Hunting Jack Rabbits In The USA

Dana – Mountain Sport Airguns

The area I was hunting is one of the most difficult places that I’ve hunted due to it’s rugged terrain and extremely hot temperatures. The beautiful Daystate Wolverine R High Powered .25/ I was using was provided to me by Airguns Of Arizona. Over the few days I was very successful with the gun and thought I would share a few photographs from my trip. Look for a full review of this rifle at Mountain Sport Airguns

Daystate Wolverine R HP .25 / 0db Moderator,MTC Optics Viper Pro 5-30×50 FFP Scope

You can read the full article from Dana at Mountain Sport Airguns 

an airgunners journey

So the story begins 2015, late 2014 through to the mid-summer of 2015 I had a battle with a rare cancer resulting in the cancer quite literally having its proverbial ‘Pound of Flesh’ as I lost my right eye, orbital bone structure and all of my teeth, it was literally a life or death situation. After the operation, partial recovery then having teeth removed then an intensive course of radiotherapy and further recovery time I decided I wanted to treat myself after everything I’d been through, I also wanted a new challenge. I had wanted to treat myself to an air rifle for quite some time but never got round to it, I’d had a Crossman 2240 pistol fitted with a cheap Red Dot for a few years for ratting purposes (quite unsuccessfully may I add) as i live in a rural(ish) area and rats are a big problem. Now was the time, kill 2 birds with 1 stone, have something I’d wanted for a while and being a dominant Righty learn to shoot Lefty. A couple of weeks after this decision I visit the local Gunshop (RFD) with a friend to see what was available and that was when I saw a Daystate up close for the first time and instantly took a liking to the Wolverine, unfortunately the timing wasn’t right that day as finances wouldn’t stretch that far and I left the shop with a nice little starter PCP, the Brocock Contour S6 Elite (which i still own) set up with a Hawke scope and Hogan moderator but had it in my head that one day I would have a Wolverine.

Jump forward to December 2016 and I hear Daystate are releasing the Wolverine 2 so I google search for images out of curiosity (as you do) and came across a photo of the Saxon Limited Edition, it was love at first sight and Golem syndrome instantly set in “Must have the Precious”. £2k where was I going to find that, being classed as disabled and only working part time money is rather tight. Saving began and it was tough going, I started checking dealers I knew had Saxons on a monthly basis steadily watching them disappear. It’s now June 2017 and I have a fair chunk of the necessary funds and had managed to procure a loan for the extra money if required, at this point numbers for sale are down to around a handful and I contacted a number of dealers but came up with dead ends every time as they had sold what they had but not updated their respective websites, turns out they’d all sold or at least all those i knew of but I didn’t give up. The last resort was to check Gunstar, Guntrader, etc on a regular basis and hope that one comes up 2nd hand.

Around 6 weeks passes and I’m on various gun trading websites almost to  a point of insane obsession on a daily basis when the airgun gods answer my prayers and before me is an advert for a 2nd hand Saxon .177, it was like finding the Holy Grail, immediately I make a quick call to see if the loan’s still available, it is.

I call the number on the ad with great excitement hoping it hadn’t already sold and an older gentleman answers and asks how could he help, “the Saxon, do you still have the Daystate Saxon?” caught in the moment I totally forgot my manners, he replied “We do, the ad was posted less than an hour ago, you’re the first call we’ve had about it”, what a stroke of luck, I asked for further information (politely this time after apologizing for my initial abruptness) to find out it had been on shop display and wasn’t a used rifle as such, after about a 20 minute chat and a call to my local RFD to arrange delivery and a further call the following day to make payment to the other dealer the Saxon was on its way to my local RFD and I had got a great deal in the process, 2 days later I get a call from my local RFD to say it had arrived and i’m now the Proud owner of a Saxon at last…

Straight away I set out to organize some transport with a friend and within an hour of receiving the call I arrive at the shop, on being buzzed in, I can see the box awaiting me behind the counter. The shop manager welcomes me, places the box on the counter cuts the tape and removes the case from the box, flips the clips and invites me to open it (I didn’t need to be asked twice), with great anticipation I open the case and there it is, what a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and everything I had expected the Saxon would be, I take it out the case and offer it up to my shoulder for the first time and it felt so right, perfect weight and balance. After a few minutes of looking over it myself with pure admiration I pass it over to the shop manager for him to do his necessary checks and fit my scope and around 15 minutes later I’m leaving the shop case in hand with a big smile on my face, i was a very happy man… Had it all been worth it? Without a doubt YES.

