Post by danf on Oct 18, 2009 20:07:47 GMT -5
I've had a few "firsts" since moving up here to New Hampshire. First moose sighting, first bear sighting, etc. Have yet to see a deer though. 
Well, anyway, had another "first" tonight...
I stepped out the door to go to the shed to get some plastic (was working on a new reloading space in the sunporch) and as I rounded the corner of the house I realized there was something by my Jeep. Not having seen a live one at all, I still pretty quickly realized it was a PORCUPINE. It seemed oblivious to my presence, so I high-tailed it back into the house, retrieved my MKII, and hoped beyond hope that the scope was still semi-sighted in. Until tonight, I hadn't pulled the trigger on a firearm since BEFORE we moved up here, not even to check sights...
Got back outside, drew a bead and pulled the trigger (offhand from about 10 yards). Clean miss. It didn't move, so I aimed a little more at center of mass, and pulled the trigger. Hit it then! It ran UNDER the Jeep (oh crap), so I very, very carefully opened the door and got in and hit the clutch. As I was rolling backwards, the porky was no where to be seen... I realized it had ran off to the side, so I jumped out and finished it off.
Not a big 'un, but still enough to put the hurt on anything it tangled with. I put on my welding gloves to dispose of it and still had several quills stick in the gloves. From everything I've been told, vet bills add up QUICKLY when a cat or dog meets up with one. Our neighbor said it was $300 when one of theirs got into it with a porcupine!
Well, anyway, had another "first" tonight...
I stepped out the door to go to the shed to get some plastic (was working on a new reloading space in the sunporch) and as I rounded the corner of the house I realized there was something by my Jeep. Not having seen a live one at all, I still pretty quickly realized it was a PORCUPINE. It seemed oblivious to my presence, so I high-tailed it back into the house, retrieved my MKII, and hoped beyond hope that the scope was still semi-sighted in. Until tonight, I hadn't pulled the trigger on a firearm since BEFORE we moved up here, not even to check sights...
Got back outside, drew a bead and pulled the trigger (offhand from about 10 yards). Clean miss. It didn't move, so I aimed a little more at center of mass, and pulled the trigger. Hit it then! It ran UNDER the Jeep (oh crap), so I very, very carefully opened the door and got in and hit the clutch. As I was rolling backwards, the porky was no where to be seen... I realized it had ran off to the side, so I jumped out and finished it off.
Not a big 'un, but still enough to put the hurt on anything it tangled with. I put on my welding gloves to dispose of it and still had several quills stick in the gloves. From everything I've been told, vet bills add up QUICKLY when a cat or dog meets up with one. Our neighbor said it was $300 when one of theirs got into it with a porcupine!
