I think I can't hunt anymore

Lotta brave folks on this thread......kudos to you.

I killed way too many birds and small mammals in my youth and get no pleasure from pointlessly killing now (although I am an avid water fowl and deer hunter). My wife is an animal lover and seeing and hearing the joy in her when she sees an animal warms my heart and makes me want to protect that for her. We have a myriad of small critters visit our back yard and none are considered pests because they don't damage anything. Chances are we will only see them a handful of times before they move on or get hit by a car. I get that a lot of folks enjoy "pesting". I am not one of them any more. I also find it hard to have a rational dialog with people who enjoy killing the predator in the name of saving the prey so they can turn around and enjoy killing the prey (unless the prey becomes dinner).

Lots of good ideas above for fun shooting. That HW30 will introduce an element of challenge and fun you won't realize from your accurate PCP at short, backyard ranges.
 
Lotta brave folks on this thread......kudos to you.

I killed way too many birds and small mammals in my youth and get no pleasure from pointlessly killing now (although I am an avid water fowl and deer hunter). My wife is an animal lover and seeing and hearing the joy in her when she sees an animal warms my heart and makes me want to protect that for her. We have a myriad of small critters visit our back yard and none are considered pests because they don't damage anything. Chances are we will only see them a handful of times before they move on or get hit by a car. I get that a lot of folks enjoy "pesting". I am not one of them any more. I also find it hard to have a rational dialog with people who enjoy killing the predator in the name of saving the prey so they can turn around and enjoy killing the prey (unless the prey becomes dinner).

Lots of good ideas above for fun shooting. That HW30 will introduce an element of challenge and fun you won't realize from your accurate PCP at short, backyard ranges.
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.
 
Understand completely.
I like groups but the only things I kill any more are true pest birds or any thing that attacks my fenced garden. Main culprit is chipmunks, rats, voles. The squirrels are plentiful and the hawks hunt them here, I don’t.
We change.
I know I can make the shots and what each rifle is capable of.
All part of the process.
 
I pest for a living 5 days a week, doing iguana removal. I personally enjoy shooting, but if it wasn't because it's my job, idk that I would shoot airguns.

You could set up paintball on top of golfing tee for quiet, and reactive targets. Tie up .177 bbs to some string and try and shoot them, or tie up some washers and try to shoot them. Maybe find a range where you can shoot farther way, there's plethora of things you can try doing. If you don't get that feeling back, it's okay. Maybe deep down you don't really care to shoot your pcps anymore, and that's not a bad thing.
 
I used to really enjoy hunting, but now I get frustrated of shooting small animals. I used to drive an hour and a half every weekend with my partner to hunt, mostly small game (mostly squirrels). At that time, I dreamed of having a backyard and putting some food in there to attract small animals and then hunt them, like many Youtubers do. Now I have such conditions, but I feel sad about hunting them and wathc them diying. I don't know what makes me changed, but I still love to shoot. I only have a distance of 15 yards (from my back door) and 30 yards (from my front door). What kind of shooting challenges should I do to get more fun? Thanks guys.
Yeah niam11,
I got my first pellet gun for my 7th birthday and "loved shooting targets" -> whatever they were ..........
I lived on a 2 mile ravine and used it for an escape, shooting and hunting until age 16.
Over that time period, I likely killed 3,000 birds, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, possums and owls.
- I also, hunted deer and pheasants with my dad, but that was for sport/food.

Upon growing up and reflecting back, wondering "what was I thinking?"

To this day, I only shoot paper targets, because I view my younger self almost like the "Billy Munny" character in the movie Unforgiven.

I still love shooting to this day, something relaxing about it ..... reminds me of being a kid ... but nothing alive, unless there is a very good reason.

New Gun Rack.JPG
 
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Yeah niam11,
I got my first pellet gun for my 7th birthday and "loved shooting targets" -> whatever they were ..........
I lived on a 2 mile ravine and used it for an escape, shooting and hunting until age 16.
Over that time period, I likely killed 3,000 birds, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, possums and owls.
- I also, hunted deer and pheasants with my dad, but that was for sport/food.

Upon growing up and reflecting back and wondered "what did I do?"

To this day, I only shoot paper targets, because I view my younger self as the "Billy Money" character in the movie Unforgiven.

I still love shooting to this day, something relaxing about it and reminds me of being a kid ... but nothing alive, unless there is a very good reason.

