The Roanoke Times: The Wild Life

Comments

# 1

[January 18, 2008 4:02 PM]

seth gitner

I did catch a fish with you once though.

http://blogs.roanoke.com/wildlife/fishing/first_fish.html

# 2

[January 19, 2008 8:02 AM]

Al Milton

Hunting rabbits is a great place for young hunters to get started. It does not matter if rabbits are killed or not. Young hunters learn safe gun handling and get to listen to the beautiful music the hounds make when chasing the rabbit. Good video!

# 3

[January 19, 2008 12:30 PM]

Backlash

I have never been on a rabbit hunt with dogs and hunting programs showing them is very rare. Seeing The Meadows family hunting in this video was great.

Where are the rest of the rabbit hunters.. Duhh probably out running the hounds would love to hear from the hunting community or our sport.

# 4

[January 19, 2008 1:54 PM]

Mark Taylor

Thanks for the compliments on the video, Al and Backlash. Seth does a great job on these.

Walter and Marshall are two cool dudes. I've had a great time both times I've been out chasing rabbits with them. I'm hoping we can hook back up soon and get in there and see if we can call up a coyote.

As for Seth's comment, it's true we did catch some fish that time. And there was this bowfishing trip (http://blogs.roanoke.com/wildlife/archery/fish_a_fun_distraction_for_3d_shooters.html) when I shot a big carp just a couple minutes in. I guess that was kind of like hunting.

Thanks for reading.

mt

# 5

[January 20, 2008 12:34 AM]

Backlash

Then my compliments to Seth. You two guys know how to bring the excitement home. Keep entertaining the masses, Thank you.

Backlash

# 6

[January 21, 2008 4:20 PM]

Mr. P

I was watching a show over the weekend...can't remember the name of it (ever since I've found the Outdoor and Sportsman Channel back to back, my wife has threatened to throw a brick through the TV) - but they had about a 5 minute clip of a guy using an "air shotgun" taking a few rabbits.

Has anyone ever used one of these? Thinking it may be an excellent way to get my 9 year old daughter acclimated to some squirrel hunting without freaking her out. She's a "deadeye" with a .22, but the whole "pop and bang" thing still is an obstacle.

She likes hunting, been tagging along for at least one deer hunt a year for the last 4, and her Grandad (my dad)is a hunter's safetey instructor) - taking game is not an issue.

Thoughts?

# 7

[January 22, 2008 10:12 PM]

Mark Taylor

Mr. P, Gamo offers an airgun shotgun/rifle combo. Check out:

http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/GAMO_Viper_Express_Air_Rifle_p/gmo611022555.htm

It's spring-piston powered, and supposedly the velocity is 666 fps. You can shoot either .22 pellets or the shot shell inserts. Reviews have been mixed.

It's possible the gun you saw on the show (I'm surprised I haven't seen it as I'm an Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel addict) was a custom gun. There are some amazing, powerful custom airguns out there, and many command amazing prices.

A spring piston airgun, especially one with power, can kick a surprising amount. They're not quiet, but don't have the bang.

I love airguns and totally endorse them for cheap, fun shooting and hunting. My Beeman Kodiak .22 is my squirrel gun. Still, I think you might be better off picking up a .410 shotgun for your daughter. The kick is pretty minimal and you can find good ones for not much money. It would be much more versatile and effective than the Gamo air shotgun. Also, since this season will wrap up soon she'll be a year older and likely better able to deal with the crack and kick.

Good luck and keep us posted. And thanks for getting your daughter out there. Girls do hunt!

mt

# 8

[January 22, 2008 11:37 PM]

Backlash

I seen this air gun used on Keith Warren hunting show on two separate occasions the effective yardage seemed to a have been 20yds on ground squirrels.

Mr. P

Have you tried hunting squirrels from a ground blind, I have done this numerous times and this is a quite effective method.

Place the Ground blind in the area you want to hunt the day before. Go out just before sunrise or just at sunrise you should do well if you stay put after your first shots and squirrel population.

Good Luck and get a bag limit.

# 9

[January 23, 2008 3:18 PM]

Mr. P

Backlash -

Keith Warren is it! He was nailing some jackrabbits on his way to a pronghorn hunt in Wyoming...I think. Pretty sharp toy - wish I could have had one a few mornings this past season when some crows in the trees above elected to tell the entire world of my location. Blaze orange must be mighty offensive to those birds...

Squirrels from a ground blind...now that's a different spin. Personally, nothing better than a youth than tromping through the woods with Dad and peering up to see a shaking branch of leaves or listening for a distant bark. Plus, I'm conviced there is some type of muscle relaxer in the blind material that that permeates through my clothes...half hour, and I'm out like a light!

Just kidding - I'll give it a whirl.

# 10

[January 24, 2008 2:05 AM]

Backlash

Mr. P

Ha Ha Ha.

You won't sleep long those Squirrels will just ignore you in that ground blind the and run all over the place. The longer it is it the woods the more they will ignore it....

Word of warning if sit up near travel area for those little buggers, they have a tendency to try to drop on the top of the ground blind.

Good luck again let us know how the blind works for you.