The hunt however had not come to an end as it took me over another year to find a half decent silver scope and mounts to match up with the Saxons breach block and barrel shroud, in the mean time I’d been using the Hawke AirMax EV 3-12×50 borrowed from my Contour S6. I eventually found a silver Bushnell Trophy 3-9×40 scope complete with matching BKL mounts on FreeAds in January 2019 that the seller had had fitted on a Griffin that he no longer owned and in immaculate condition, after an evening of message ping pong a deal had been hammered out, a fair price had been agreed, payment made and delivery set. The following week the scope arrives, I fit it up and in quick time had it pretty much zeroed in, the Saxon project was finally complete… as far as I’m aware I have the only Saxon with matching furniture and it looks stunning and performs beyond my expectations.

The hunt had been a long and often frustrating journey but also an exciting one and ultimately very rewarding as I couldn’t be more happy with the Saxon and consider myself a very proud Daystate owner, it truly has been a labour of love, my shooting has improved dramatically and I’m pretty sure that’s thanks to the incredible accuracy and consistency a Daystate provides rather than my own ability…

Stalking springtime squirrels

What better way to enjoy the countryside as late spring rolls into early summer than with a rove around the woods? A rove around the woods with an air rifle, perhaps.

Much of my grey squirrel control is done from a static position using feeding stations. Getting the greedy rodents queuing up for grain or peanuts and then sniping them from a hide is without a doubt the most effective way to control this destructive pest with an air rifle. Nonetheless, being cooped up inside a camo screen can get monotonous and you can learn a lot about your shoot by spending a few hours trekking around.

My latest outing saw me out and about on a lovely spring morning – the sun was just about poking through the clouds and the air was full of birdsong. The abundance of birds on this estate is thanks in no small part to the landowner’s commitment to the control of grey squirrels, and between us we managed to account for around 200 last winter.

But any number of remaining grey squirrels is too many, and the purpose of this outing was to keep the tally rolling by finding promising places to site a couple of new feeding stations. Although it was a recon trip, I had my Daystate Red Wolf with me as I didn’t want to miss out on any chances. When set on full power, this .22 calibre air rifle produces a muzzle energy of over 30ft/lb, which means it still delivers clean kills at ranges beyond those I usually expect to be shooting over when ambushing squirrels.

The first block of woodland I covered was a sad example of the damage caused by grey squirrels. This small area of hardwood was planted about 20 years ago and all of the trees are stunted and deformed as a result of bark stripping by grey squirrels. The damage has been detrimental to the wildlife and timber value of the trees, many of which have been completely killed. That amounts to a serious financial loss for the landowner and an immeasurable loss of habitat for native wildlife.

As I moved into the next bock of woodland, a mix of mature oak, ash and beech with a scattering of softwoods, I caught a glimpse of one of the offending squirrels. The acrobatic little rodent had clearly spotted me, and leapt from the top of one tree across to the outstretched branch of another in a bid to escape. It stopped foolishly soon, though, and lingered on a branch about 35m away. I shouldered the Red Wolf, steadied myself as I framed the squirrel in the crosshairs of my MTC Mamba Lite scope, and then dropped it with a whack to the head. That’s on less squirrel wreaking havoc in the woods, and one that won’t be munching through my peanuts when the feeding stations are in situ.

A short while later I saw another squirrel clambering through the treetops. It didn’t hang around to offer me a shot but the sighting confirmed that this area would certainly make a productive site for one of my feeders.

Spotting squirrels and getting shots at them before they clock you and clear off isn’t easy when the trees are in leaf but it can be done. A windless day is an advantage as it makes it easier to see and hear the subtle sights and sounds that can betray the presence of a bushy-tail. My preferred tactic is to move slowly through the woods, pausing every few steps so I can scan for these clues. Sometimes you’ll spot a squirrel clinging to a tree trunk or huddled in the cleft of a branch but the signs are often more subtle. Look out for shaking branches as squirrels clamber through the treetops and listen very carefully for the rustle of moving leaves or the distinctive click of claws on hard bark.

