Project Appleseed

Your Appleseed State Board => Maryland => Topic started by: m1agsr on March 31, 2016, 12:41:03 PM

Title: Success Story
Post by: m1agsr on March 31, 2016, 12:41:03 PM
I've earned my front site patch and I'm right on the cusp of Rifleman. 208, 209, 204... ./sigh Anyway... i took what I learned and practiced out on the field. Groundhogs are horable for farm land. Cattle w/ broken legs are no fun.

In previous years, I was uncomfortable making an ETHICAL shot beyond 150 yards. This last weekend, I was able to dispatch 4 of them at ranges varying from 150-400 yards. I let two go that were 500+.

When you consider that they are 16-26 inches long/tall and an ethical shot is at MOST only the top half. Now your target is down to 8-13 inches.

I can't help but realize, without a doubt, that the lessons learned at Appleseed had a huge contributing factor to my comfort and accuracy. Thus making me a more effective hunter.

Thank you for the valuable lessons in shooting and marksmanship.
Title: Re: Success Story
Post by: BeSwift on March 31, 2016, 06:15:14 PM
Thank you for the kind words, and glad that you've seen a direct improvement in your shooting skills... I would caution you though, that groundhog levels are at 20% of what they were historically, due to some disease that's ravaging them. If you have a healthy population, you might want to leave a few for posterity....  Just saying...  ;)    See you back on the line SOON, to earn that patch!    BeSwift
Title: Re: Success Story
Post by: ChestyPuller on May 02, 2016, 06:57:32 PM
I love killing groundhogs, I have done it for free for farmers, just to shoot on their land for the practice. I love when the farmer comes by in the evening, I get to show him a large pile of dead critters.  :DH:
Title: Re: Success Story
Post by: WhyWon on September 10, 2016, 08:11:40 AM
M1agsr,

Thanks great! Sounds like your Rifleman score is right around the corner, especially considering our targets don't move!

I know a bunch of us would love to do groundhog shoots, especially local to MD.

Please let us know if you have room for another and I'd love to join you next time!

Cheers,

WhyWon
Title: Re: Success Story
Post by: m1agsr on December 02, 2016, 09:36:09 AM
Digging up an older thread but, it's content is relevant to the post.

After much target shooting (paper, gongs and groundhogs).... I took my first buck (ever) this year. Using my "budget rifle" (Ruger American, in 308) I harvested an 8 point buck at 380 yards. Dropped on the spot. Once again, I can honestly say; I wouldn't have felt comfortable taking that as an ethical shot prior to Appleseed.

Side note: Hunting groundhogs gave me the "take your time to take 1 perfect shot because that's all you get" mentality. Driving a total of 2.5 hours to take one shot that you hurry and miss... gets old. Take your time.

I remember someones voice (would name drop if I remembered your name) from Appleseed weekend shooting at that last row of the AQT "you got all the time in the world, make it count."