Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/401545
S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S 2 9 discovering the enchantment. And though over the years my focus has progressively shifted from squirrels, to deer and bear and elk and all manner of winged things from Alaska to the Atlantic coast, from time to time I still return to those furry little tree creatures of my fathering childhood. Whether with shotgun or bow or rimfire rifle, I have always taken great pleasure in this most foundational form of hunting. There's something blissfully pleasant about feeling the weight of a full game pouch pressing into the small of my back. But alas, there came the day late last fall when I was forced to turn my hunting attentions elsewhere, to a new and unfortunately, necessary technique – when I found myself recovering from a sudden and surprising journey to the very outskirts of the Eternal. As a result, my cardiologist had temporarily forbidden me from shooting anything with heavy recoil or pulling my heavy bow, lest I negatively impact the most excellent work he had so artfully performed deep inside my chest. So I decided that perhaps it was time to delve into the world of pellet rifles. I made my way over to the local gun store and laid down a couple of 20s for an introductory air rifle, just to get the feel. It shot tolerably well, and I was soon sending an empty water bottle bouncing across the back yard along the edge of the woods. Before long my curiosity drew me ever deeper into the question of just how fast and accurate these sorts of guns could be. So I bit the proverbial bullet and decided to order myself a sure-enough, tricked-out pellet rifle. My research finally led me to Gamo air rifles, and I settled on their Whisper Fusion Pro for its speed, accuracy, and quietness. When the new gun arrived, I tore