So, last night just before the sun set, I was sitting on the back porch watching Junior and The Second have a squirt gun fight. And by squirt gun fight, I mean watching Junior squirt The Second while he sucked the water out of his squirt gun oblivious to the fact he was receiving enemy fire. In the field behind my house, there is a substantial wooded area that ends at a creek, of which I have about 15 yards of creek frontage. I heard a rustling sound. No big deal, since there are all kinds of critters back there from squirrel and chipmunks and small birds to the occasional cat hunting the aforementioned beasties. And, in the past, I heard the distinct yip of coyotes. I heard the rustling again and this time in more than one location. It sounded big. Well, bigger than birds and squirrels. And bigger than the cats. There was no barking or sporadic movement, so it was not a dog.

My first thought was that it was a coyote. I hit the gun safe and grab the Ruger 10/22. I got a 3X9 scope on it and can get half inch groups at 50 yards with it. The 22 is quiet (so as not to spook the neighbors) and a head shot will eventually kill a coyote after it has had time to wonder back home and show some decency by not dying on my land. Ergo, no need to practice the three S’s. And the scoped rifle gives me a better view at the distance (which I’d guess is about 40 yards). So, with finger off the trigger and glancing through the scope, I see the hideous beasties. Two wild turkeys. Wow, I’ve heard they were around but had never seen them up close before. Unlike their domesticated retarded cousins, they’re rather graceful creatures for birds. I watched them for a bit as they made their way to the creek. No shots fired. I’m not a hunter. And, if I were, I don’t know how to clean a turkey.

Posted in uncategorized on May 11th, 2007 by SayUncle | RSS 2.0 |