The second and last squirrel I managed to bag during my brief foray actually gave itself away by making a branch spring and quiver as it hopped from one whippy bough to another. The tell-tale shaking branch was unmissable and I soon spotted the offender scrambling along a branch. I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth and the startled rodent froze at the sudden sound. That brief pause gave me just enough time to line up a shot that landed a 16-grain Rangemaster Sovereign right between its eye and ear, sending it tumbling through the branches and down onto the woodland floor with a thud.

Two grey squirrels is not a big bag by anyone’s standards but they all count, and that short outing resulted in two less of these opportunist rodents stripping bark and helping themselves to the contents of birds’ nests during this year’s nesting season. It had been a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours, and I was also taking home some welcome free-range meat for the pot. Furthermore, I had noted some very promising-looking places to set up my feeding stations, which will hopefully enable me to account for many more of these destructive rodents over the coming weeks and months.

Spring is upon us

Spring is upon us the nights are getting longer, and in the UK we are just about starting to get some better weather. Here is Cumbrian Red Squirrel Ranger Jerry Moss with a Huntsman Regal – amongst the flowers!

Shooting Woodpigeons at the Roost

Late winter into early spring is the prime season for airgun shooters to target woodpigeons around their woodland roosts. Harsh weather conditions cause the birds to gather in large flocks so it’s possible to encounter them in good numbers if you manage to locate their favourite places to bed down for the night. But the clock is ticking; the new flush of springtime growth is just around the corner, so get out now before emerging leaves make it tricky to spot birds up in the treetops.

Successful roost shooting hinges on location and timing – it really is about being in the right place at the right time. Most woods have areas where woodpigeons like to roost but some places will be a lot more popular than others. Just like us, woodpigeons like to be warm and comfortable when they settle down for a night’s sleep. Look for the most sheltered areas. Start by investigating the side of the wood that’s most sheltered from prevailing winds. Then look for the tree and plant species that offer the most protection. Firs and pines are popular with roosting pigeons as they offer shelter when other trees are devoid of leaves.

Thick patches of ivy also make for good roosting sites as their dense, waxy foliage offers excellent protection from rain, sleet and cold winds.Ivy also has the added attraction of offering a food source in the shape of its hard berries at a time of year when nourishment can be hard for birds to find.

Don’t just look up into the trees when seeking out an active roosting site. Study the ground, too, because the leaf litter beneath the pigeons’ favourite perches will often be splattered with droppings.

When it comes to timing, woodpigeons usually start flighting in to roost a couple of hours before nightfall. I like to get into position early enough to avoid spooking any early arrivals if possible. It can be difficult to get clear shots at birds once they’re tucked up in the cover of dense conifers. Fortunately, they tend to pitch into taller, more open trees such as oaks and ashes before fluttering down to roost, so I tend to position myself so I can cover these trees in order to improve my chances.

Woodpigeons are extremely sharp-eyed birds, so concealment is very important if you want them to pitch close enough to offer you a shot. Hide-building doesn’t usually offer a solution because you need to be able to move quickly and quietly if the birds refuse to flight to the trees around you.

Camouflage clothing can make a big difference, though. Try not to get too caught up in camouflage patterns – anything that helps to break up your outline and blend in with the natural surroundings should work. The important thing is to cover up your face and hands because patches of light skin can really spook flighty woodpigeons. Remember also to make the most of natural cover because the backdrop created by a tree trunk or dense bush will give your camo clothing something to work against.

When it comes to choosing hardware and optics, precision is the prime consideration. The best way to ensure clean kills on woodpigeons is to take them with head shots or a solid strike to the head/lung area, and that demands a considerable degree of accuracy.

I have coupled my Daystate Red Wolf with an MTC Mamba Lite scope and Daystate Rangemaster Sovereign pellets, and the result is pellet-on-pellet accuracy out to 30m and beyond when taking rested shots in calm conditions. Precise shooting in the field is a different matter altogether so make sure you put in plenty of practice, not just from easy stances but also from standing and kneeling positions.

