Callshot Rides Again

[sixshot]

Yesterday Callshot (Steve) phones me & says it's about time we do a Ground Squirrel safari. So, today he shows up & we head out to one of our favorite spots where my son's & the grandkids have taken thousands over the last 30+ years. The grass was tall & it was windy, not good for hunting the little varmints because they don't like to be out in the wind, hard for them to notice hawks flying around or Badgers stalking them.
We only saw a few & I managed to get 2 with my 8 shot 327 Blackhawk using the 116 gr Miha HP over 13 grs of H110. This load makes a real mess out of a Ground Squirrel when they get together! Here's one almost cut in half. Russ & Sal will remember this place because of the pond in the background.
We left & went to another farmers place that usually has a few Rock Chucks & they would be on Callshot's side of the truck since he was driving. As we eased up to the Lava Reef I saw one, two, three, four, Chucks were running everywhere & I lost count but there were several Chucks that needed our attention.
Steve was shooting his trusty flat top 44 special although I don't remember the bullet, forgot to ask. Old Callshot hadn't been over for quite a while & he was a bit rusty. After a few shots going low & hitting the Lava rocks he center punched a big one at about 35 yds. Then I got a phone call & as I was talking he made a shot just a big longer & nailed another one dead center, he was getting back in the groove.
I took a couple of photo's but it was hard to get him to hold still he was mumbling something about "special brass" & digging in his pocket, I couldn't make sense of it & he was throwing a fit. I finally got him to sit still & got these 2 photo's. Good job buddy!






Dick

[Stump Buster]

When I grow up, I wanna be you guys!!!

[dougader]

Great safari!

[alukban]

Jun 25, 2018 23:08:24 GMT -5 Stump Buster said:

When I grow up, I wanna be you guys!!!

You and me both!

[bula]

Forget Rome..when in Idaho..!

[sheriff]

Great to see ol' Callshot back attum!

[callshot]

Married life is great, but living in Pocatello with no play grounds close around is just a bit dis-concerting. I probably have more cast bullets and loaded ammo than I will ever shoot in the rest of my life. They have a range here that isn't flooded like the one in Soda Springs. There is so many people there shooting that you have to stand in line, on a good sunny day, to shoot. I always do better when I'm not rushed that much. When driving out yesterday, Dick said as we were chewing elk jerky, this is just like old times. We talked as usual and solved all the worlds problems then lead poisoned some chucks. Like Dick said I was rusty, but got lucky a few times. We think there was three, but we could only find two. Sometimes they fall into a hole by where they were standing or laying on the rocks. This was the first time to go on safari since my wrists were operated on and my grip isn't the same. It was a fun trip and hope to have a couple more before I go to the playground in the sky. Thanks for going with me, Dick. Oh well, back to day dreaming!

[dana]

Good to see you again Callshot we miss you on the forum.

Dana

[jfs]

Great.... wish I was there.... Steve took me on my first ground squirrel hunt and after watching him and his 32 I went and bought one....
PS- that hunt was as exciting as any I`ve ever taken.

[cyberscout19]

Nice job gentlemen . Hope another story comes along .

[contender]

It is great to see two old friends enjoying things they did so often. I could feel it as Dick told the story,,, and when Steve chimed in,,, I knew it was an honest appraisal of a good day afield. The few trips I've managed to get there & enjoy their playground,, and especially their company are memories I deeply treasure.

[sixshot]

Callshot is always a bit fast on the trigger until I talk him through it a bit & then he settles in & starts taking his time & when he does that he can whack them pretty good. It usually takes about 1 1/2 bags of my elk jerky to smooth him out, his bag & half of my bag then things are normal. He kept mumbling about "special brass", using "special brass".....

Dick

[callshot]

I only had one handful of sunflower seeds and that is when things got back to normal. The jerky was good but a little too much gunpowder on it for my taste. Life is what you make it and fun is what you make it also. It was fun to get out in the fresh air and away from people. I don't know what Dick is always saying about brass and I've never seen him shoot any of his. He just usually forgets his and has to borrow mine. Not only does Dick shoot slower than me, an old lady in a wheel chair can usually beat the bullet out to what he is aiming at. Sometimes the squirrels just die of old age waiting for him to jerk the trigger. I'll try to teach him on the next safari.

[contender]

[bula]

Need some popcorn or a cold one to sit back and enjoy this thread.  Does remind me of chipmunk and red squirrel hunts we had when we all got our first "big" handguns. Most of us got 44mags, one guy to be different got a 41mag. Then the guy with a 357BH.. I still blame him and that gun for my tinnitus.