A friend of mine needed help moving his things to Barstow in preparation for hunting/trapping season (he was driving his RV and needed me to drive his pickup - of course I wouldn't say no to driving a truck!!), and in exchange, he took me on a hunting expedition in the desert! He's an avid bobcat hunter, makes a decent living off the pelts during the 3 month season, and knows the best spots in the desert for calling animals in...
Wish I would have taken pictures of us all geared up for hunting coyotes in the brush, but it was all business until we did some target practice. (We even had camo hoods to hide us against the sagebrush while we waited for coyotes to run in, hearing the dying rabbit scream Bob had playing on repeat over a loudspeaker!) Then off came most of the camo - it was blazing hot by that time of the day. Didn't see any bobcats or mountain lions, but spotted a few jack rabbits and kangaroo squirrels. Very fun times!!
Remember Erin Brokovich? We passed the chem plant the movie was filmed about in Hinkley...
my instructor: he was bummed I didn't pull the trigger on the coyote we called in earlier in the day...but I hadn't shot in a year! give me a break. so we did target practice after the fact. oh well. I really wanted a coyote tail for Dallas & Bear to play with. maybe next time I'll feel ready to pull the trigger. I had him in my sights THREE PERFECT TIMES!! The moment I delayed, trying to figure out if I wanted to shoot him in the head or the body, I lost my last perfect shot. damn it. maybe next time I'll be better about pulling the trigger. oh well - be very proud of me, Murph-man!!! I mounted to the face, looked good in camo, AND felt so comfortable holding a gun that I didn't scream when the coyote came running up to us. ;) The whole time I heard your voice running through my head of all the pointers you've given me shooting. They worked. My friend couldn't believe you would let me shoot clay pigeons with Trigger (a Fausti) though... "you DON'T do target practice with THAT kind of gun..." All I could say was "hell yeah we would! you don't know how we do things in Washington."
I've got the hunting itch now something fierce (and no I wasn't itching just from the sagebrush, sweat and buckshot). I want to make another trip out to the desert soon!! And too much fun...Cabella's is in Victorville, on my way out to Barstow...
.22 Long Rifle; 100 yd targets
Remington 221 Fireball; 200 yd target, near bullseye
(yeah, yeah...I know...I look like Minnie Mouse with those earguards on my head - forgot to take them completely off for the picture)
