It's a varmints nightmare!

[DT Fan]

Found this guy this morning. Texted a friend of mine to see if he wanted me to bring him over. He said he had enough already. Pretty sure he's trapped over 50 this year and 10 or more g-hogs. Think he may be competitive with @lorenzo.

[tperson]

Picked up our oldest's early christmas gift...a Taurus TX22 (22LR). For a sub-$300 pistol, it feels great in your hand, cycles flawlessly (so far), and is an absolute riot. Vermin beware!

[Sledgehammer]

It's varmint season 😎 the Marlin 39M did its duty today. 

[stronger800]

What distance should a .270 be sighted in for? I’ve been shooting the same gun with the same scope for over 30 years….but I can’t see as good as I use to and have purchased a quality scope, Vs the cheap one I’ve had on it forever. It’s not more than 2” off at any distance 30 yards to 200 yards.  So I aim center chuck….and rarely miss. But I wanted the better light through the better scope.  

150 yards I was thinking?

[DT Fan]

I think you've got it right the way it is. Target size is a consideration. Smaller targets, shorter zero. Elk, 3" high at 100.

[int 504]

Most common distance?

[hardtail]

I usually sight 1" high at 100, should be dead on a 200 and dropping at 300, I'm in a bushy area and most shots are under 150

[Sledgehammer]

Depending on specifics, 270 is a flat shooter capable of some healthy range. If most shots are under 100, I'd sight in at 100. If you shoot farther out a 200yd zero may work better. Big game, as DTFan says, totally different setup. 
 

 

Another one from a couple weeks ago. This one was stung with a .22Hornet. 

[DT Fan]

I've got something digging around here, not just sure yet. I'll report back after it's dead.

[stronger800]

Thanks guys.  Last fall.  Snowing here this morning .  

[DT Fan]

Pretty sure I saw the perp yesterday. At first I thought it was a cat. Sure has a short tail! Exact same color as the one Todd posted the picture of. Found some new digging where they always dig when they show up, set a coupe traps. Might have to go for a walk and see if I got him. 

[DT Fan]

Got the first squinney of the season yesterday. Front yard right by the driveway. Just about missed him, stupid wind. 

[tperson]

that's a beautiful looking hornet!

On 4/9/2025 at 7:41 AM, Sledgehammer said:

 

 

Finished up my 22 ARC build a month ago and roughly sighted in at 200 last week (stupid wind)...ordered a whisper pickle (CAT Noah, actually) a week ago that should work almost as well on the 22 ARC as it supposedly does on the 6 ARC. Be afraid prairie dogs, be very afraid...you're days are numbered.

[Sledgehammer]

11 hours ago, tperson said:

that's a beautiful looking hornet!

 

 

Finished up my 22 ARC build a month ago and roughly sighted in at 200 last week (stupid wind)...ordered a whisper pickle (CAT Noah, actually) a week ago that should work almost as well on the 22 ARC as it supposedly does on the 6 ARC. Be afraid prairie dogs, be very afraid...you're days are numbered.

Thanks. CZ 527. I really wish they had not quit making that model. It shoots great! 

[Sledgehammer]

The hornet stung another one today. 70-80yd shot peaking out under a barn door. The 35 grain V-max actually opened up on this one when it hit shoulder blade. The pic would have been graphic so I left that side down. 

[stronger800]

.270  close to 200yd. Haven’t taken time to put that new scope on yet.

 

[DT Fan]

Thought I saw a ground hog yesterday, ran and got the .22 mag. Turned out it was a great horned owl! It had caught a snake, saw that when it flew off.

[DT Fan]

It's got a nest in a maple tree, been around here 3-4 years now. I find all kinds of parts from it's victims on the ground.

[DT Fan]

Got squinney No.2 tonight. In the front yard again! In a hole a badger had dug probably trying to get one last year. 

[Sledgehammer]

This was all the coons we could get in one night in 2013.  6 of us went at it.  86 in all that night. No dogs, no traps, walking and shining lights. 

 

 

But the coolest one I ever saw I was able to trap and get mounted. The one and only coon I've ever seen like this. It's a blonde color phase. Not albino. 

[bcsmta]

Got first striper of the year 22 mag

[stronger800]

What’s that ground  there? 

[MacAR]

Nice job on the chucks, guys! I was mowing the yard today and kept hearing the hounds barking in the orchard. They had a small chuck treed in the apple tree. Gun was in the house, so I used a stick to poke him out... poor bassturd never stood a chance with 3 hounds! I almost felt sorry for him... almost!

Mac

[bcsmta]

Spring plowed ground

[tperson]

Had a great time during our annual prairie dog trip this past weekend. Highlight for me was watching our 17yr old connect with 6 of the little vermin at 420yds with a 15mph (25mph gust) quartering away wind; first confirmed kill was with a cold bore. For reference, they were at the base of the third tree from the right in the top picture. Dogs seemed a little skittish this year, made short-yard rimfire shots (<200yd) difficult and infrequent but that didn’t stop the boys from trying. All-in-all, a great trip; the boys had fun and so did the adults.