Rock Chucks

[Sprinkman]

Nice shooting. I really dig that old Ford.

Thanks. The truck is a 1978 F250. I've had it for years. Years ago, my oldest son took it coyote hunting with a couple of his buddies and laid it on its side. It was never the same after that. It had been out of commission for about 8 or 9 years. I finally got it back on the road last October. It had a 460 in it, but I swapped it out. It took about two years, but a buddy and I rebuilt a 429 out of a 1971 thunderbird and she runs like a champ. The only downside is it gets 8-10 mpg, so she isn't a commuter.

 

[DesertRam]

Nice. It reminds me a lot of one my grandad had for years before he passed - a '76 F150 4x4 with a 360 and four-speed. After I drove it for a while, it got handed down to my brother, who unfortunately flopped it over on its lid. It got sold off for parts after that. Sure have good memories of Gramps and his old golden retriever taking us for drives in that truck. Many a rabbit got shot by grandkids from that old truck.

 

[Sprinkman]

I was able to get out yestarday. It was a perfect day. Overcast and warm. I saw 7 rock chucks, but only was able to shoot at one. The rest of them didn't leave much more than a 20 second or so window. By the time I would spot them and than range them, they were gone.
This one was 233 yards:

 

[22magnum22]

I was able to get out yestarday. It was a perfect day. Overcast and warm. I saw 7 rock chucks, but only was able to shoot at one. The rest of them didn't leave much more than a 20 second or so window. By the time I would spot them and than range them, they were gone.
This one was 233 yards:
View attachment 8207

Any day out hunting is a good day! It appears to me the property you are on is pretty much open and my question is, are the chucks super wary from being shot at that any movement sends them scurrying for cover? Is their vision that good? No chucks here in Oklahoma, but sure would like to try my hand at them

 

[Sprinkman]

Any day out hunting is a good day! It appears to me the property you are on is pretty much open and my question is, are the chucks super wary from being shot at that any movement sends them scurrying for cover? Is their vision that good? No chucks here in Oklahoma, but sure would like to try my hand at them

Yea, it's pretty wide open. The rock chucks are out from mid to late February to August depending on the area. There are homes, dairies and feedlots, though. So, I'm always careful about skylining anything. Had one in my sights yesterday but it would never come down off its high spot. There eyesight is okay, but not great. I've noticed that as the season goes on they do scurry away from vehicles, but usually will be back out in 10 or so minutes. I was on an ATV yesterday, so that allows me to get in a little more unnoticed. The biggest problem is that as the grass, weeds, sage and other stuff grows they are harder to find. We had a really wet spring so everything is really overgrown. They just duck down and you can't see them anymore. Because of all the spring rain and snow, it should make for an interesting fire year.