Thanks for the pointers akpawpincher. I'll do that. Best I read as much as i can on it.

I prefer a shoulder shot on a broadside target, behind the shoulder on one angled away and a center chest shot on one facing me. Bigger target area. The one I head shot was angled away sharply, slightly uphill looking back over its shoulder. At that angle and distance I put the cross hairs on top of its head and cut loose.

Bob,
It's funny you should bring up volume. That is the one variable that gives me the greatest trouble. I always start out low and work up if nothing shows in the first ten minutes or so, but it's hard to know how loud is too loud or how low to back it off to and when. The animals react differently too. Some will come running in and stick there head in the speaker or jump in your lap when you are at max and others run the other way. Some run right in when the volume is low while others get suspicious and hang up. I guess that's just part of the challenge that makes it so rewarding when it works out.

I got the sporter model. I was looking hard at the LSHB but would have had to order one through the local sports shop for more than I wanted to pay (or pay to have them receive one for me). I ended up ordering the sporter through Walmart for about 140 cheaper than I could get the LSHB. I did some recommended mods to mine to get the most out of it. I replaced the hammer and ejector with Volquartsen aftermarket replacements. The hammer replacement lightened the trigger pull to around 2 lbs. and the ejector was preventative. I also free floated the barrel, bedded the lugs, and finally polished the guide rods and bolt. I can squeeze 1 inch groups out of it at 100 yds. The only .22 mag models I'm aware of are the LSHB and sporter. Go to the rimfire central forum before you buy one. Some of these rifles have issues, but once they are tuned they are unbeatable.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=218

Thanks much AKP - Great info.

Just noticed today a couple ptarmigan are starting to turn. Maybe we will actually get a spring this year.

That first one is quite a ways along already. They won't be turning here for
a few weeks yet.

SJ:
Must be a light period thing as we sure haven't had much here to indicate a season change.

Maybe they already switched over to daylight saving time.
Zero and clear sky here this morning.

Spec:
Was down to zero earlier but wind switched to SW and its +13 now with a beautiful moon and a clear star studded sky but no Northern Lights. The Northern Lights site says maybe tonight. Long range says cold temps for a week so maybe a mail run might happen.

Nice to see the sun for a change. Thanks for the heads up, will have to
do a sky check tonight.

Nice pics Bob! I think they are prettier when they are just starting to turn back to their summer wardrobe.

This eagle made several attempted dives in the water for ducks yesterday and our -30 windchills iced him up quick. The ducks adapted and now only feed or rest on the edge of the ice so they can duck (no pun intended) under it.

Bob seeing the fish ducks reminded me of the one I saw the other day it was sitting a mile off the river on top of a beaver house for some weird reason when I pulled up he woke up and took off before I could get the camera out nearest open water was well over a mile away but we do see them here all winter

Otterman:
The eagle must of gotten a piece of one because after I took a photo of the Mergansers there was fresh blood on the ice.

There has been an eagle here that has been hitting the mallards pretty good. It was going after the divers but finally it figured out that the mallards will come straght up off the water and don't fly nearly as fast.

Shot a Merganser once on accident when duck hunting. Sent the dog out after it and it went up, sniffed it, and then came back. She REFUSED to pick it up and bring it back. Must have known it was a S**T duck.

-TJ

I've eaten merganser a couple of times and thought it was fine,,but I was very much in the need of vittles at the time.

Had a good minus yesterday so we headed to the beach for some clams. Lots of die off from the cold temps and low tides but did find enough to keep us busy cleaning for a few hours. It was quiet, not another person on the beach.

If you had some warm, balmy breezes and a few palm trees on your beach, it would have probably been more crowded!

A true die hard for sure! Nice!