Outdoor Trip in Vanderbilt, Michigan

I recently had the opportunity to spend a couple days in Vanderbilt, Michigan. The secluded and private parcel was over 300 acres and home to three small cabins. 

We spent hours just walking around the groomed trails and through the scenic woods. These established trails made for easy and quiet stalking.

The FX Royale 400 performed well in the woods - light - short - quiet - accurate repeater, what more could you want.  I went the extra mile and had mine hyro graphic camo coated.

 After a day of being fully submersed in acres of woods, we enjoyed just kicking back by the beautiful lake, having a cold drink, and trying to catch some pretty amazing bass and trout. What's the best outdoor trip you've taken? What has been your favorite gun to take on weekend trips?

Airgunners Dream Weekend-Part 1 Squirrel Hunt

Saturday afternoon after the shop closed it was time for my second hunt of the season.  Considering I was only able to make three outings last season, two outings in two days, I was in my glory. With 70 degrees it makes for a perfect day.  The rifle that I chose for this hunt was my Royale 400 .22cal.  Didn't even bother with a mag. just strapped on a pellet pouch full of 18g JSB's.  I've got an old-probably 26 years old Leupold 2-7 compact, light weight, parallax non-adjustable preset @ 30 yards from the factory.  Back in the day, this was one of the few scopes that would hold up to the heavy recoiling springer and gas ram airguns.  This combo makes for a light weight, easy to handle hunter.  

The new section of woods that I have access to has a long line of mature hickory trees.  Normally these trees are squirrel magnets, however last year none of the trees had any nuts  on them, apparently trees go through some type of cycle or whatever, but this year, they are LOADED with nuts and squirrels.  Still having a lot of leaves on the trees, made it hard to spot the squirrels but the steady rain of cuttings falling from the tops of the trees was encouraging and exciting! 

  After a little patience I off handed a couple of  squirrels from the tree line.  Slowly worked my way further into the woods along a ridge which has even more mature nut trees and hardwoods.  The ridge is bordered by a nice little flowing creek.  Really made me feel like I was in the mountains of Kentucky or West Virginia.  Man, I love being in the woods this time of year.  Last squirrel of the day was a challenge. He was high in a hickory tree doing his thing, moving, cutting and dropping nuts.  I was in the seated position, resting against a smaller tree trunk, he had no idea I was there, and although I was getting anxious to make the shot, I knew that patience was part of the game.  As luck would have it, the first time he paused for a break, he was almost directly on top of a limb about a 1 1/2" in diameter.  Having a very stable rest and only about 30 yards away, I toyed with the idea of trying to shoot along the edge of the branch and catch the right edge of his head.  Patience Jim, Patience, there are better shots coming.  What's the hurry, this is hunting.  After this short break he started moving again, but paused long enough with his head cleanly exposed to make the perfect shot. Mr Squirell bounced off a few branches landing on the other side of the creek.  Time to go home with my 5th kill.  I kid you not, on my way out of the woods, I saw four more squirrels gathering their nuts for the winter.  This property will be on my list for future hunts.

First Squirrel of the Season - JSB's do not Disappoint

My favorite time of the year, Fall in Michigan synoumus with Squirrel Hunting Season. Opening day was Thursday Septemer 15th, but didn't make it into the woods till late Friday afternoon.  My first day out, I planned on taking my 12ft/lb MFR .22cal, early season, lots of leaves, most shots are close under 30 yards which makes this perfect for the 12 ft/lb.  Hey if the Brit's can do it so can I.  Just makes the hunt that much more of a challenge. 

When my buddy Rickey B showed up in the afternoon with his full power .22cal MFR, I did not want to be out gunn'd so I grabbed my Daystate Wolf which is shooting at about 29 1/2 ft/lb.  A couple of test groups with my Theoben MII and Daystate AirWolf show'd that both guns were shooting the latest batch of  JSB 18g. 5.53 head size very well. Rickey's Theoben MFR is nicely camo'd out using a camo film process that Precision Airguns and Supplies will be offering as an option to our customers soon. Check back for Pricing, and Pattern Availability.

 

We headed off to a small section of woods, not really seriously hunting, we were doing more walking and talking than usual.  Amazly within a half an hour or so I managed to bag three of the unsuspecting long tails. With the recent cool snap they were so busy gathering their nuts, they didn't see us coming.

 

I backed out of the small section of woods to give Rickey a chance, sat near some dead elm trees, plinking at the steady flow of starlings that kept landing at the tall tops.  This is what airgunning is all about...Click-Whop-Drop  Light is starting to fade away and Rickey walks out of the woods with one squirrel in hand "Yeah at least I didn't get skunked" says Rickey.

Looking forward to more hunts, longer time in the woods and bigger bag limits.