View attachment 524421
quite a collection you got (y)
 
Yeah niam11,
I got my first pellet gun for my 7th birthday and "loved shooting targets" -> whatever they were ..........
I lived on a 2 mile ravine and used it for an escape, shooting and hunting until age 16.
Over that time period, I likely killed 3,000 birds, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, possums and owls.
- I also, hunted deer and pheasants with my dad, but that was for sport/food.

Upon growing up and reflecting back and wonder "what was I thinking?"

To this day, I only shoot paper targets, because I view my younger self almost like the "Billy Money" character in the movie Unforgiven.

I still love shooting to this day, something relaxing about it ..... reminds me of being a kid ... but nothing alive, unless there is a very good reason.

View attachment 524421William Money.

What you said. My younger shooting days were not innocent …..

Good reference “ Unforgiven “
 
I used to really enjoy hunting, but now I get frustrated of shooting small animals. I used to drive an hour and a half every weekend with my partner to hunt, mostly small game (mostly squirrels). At that time, I dreamed of having a backyard and putting some food in there to attract small animals and then hunt them, like many Youtubers do. Now I have such conditions, but I feel sad about hunting them and wathc them diying. I don't know what makes me changed, but I still love to shoot. I only have a distance of 15 yards (from my back door) and 30 yards (from my front door). What kind of shooting challenges should I do to get more fun? Thanks guys.
Figured that out when I was 20
 
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Plinkin cans- targets or shooting for tight groups- you can always try to improve your best...
I used to really enjoy hunting, but now I get frustrated of shooting small animals. I used to drive an hour and a half every weekend with my partner to hunt, mostly small game (mostly squirrels). At that time, I dreamed of having a backyard and putting some food in there to attract small animals and then hunt them, like many Youtubers do. Now I have such conditions, but I feel sad about hunting them and wathc them diying. I don't know what makes me changed, but I still love to shoot. I only have a distance of 15 yards (from my back door) and 30 yards (from my front door). What kind of shooting challenges should I do to get more fun? Thanks guys.
Dont hunt anymore... As I get older I appreciate life more. A lot less critters around then when I was young. Now its plinking cans- targets or shooting for tight groups.. With groups you can always try to improve your best, have not shot a perfect yet.......

My father hunted a bit when young, then he did not.. Now I understand.
 
Reminds me of that movie, Hot Shots Part Deux, where Harbinger has PTSD and can't fight, until Topper has a therapy session with him, and then Harbinger says, "Thanks, Topper, I can kill again. You've given me reason to live."

One could always airsoft the squirrels in the backyard. That way none die so there will always be plenty of targets to shoot.
 
Yeah, okay.

Let's see, today I shot six invasive HOSPs and four invasive starlings and hit a branch instead of the invasive collared dove I was going for. My blue birds and purple martins will have a good season if I keep the pressure up through the winter. Took a good buck in the back corner last week with my Marlin .45-70. Neighbor kid skinned him out and I split the take with them. Last weekend a skunk was out in the daylight and chased my wife when she went to the barn building. Went out with my M-Rod and sure enough, there he was. One pellet in the shoulder and a follow up to the noggin. Lost count on skunks and invasive armadillos this year. Then this afternoon I checked zero on all my four M-Rods, my Savage A17 and two of my Marlin 39A rifles.

If all goes to plan I should get a good winter hog down on a friends property in Oklahoma, feral (invasive) hogs are not allowed in Kansas so I have to go to Texas or Oklahoma to hunt them.
 
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
 
Once I proved to myself I was a good shot and able to hunt well the bloodlust subsided. 95% of the time now I'm shooting targets and tinkering/testing. When I do hunt it's for pest control. Even then, I pass up on shots if I'm not confident I'll get a humane kill. Always feel bad if they run off or don't go down quick.

Passed up shooting all sorts of stuff I've come across when I'm out, just didn't see the need to kill non rodent critters or stuff I probably won't eat. I do feel little mercy for hogs though.
 
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Reminds me of the ole lady that said , Why you hunt? Just go to the market and buy your meat where its made.. LOL.
The same lady got pissed because the state put a deer crossing sign at the end of her property,, She called the state and said you got to remove that sign.. I don't want them deer crossing there!!!!
Yep all my pest are pets now,,
Mike