You guys ever look back on how y'all used to do things and how difficult they seemed compared to now that your older? Kinda thought about this the other day when I popped a crow. I remember killing a crow used to be one of the hardest things for me , I remember being 12yr stalking up on my hands and knees through a open cow pasture for about 100yd with my daisy 880 to try and get close enough to put a pellet in one of the ole black birds. 9/10 time I failed but when I did get one it was an accomplishment lol. Then I got my little crack barrel .410 made shooting them on the fly a possibility but again 8/10 times it was a faliure, one shot with some random upland shells from the feed store in the hands of a 14yr can only do so much usually but still fun. Then got the .22lr extended my range a good little bit and moved up to about 5/5 times being a hit but without knowledge of how to properly account for bullet drop and wind I ended up educations them to stay outta regular range and kinda went back to square one , spotting and stalking through the cow fields. Well now I'm 23 got a much better hold on ballistics, marksmanship, better gun and glass and gear. Can pretty easily keep a beer can hopping at 100yd if I do my part. But I've gotten a way from the ever elusive crow. More paper punching and gong slapping than anything.

Well I step out on the porch yesterday and there's a crow out in the pasture. Was asked to shoot crows this time if the year because apparently they harass the new born calves. Well I see ole boy out here be-bopping around and decided he's gotta go.

Walk to my gun room grab a few things walk back out .Check the range finder, 75 yd, not too far , used to could never range like that, 2mph 5 to 11 o clock wind according to my little wind meter , never was good at reading wind till now since I can double check, check my ballistic app +1.3 MOA for elevation .2 MOA for windage. Dial in on my turrets and turn to 10x outta 14.5 , a world of difference from iorns or the little 4x32 scope I had years back. I prop up In a good cross legged marine style position and rack in a thunder bolt. Used to shoot anything but now I only use what the gun likes. Plant the cross hairs on his chest, little on the high side ,check my cant bubble , I'm level and as soon as he stops I let a breath out and squeeze. Shot rips out and 75yd away, what used to be almost a mythical shot for me, a crow flipped kicked once and was dead. Just like that. I looked at my gun and all I could say was " well that was easy". As I walked out to pick him up I couldn't help but just kinda laugh a little bit thinking how less then 4 years ago I would have killed to have some of the gear I have today 6 years ago I wouldn't have even tried that shot and before that I would have probably been out here crawling through cow patties for 10min with a $50 pellet gun just to get busted and see him fly off. Funny how we advance over time and how what used to be a challenge just becomes easy as pie lol.

With your background you could join the military full time as a sniper or hire on as a mercenary soldier. Just think of all the fun you could have and all the possum women you could chase.

Good point! I'm glad somethings get easier, cuz these old bones are getting creaky and sore.

I remember looking out of the kitchen window and seeing crows not too far out in the yard. Walk out the door empty handed and they wouldn"t pay you much attention. Walk out with a gun or broom and they wouls be out of there, fast.

I bought a wrist rocket sling shot when I was 11-12 at the Gibsons store in Salida. Killed a few magpies with it. Scared a lot more of them. Shot a crow a few years ago with my 22-250 out the window of a camper. Probably 400 yards. Im glad you reminded me of my sling shot bird hunting days. I think killing magpies with that slingshot was more fun than sniping that crow.

them wristrockets where a lot of fun! i still got on to play with! used to have war games with them, acorns was the ammo. smacked my buddy in the forehead as he was peeking around a tree, that acorn had that little sharp point on the bottom, stuck to him and a little trail of blood ran down his nose! lots of critters gave up the ghost to a wrist rocket!

I said months ago to you...,
Quit playing with cheap rifles.
You will understand that a Good Rifle is....

I grew up in what was a shotgun only zone for deer.
Then I drove a little ways Northwest and started using a 30-06 .
Now I pile them up with a .243.
It does get easier.
A .17 HMR will make it easier for you to vaporize the varmints.

I remember when I was young, I was pretty good with just iron sites. Now I can't even see the iron sights.

Ditto.

Good shot, Wolfdog. I shoot an occasional magpie with a pellet rifle, because I hate those dang things squaking all the time. But our big black birds, ravens, are protected, and we don't have any crows to shoot at.

Jim

Ya done cheated all the fun out of it Wolfie!
JK, it's fun in a different way.

Yes Wolf...I remember...
Grew up same as you have...good times.

I piled up lot English sparrows and few barn pigeons with my old daisy BB gun, and I still got it.. Starlings was my nemesis with that gun and they got smart fast. Bagged more them Starling when increased my distance/range when a got 5mm Sheridan Blue Streak. Still have that gun too added a scope so can pop rabbits in garden. Last crow I zapped was like yours about 60-70 yards out. Zipped him with 17 HMR and could have made the shot at 100 if had been that far..
All fun stuff..
I still got 2-3 of the wrist rocket folding sling shots. Can't seem to keep rubber on them any more though. Guess it gets cooked by heat stuffed under truck seat. When I need ammo for them I pour 1/4oz round jig heads no hook..

Mac

Nice write up!...Good Shot

Good shot and story

I have a 223 in a 700 that is glass bedded, with a really good trigger, and good glass. Pulled into a buddys farm, we're out in the drive shooting the poo, and a crow lands in the top of a big hackberry tree, about 200 yards away, doing his caw caw stuff. Buddy says, bet youu can't hit that crow. I said I except that challenge! Wind was moving the branch about a foot back and forth that the crow was sitting on. I put the gun on the top of the yota, Got the rhythm of the branch swaying, and touched it off. Crow drops dead, buddy says, heck of a shot, I grin, no more noise!

Lol being a sniper actually used to be one of my big goals as a kid but after I got in the military and saw what they actually did I was like " yeeeaaahhhhh nnnnnnnnaaaaa ) lol. And no more chasing for me , she's kinda got me locked down

O I'm right there with you, the joys of arthritis and bad knees at 23