Easter Bunnies

[Phantom 631]

Yesterday, Despite a killer of a sore throat and thick head; I decided to put the big Kassnar scope back on my Baby as I don't like the smaller one for night shooting

 

So off I went to the paddock at 13:00 and built my makeshift shelter/hide out of a couple of DPM Poncho's, two wire rod rest's and my bivvi bag. I was about to dig out the camera and take some pix of it when the heavens opened and the wind was howling, so got into the shelter and waited over an hour for it to settle. During this hour, I thought ooh I just fancy a nice cup of hot black fresh Java from my flask hey presto I'd left the flask at home

 

So it was a case of keep your eyes open for any bunnies and note where they are coming from.

 

This position was not my usual sniping point as I'd moved to give me access to many more burrow's

 

 

Eventually the rain stopped and the wind calmed down with just the odd high speed gust. I re-zeroed the Kassnar Scope for this new range (roughly 40 Yards) and after knocking out the 3 bulls on the target, I was happy. Now it was a case of wait and see what appears.

 

The first bunny showed up at 17:45 it was only a very small kit at about 45 yards and it had its back to me as it scurried out of one hole in the ground into a whole in the embankment under the road outside my permission. He'll be back another day I thought to myself.

 

At around 19:00 a bunny came out from the embankment and made its way to the fence where it sat.

The wind had again picked up and I placed the crosshairs a touch behind the eye, thinking if I loose the shot, the wind will take the pellet towards the ear and still provide an instant clean switch off. As the wind lowered to a breeze, I let the AAF do what it was designed to do! Bunny went down after vaulting into the air and doing a double backwards flip followed by a forward roll. Feck!

 

My instincts had me running over to the bunny; 'something not right here' they were telling me! Within a couple of seconds I found the quarry in a depressed area of soil still upright head moving from side to side. I grabbed its head and back legs pulling them apart and pulling the head back until I felt it snap under the pressure and the bunny went limp. Feck it, I had over compensated for the wind which had dropped even further and not taken the pellet where I wanted it to land. Instead the pellet drilled through the left eye and out the right, not giving me the clean kill I constantly strive for. I must stress that from pellet strike to snap of spinal column was a matter of maybe 6 to 8 seconds. But to me that is six to eight seconds too long. I strive for the switch off like 99.99% of all other airgun hunters

 

Here is the 1^st of the evening.

 

As I returned to the shelter, the clouds let loose another downpour and it lasted a good ten minutes before it stopped again.

I had seen another couple of bunnies out and about during this downpour, but they were well out of range, especially as the light was very low due to the heavy cloud cover. Again, there will be another day for them

 

At about 19:20 it was so dark that I had to use the mounted torch with red filter and sweep the warrens in my field of view. I came across a single bright red jewel gleaming in the dark. I cranked up the magnification to 9 and could just make out the shape of the head against the darkness under the trees and the soil from the embankment. As this was past my zero point I placed the cross hair at the top of the head halfway between the eye and the ear.

The wind was none existent by now, just how I like it

My finger instinctively found its way to the trigger, the pad taking up the 1^st stage and as it reached the second stage, a little more pressure was automatically added to release the hammer.

 

A quick phut and a loud CRACK told me the pellet had connected the bunny rolled over onto its right hand side, rear leg stretched then lowered back down.

 

I had decided that now would be a good time to go recover my prize and gather my gear and head home. It had been a long day an my throat was getting worse.

 

But just as a Sniper out in the theatre of war, patience, perseverance, improvisation and skill came together to provide a good day in the field

 

Here are the fruits of the day. Good looking Easter Bunnies

 

When I got home, I had some coffee and opened them both up, I found both livers to be rather gammy so no chance of a meal from either. The one at the top was a Doe, she seemed to have an extra long organ that I am assuming is the uterus as it had a number of lumps in it and there were veins running towards each of these little lumps.

She also had an immense amount of fat around the internal organs and more subcutaneous fat than I have ever seen on a bunny.

 

Phantom

[davyt63 1,845]

HI TONY

A CRACKING! READ THAT BUDDY

but don't agree with shooting bunny's on good Friday

also two nicely placed shots! the reason i say two although you think not!

i have taken many red eyes and all have gone straight to bunny heaven,it was only the wind that made that choice for your poi other than that!

well done buddy

 

nice pics too!

 

regards

 

davy

[aaronpigeonplucker 32]

well done tony!

