I took the day off today to get some last minute yard work finished before it got too cold and was able to go hunting before sundown. I shot at five ground hogs from 30 to 250 yards with my CZ 204 Ruger Varmint with no hits. I saw two of the shots go high by an inch in the dirt. I need to check my zero at the range. But all that said it was a very nice day to walk around the farm. Here is a picture I took looking east with the sunset at my back. The ground looks flat but it is a series of small rolling bumps so when you get level with the ground you can only see level about 30 to 50 yards. It does make it interesting.
Full Version: 5 shots - zero hits - I did enjoy the hunt
I know the feeling; last two times out went 0 for 2 @ 125 yds. ea. with a rifle that's been deadly accurate all summer. That's with a zero-check in beween (was OK.) Did change to a higher-power AO scope before misses, but that obviously should not be an excuse, unless something's loose or there's some weird interaction between gun (C-Z 527/.221 FB) and scope. Probably just me.
That's nice country. I'm west of you in EC Ohio, but we've hardly had any decent fall weather. October is, in some years, my best "hogging" month, but not this time.
That's nice country. I'm west of you in EC Ohio, but we've hardly had any decent fall weather. October is, in some years, my best "hogging" month, but not this time.
I'm glad you guys are getting out!! That's cool even with the misses. Now that hte crops are coming off here I'm gearing up for a lot more misses!! Crow hunting!! 
You missed a target the size of a groundhog with a .204 Ruger, scoped at 30 yds? Shot low I bet.....happens when the shooter forgets that the bullet actually comes out of the barrel 1 1/2"-2" lower than his line of sight. Goodthing you had a great time regardless.
Better luck next time. The groundhogs will still be waiting. 
QUOTE (DittoHead @ Oct 23 2009, 11:54 PM) 
Better luck next time. The groundhogs will still be waiting.
Only next time there will be more of them due to those convenient misses.
There's always room for a few more. They don't take up much space, dig their own graves... 
@ DH!!
Mush,
You're a better man than I. If I had 5 misses in one day and went 0 for 5 total, I'm ashamed to say I would tell anyone! Glad you had a good time
You're a better man than I. If I had 5 misses in one day and went 0 for 5 total, I'm ashamed to say I would tell anyone! Glad you had a good time
Red, I mostly enjoy the walk on the farm. If a varmint happens to pop up in front of me, all the better. If I kill a couple, I make the farmer happy. So far he is very happy.... Got a couple white tail on the property too. This winter - coyote......
I did check the zero on my rifle, one inch low and one inch to the left. I corrected it and went out for sunset. What a nice day. Driving into the farm the little monsters were running for their holes. I swear they have an early warning system and know when I drive onto the property. I did catch two out in the open at the same time. One at 120 yards and one at 230 yards in the same field. So the question - do I go for the easy shot or see if my zero is correct at 200 yards??? I went for the 230 yard one mostly because he was playing hide and seek with me. How rude of him not standing up so I can get a clear shot at him!!!!!!! So I followed him as he popped up and then dove for cover, moved over 6 feet and did it again. Then he stoped just a second longer than he should. My CZ 204 Ruger Varmint nailed him on the neck. I do like the fact that I can watch the bullet hit and knock him over flat. I did not even see him move after the hit. He was a yearling but he ate well in the hay field. The grass is so thick you can almost not see your shoes when you walk the field so the hogs can hide if they don't stand up. The 204 doesn't RUINT then so much as it hits and they drop. So instead of a picture of another dead hog, how about a picture of the field and a wonderful day. The GH is at my feet (out of the picture) and If you look past my car and up the hill you will see the spot I like to shoot from on the knob. The cows have tramped the grass down and ate their share. The other part is they dropped buckets full of cow pies to make the grass greener next year. This picture will give me something to look at when we are up to our knees in snow.......
I did check the zero on my rifle, one inch low and one inch to the left. I corrected it and went out for sunset. What a nice day. Driving into the farm the little monsters were running for their holes. I swear they have an early warning system and know when I drive onto the property. I did catch two out in the open at the same time. One at 120 yards and one at 230 yards in the same field. So the question - do I go for the easy shot or see if my zero is correct at 200 yards??? I went for the 230 yard one mostly because he was playing hide and seek with me. How rude of him not standing up so I can get a clear shot at him!!!!!!! So I followed him as he popped up and then dove for cover, moved over 6 feet and did it again. Then he stoped just a second longer than he should. My CZ 204 Ruger Varmint nailed him on the neck. I do like the fact that I can watch the bullet hit and knock him over flat. I did not even see him move after the hit. He was a yearling but he ate well in the hay field. The grass is so thick you can almost not see your shoes when you walk the field so the hogs can hide if they don't stand up. The 204 doesn't RUINT then so much as it hits and they drop. So instead of a picture of another dead hog, how about a picture of the field and a wonderful day. The GH is at my feet (out of the picture) and If you look past my car and up the hill you will see the spot I like to shoot from on the knob. The cows have tramped the grass down and ate their share. The other part is they dropped buckets full of cow pies to make the grass greener next year. This picture will give me something to look at when we are up to our knees in snow.......
Nice
Thats my kinda country right there. Rolling hills, cows in the pasture and plenty of hogs to shoot. Good pictures btw.
Mush, thanks for sharing. It takes a man with satchel to write about blown shots. Awesome countryside. Have a good one. AL
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