Tax Day Rock Chucks
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 1:08 pm
Got a call from a neighbor lady last evening asking if I'd come over today and rid her horse pastures of a bunch of rock chucks living in the rock piles all over the property. I spent Tax Day doing what most of us would rather be doing with my little Browning 1885 Low Wall in 22 K-Hornet.
I had a good supply of recently loaded Barnes 30gr Varmint Grenade in the improved "K" cases, and having only shot sage rats with it so far, was interested to see how the light bullet would perform on a larger critter like a rock chuck. I was not disappointed.
This was my first 'hide' for rock pile chucks from a paltry 61 yards, to two more piles at 128 and 161 yards. Perfect Hornet habitat.
The first victim poked his head up on the far side of the near rockpile at just over 60 yards; no contest:
I played peek-a-boo with the resident of the 161 yard rock pile for about twenty minutes. Every time I'd spot him, get on the rifle, he'd see me and dive for cover. I got prone, put my window bag on the low fence wire and waited. I finally saw him peeking over the rocks, and put the crosshairs right under his chin:
The next action was on the middle rock pile at 128 yards. Two chucks kept peeking over the rocks, never giving me more than just an eyeball. About this time I was wishing I had put on my Harris bipod, as steady I was not. One guy showed himself just as he slithered into his hole. A quick shot launched him about 6", and I could actually see steam coming off the open wound through the scope as he flopped down behind the rocks into his den.
Talk about a tenacious critter....he got into his hole, even with the blood loss you can see on the rocks. A K-Hornet case is laying there for scale. I found him by moving a rock on top of his den; he was hit amidships with brutal expansion from the 30 grainer (note chuck scat everywhere).
The Three Moribund Amigos
:
This is what our high desert ranch country looks like....rock chuck heaven, and a great place to spend Tax Day!
Next week when I go back, I'm taking my Sako 17 Mach IV w/bipod loaded with 25gr V-Max's for those "peekers" the Hornet could not tag. Now back to cleaning rifles and loading for the next rat rodeo, and hoping ALL Tax Days are as good as this one was.
I had a good supply of recently loaded Barnes 30gr Varmint Grenade in the improved "K" cases, and having only shot sage rats with it so far, was interested to see how the light bullet would perform on a larger critter like a rock chuck. I was not disappointed.
This was my first 'hide' for rock pile chucks from a paltry 61 yards, to two more piles at 128 and 161 yards. Perfect Hornet habitat.
The first victim poked his head up on the far side of the near rockpile at just over 60 yards; no contest:
I played peek-a-boo with the resident of the 161 yard rock pile for about twenty minutes. Every time I'd spot him, get on the rifle, he'd see me and dive for cover. I got prone, put my window bag on the low fence wire and waited. I finally saw him peeking over the rocks, and put the crosshairs right under his chin:
The next action was on the middle rock pile at 128 yards. Two chucks kept peeking over the rocks, never giving me more than just an eyeball. About this time I was wishing I had put on my Harris bipod, as steady I was not. One guy showed himself just as he slithered into his hole. A quick shot launched him about 6", and I could actually see steam coming off the open wound through the scope as he flopped down behind the rocks into his den.
Talk about a tenacious critter....he got into his hole, even with the blood loss you can see on the rocks. A K-Hornet case is laying there for scale. I found him by moving a rock on top of his den; he was hit amidships with brutal expansion from the 30 grainer (note chuck scat everywhere).
The Three Moribund Amigos
: This is what our high desert ranch country looks like....rock chuck heaven, and a great place to spend Tax Day!
Next week when I go back, I'm taking my Sako 17 Mach IV w/bipod loaded with 25gr V-Max's for those "peekers" the Hornet could not tag. Now back to cleaning rifles and loading for the next rat rodeo, and hoping ALL Tax Days are as good as this one was.
Rick way to 3 for 3 not bad even for having eye contact. Talk about 20-20 or better eye sight. Gona have try one of boys Gilie suites or put a little more distance between you an them. Nice pics and glade you did well on Tax Day.
That's funny 
I didn't hear my phone ring at all 
If the wind don't blow, it is either raining or snowing. May be another year like last year, I guess time will tell. Hopefully won't push back the rodeo this year.