Gobbler Nation

It was 68 & sunny with a strong wind when I set-up in “my” deer woods
at 12:37 this afternoon. At 01:01, I saw a fox moving in the undergrowth
about 50 yards in front of. It made its way to me &, at about 20 yards,
became #16, a male.

At 01:05, another bushy showed up on my left moving through the brush pile
& into the undergrowth. I keep watching as I thought it would eventually
come back along the same route. At 01:22, it showed back up just as I figured
& made its way along the top of the pile. It stopped to scratch an itch & she
became #17.

After picking it up, I was about to answer a call from Ma Nature when I looked
towards my deer blind & saw a fox moving along a log. When it got my deer stand
between us, I slowly moved closer. I saw it move up a tree & around to the back
side. I took a few more steps & it came out on the side of the tree headed down.
It stopped & I knew that, if I took another step, it would be gone. I crouched down
& literally shot through the windows of my blind. At 01:26, another male bumped
my total up to 18, 2 short of my self-imposed limit.
I decided to call it a day if #19 joined me or my watch said 02:00, which ever came 1st.

I can’t recall ever getting 3 foxes within 25 minutes & in the 1st 48 minutes of a hunt.
At 02:00, I headed home with the same sun & wind & the temp at 69. I may go behind
the house in the morning to try & close out my 2019 season.

As an aside, after the 2 horrible shots last time out, I am back to head shots on all 3.

Yeah, amazing shot placement

jsh909 wrote: ↑October 8th, 2019, 5:39 pm Yeah, amazing shot placement

Thx. With the .17, you have to get a head/neck shot or risk tearing up the fox.

The 1st 1 was facing directly at me while the other 2 were from the side. I prefer
the side shots as the head on's could tear up the front quarters.

Great job redeeming yer' self George

AND the pot get's thicker

soiltester wrote: ↑October 9th, 2019, 7:04 am Great job redeeming yer' self George

AND the pot get's thicker

Thx. Good thing I have a large pot as 2 more need to fit in.

You're hell on the squirrels George. Folks out here can't imagine that we hunt them back east. Fox and gray squirrels are not native here and I'm sure these little pine squirrels wouldn't be too good for eating. We do have fox squirrels that have found their way here along the rivers that have made themselves town squirrels. I've one outside my window at work occasionally that I like to watch. He makes me think back to days of my youth when I was hell on squirrels with a .22.

Hobbes_mobile wrote: ↑October 9th, 2019, 8:50 am You're hell on the squirrels George. Folks out here can't imagine that we hunt them back east. Fox and gray squirrels are not native here and I'm sure these little pine squirrels wouldn't be too good for eating. We do have fox squirrels that have found their way here along the rivers that have made themselves town squirrels. I've one outside my window at work occasionally that I like to watch. He makes me think back to days of my youth when I was hell on squirrels with a .22.

Your pine squirrels are the same as the fairy diddles in WV & the red squirrel here
in Ohio. I think my name is more appropriate & accurate: PIA!!!!I used to & clean
them & they are edible. I don't even shoot them now as you just don't get enough
meat to make the effort worth while.

HunterGKS wrote: ↑October 8th, 2019, 5:59 pm

jsh909 wrote: ↑October 8th, 2019, 5:39 pm Yeah, amazing shot placement

Thx. With the .17, you have to get a head/neck shot or risk tearing up the fox.

The 1st 1 was facing directly at me while the other 2 were from the side. I prefer
the side shots as the head on's could tear up the front quarters.

I use a .22 short. Have wanted to pick up a .17 for a few years now, but just haven't pulled the trigger on one yet.

Is the .17 ammo fairly easy to come by?

jsh909 wrote: ↑October 10th, 2019, 3:18 am

HunterGKS wrote: ↑October 8th, 2019, 5:59 pm

jsh909 wrote: ↑October 8th, 2019, 5:39 pm Yeah, amazing shot placement

Thx. With the .17, you have to get a head/neck shot or risk tearing up the fox.

The 1st 1 was facing directly at me while the other 2 were from the side. I prefer
the side shots as the head on's could tear up the front quarters.

I use a .22 short. Have wanted to pick up a .17 for a few years now, but just haven't pulled the trigger on one yet.

Is the .17 ammo fairly easy to come by?

I haven't had an issue finding it. A couple of years ago, I found a place that had them on sale for cheap, so
I bought 10 boxes. They usually go for about $13 & I got then for $10, I think.