[venomviper 129]

hi tony

what a good read matey and good pictures too and i will agree with davy on what he said about the wind and you did your best to get to it as soon as you can to take it to bunnie heaven weldone on that to buddy you must be on a roll now matey can't keep you in lol

 

shay

[farmerkev09 105]

great read pal

 

good shooting to

 

 

farmer

[JackReid 35]

Easters cancelled!!! Heheheheh..

 

Good shooting mate, ncie to see its paying off.

 

Jack

[stealthy1 3,964]

Very good Phantom, you really are on a roll at the minute

[Phantom 631]

Thanks guy's,

 

I know what you mean about the wind but it really grates on me, it's one of those "IF ONLY I HAD....." things!

Guess its another thing that has been learned

 

I was thinking of going out today, especially as the weather has been great this aft, I'm now sat in the kitchen with the Sun beating in through the window oh how I love the Sun!

 

I didn't get to the shops for some throat pastils or pain killers so, I'm undecided if I should go out, this sore throat has me feeling crap, the head is not as bad as it was, but I'm constantly having to clear my throat, wich of course will let ole bugs know that it aint safe to play

 

Think I'll stay in and IF I can get up early may give it a go in the morning as the weather forcast looks pretty good. May even lay up in the cemy for an hour or two and bag me some Holley Easter Bunnies

 

Thanks again guys.

 

Phantom

 

Stealthy, dunno about a roll, but I had my roll matt under my bivvy bag

[stealthy1 3,964]

Thanks guy's,

 

I know what you mean about the wind but it really grates on me, it's one of those "IF ONLY I HAD....." things!

Guess its another thing that has been learned

 

I was thinking of going out today, especially as the weather has been great this aft, I'm now sat in the kitchen with the Sun beating in through the window oh how I love the Sun!

 

I didn't get to the shops for some throat pastils or pain killers so, I'm undecided if I should go out, this sore throat has me feeling crap, the head is not as bad as it was, but I'm constantly having to clear my throat, wich of course will let ole bugs know that it aint safe to play

 

Think I'll stay in and IF I can get up early may give it a go in the morning as the weather forcast looks pretty good. May even lay up in the cemy for an hour or two and bag me some Holley Easter Bunnies

 

Thanks again guys.

 

Phantom

 

Stealthy, dunno about a roll, but I had my roll matt under my bivvy bag

 

 

Get your self out, I'm just getting ready for a session, which will last as long as it takes for me to get piss wet through if it rains

[jackinbox99 41]

Im amazed at your perseverance. Sitting out there in the cold and rain for that long! Id have long since given it up and come back another day!

 

Hope you also gave your gun a good whiping down, it looks well wet in your picture!

 

Good work!

[Sweeney-Todd 208]

Hiya Tony.

 

 

Excellent read buddy, and good shooting mate

Sorry to hear your a bit under the weather, and hope your feeling a bit better now

Nice picture of the rifle too, she look's good.

 

What you need for that sore throat is a good suck on a Fishermn's Friend :kiss:

 

 

ATB.

 

 

 

Bill.

[Phantom 631]

Im amazed at your perseverance. Sitting out there in the cold and rain for that long! Id have long since given it up and come back another day!

 

Hope you also gave your gun a good whiping down, it looks well wet in your picture!

 

Good work!

 

Stealthy, I'll be out tomorrow all being well hoping the Sunshine and warm temps may bring them out during the day.

 

Jack,

Thats how I like to shoot think I was a Sniper in another life

In fact I'm sure I managed to bag me some big Polatition as he was being driven around Dallas way back in 63

They blamed some poor redneck sap called Oswald and then had someone shoot him before he could prove he was innocent

 

:11:

 

Yeah my Baby got the full towel dry and oil massage treatment afterwards for being such a good girl

 

Phantom

[Phantom 631]

Hiya Tony.

What you need for that sore throat is a good suck on a Fishermn's Friend :kiss:

 

Bill.

 

Now there's a thought

 

JULIE, CLAIRE where are you

 

 

:11:

 

Phantom

 

PS dont tell the wife

[Alexisrouzee 6]

well done a real cracking read that!! it would interesting to know how many people go shooting rabbits and not know how to finish them by hand... or couldnt?? but i agree with davy 2 great shots!! bloody wind tho!!

 

all the best

[davyt63 1,845]

Hiya Tony.

 

 

Excellent read buddy, and good shooting mate

Sorry to hear your a bit under the weather, and hope your feeling a bit better now

Nice picture of the rifle too, she look's good.

 

What you need for that sore throat is a good suck on a Fishermn's Friend :kiss:

 

 

ATB.

 

 

 

Bill.

 

 

 

LMAO!!!