When I’m in the woods and see pigeons approaching, I get my gun into my shoulder and keep dead still. Having the gun shouldered cuts down on movement once the birds have dropped in. It can make a big difference as woodpigeons have a habit of spooking at the slightest disturbance. It’s at this point that using a tree trunk for cover can bring an added advantage, because you can also use it for support when taking shots. Even if you don’t actually nestle your gun against the tree, leaning your shoulder in for added stability makes it a lot easier to keep the crosshairs steady.

As I mentioned earlier, head shots are my preference but pigeons can also be cleanly felled with a strike to the heart and lung area. Don’t aim straight for the chest, though, as the thick layer of muscle and bone can be almost impenetrable. Aim instead to land your pellet just beneath the fold of the wing at a slight sideways angle. If pigeons come in low, offering shots at a fairly flat angle, and are facing away from you, a shot between the shoulders will give the pellet a very clear route to the heart and lung area.

Keep still and quiet, and choose your shots carefully, and the birds should keep on coming – especially if your airgun is fitted with a decent silencer. Even if you don’t make a huge tally, bags or two or three birds make a useful contribution to crop protection and will also supply you with some excellent meat for the table.

The (Almost) Lone Ranger

For some airgun hunters, a walk in the woods is not just the pursuit of a pastime but the execution of a critically important role. Take, for example, those entrusted with the protection of fragile pockets of native red squirrels against the threat posed by the grey invader. Or people like Colin Fallows, a ranger charged not with protecting red squirrels, but valuable trees.

As part of a team of three, he patrols a 25-hectare forest in Oxfordshire that is the site of globally funded research projects into techniques to improve the sustainability and cultivation of hardwood species to increase timber production and improve woodland habitat.

Over the last 35 years, more than 60,000 oak, ash, cherry, beech and walnut trees have been planted in the woods, inadvertently providing an ideal habitat for grey squirrels. Their bark-stripping antics wreak havoc and compromise timber values by deforming branches and even killing entire trees.

With professional pest control too expensive, and other control methods dismissed for practical and humane reasons, keeping a check on the squirrel population is entrusted to the rangers and their air rifles.

With the success of costly research projects on the line, and the need to report the number of squirrels he shoots each week, ranger Colin has to make sure that every shot counts. He follows a strict practice regime, spending hours on the range shooting at exactly 16 metres – the distance over which he hunts in the woods.

With so much land to cover, he’s developed an approach in which he erects a small peanut feeder in each new location and monitors it with a trail camera. By using the footage and the frequency with which he has to replenish the peanuts, Colin is able to gauge the immediate squirrel population.

Only when there is evidence of squirrels, and he feels they have come to accept the feeder as a regular source of food they can trust, does he plan his shooting sessions.

I joined him one morning during the summer heatwave, though it was pleasantly cool when we met at 4.00 am. To maximise concealment, the ranger uses a pop-up hide. Inside he sits on a comfortable fishing chair behind a camping table upon which he places his rifle on a butt rest and bipod. Outside a wind meter feeds information directly to an app on his phone to tell him how much windage to allow for.

Following a procession of birds including Jays, which Colin left alone as they do not damage the trees, and woodpeckers that do but are protected, a couple of squirrels put in an appearance.

It was a little after 5.00am and the sun had barely risen. One of the squirrels held back, high up on a tree, but the other made a direct approach towards the feeder. Sitting in my own hide and armed only with a camera, I sensed Colin waiting for it to climb up the tree and start munching on the free offerings. Instead it began eating the peanuts that had fallen onto the ground.

The ranger waited for the squirrel to select another nut and settle on its haunches to nibble away. I held my breath, waiting for the shot. Colin duly obliged and the whisper quiet cough of his rifle was followed instantly by the meaty impact of the pellet.

The squirrel rolled over, kicked a couple of times and then lay still, hit squarely in the head.

The other squirrel, still up its tree, froze, tail twitching in alarm. I could see the muzzle of Colin’s Huntsman Regal as he tried to find a clear path for his pellet. However, within a few seconds, the squirrel started moving towards us, then went past and up a tree to disappear into the woods.

Though he has shot as many as 17 squirrels in a session, that one proved to be our only success of the day, but as the ranger explained, the relative lack of the squirrels proves that he and his ranger colleagues are doing their job.