won’t name names)who cheeseburgers five times a day in his youth and then after leaving the White House had quad bypass surgeries. He has the temerity to dictate to the rest of what we should and should not eat while he enjoyed his life as he saw it.
I am sorry for the rant at 5:15am but it had to be said.
Enjoy life as YOU see fit and disregard the comments and suggestions of others.
Happy New Year!!
🥳
Maybe RFK realizes now what caused his health issues and wants to put the common poisoning in most all our foods to an end. 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
Though I love my PCPs there is something Gratifying about shooting my HW95 .20 with peep sights. The springer slows you down to focus on every aspect of your shot.
I get that! I took up field target half a dozen years ago and thoroughly enjoy my PCP's with all their accuracy enhancing gadgets, but I am a spring gun guy at heart and enjoy them equally as much as long as I keep my expectations in check. I have as much fun shooting soda cans with an R7 with factory irons as I have shooting any of my other springers.
 
I was an avid hunter for years. Mostly small game.
Several years ago I was doing yard work and one of the many neighborhood cats ran by with a young squirrel in it's mount as the little guy was squealing. It was hauling butt towards the woods.
Mama squirrel was running after the cat and her baby barking as she went. I took off after the cat as the mama was running beside me for the same reason. I was yelling at the cat to drop it etc.
Well the cat killed the little guy and I found it's carcass behind the house all torn to shreds the next day. It really pissed me off.
About a week or so later I was back out doing some yard work and heard the sound of a cat shrieking by the wooded area near the creek as THUMP THUMP , THUMP quieted it finally. It was a coyote getting his cat breakfast.
I don't hunt anymore but for the first time yotes don't irritate me.
 
We shoot silly wet in the SF Bay Area every first Sunday of the month.. Diablo Gun Club…check the website..
You guys are the club that is three hours away from me. You are in Cupertino correct? You are the closest that I’ve found. I’m in Clovis. There is a local group that shoots rimfire silhouette. They are very friendly and have let me bring my air rifle to one of their meets. Very informal and friendly atmosphere. They only had about 6 other shooters so I think they were happy that I was interested even if I fit bring an air rifle to their rimfire match.😁
Kenny
 
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I'm with you. I live on a small farm and have several ranges set up, but I don't hunt anymore. I'm old enough I don't want to fall out of a treestand, don't need the food anyway, like to watch the squirrels play...yatta, yatta.yatta. So, I shoot mostly paper and other targets, It's till loads of fun and no rigorous walking through the woods, sitting in the cold! I do let others hunt on my property though, we are overrun with deer and small game. Just because I changed my mind, doesn't mean others have to, and this land is only mine for a while.
 
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I hunted my whole life - small game, waterfowl, and deer. Slingshots to bows to airguns to powder burners and then back to bows to slingshots and airguns.

Now the deer on my property all have names and come to me when I call them. The ducks and geese on the pond are comfortable with me close by as are most of the other critters that live here. Over 60 bird species here, some are "tame" enough to eat out of my hand.

I'm required to do some pesting around the house and I will "invite" a couple of squirrels for dinner once in a while but I don't hunt anymore.

As a predator at heart, I do miss getting out with the guys deer hunting on a cool fall morning. Find that I enjoy interacting with the wildlife more that I like eating it 🙂

I've always loved shooting. Now instead of hunting I plink, target shoot and go on walkabouts with my springers looking for acorns and other small targets of opportunity.

Nothing wrong with not hunting, it's not like we need to hunt to survive anymore.

Shoot straight, be safe!

Cheers!
"I've always loved shooting. Now instead of hunting I plink, target shoot and go on walkabouts with my springers looking for acorns and other small targets of opportunity.

Nothing wrong with not hunting, it's not like we need to hunt to survive anymore."

I totally agree with you on that 👍
 
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I only do pest control, #1 on my list are Ground squirrels. Currently there is a skunk in my yard that came very close to nailing my idiot American Cocker. If I get it in my sights it's gone. It's possible the dog scared it off. I've had gray squirrels and rabbits yards from me but I won't shoot them. Squirrels on my power lines, they're fair game. Crows treating my roof apart, DRT.
 
You guys are the club that is three hours away from me. You are in Cupertino correct? You are the closest that I’ve found. I’m in Clovis. There is a local group that shoots rimfire silhouette. They are very friendly and have let me bring my air rifle to one of their meets. Very informal and friendly atmosphere. They only had about 6 other shooters so I think they were happy that I was interested even if I fit bring an air rifle to their rimfire match.😁
Kenny
Concord (Bay Point) 10M starts on January 24
 
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