up with the alarm

[hw97k 36]

straight up with the alarm 5 oclock ,got my gear together ,got the dog a brilliant working 3 year old border and off we set .im lucky to have 4 permissons only 20 mins walk awayand today we were going to one were the rabbits have been ransacking a beautiful 3 acre garden set smack bang at the side of a massive disused railway embankment .this permisson is also luckily for me leading right next to a 250 acre permisson which through a hole in the fenceim straight on to .when we arrived at the gate of a 200 hundred yard drive i slipped the dog off the lead and loaded the 97k and set off slowly down the drive.straight away i spotted a small group of rabbits around 45yds further up ,whistled the dog and he stopped dead ,only turning round to see what i wanted him to do.i raised my hand and he stayed glued to the spot,i began moving slowly forward and got in range around 35 yds raised the gun and crack hit a rabbit just under the ear and in doing so the others where off ,whistled the dog but he was already off chasing the others like his life depended on it,after a few more whistles he retreived the rabbit and on bringing it back ,well not quite back about 3 yds short he was acting like he had got it and waited for few good lads and a pat on the back .hes good really he just has a tendancy to self hunt,and it drives me mad sometimes,up front and chasing every animal away.but when hes good hes good .so number 1 and on we went,me in hunters mode ,him with the rabbit in his mouth.up around behind the house is a row of 4 big chicken sheds and always a prime spot for woodies ,squirrel and of course rabbits burying under the sheds,this part of the garden backs on to the railway embankment so i can lean over and shoot down in the bottom ,its a brilliant ambush point and thats what i did .while the dog was putting himself about under the sheds, i walked the fence line and saw a large rabbit unaware ,only around 25yds and the superdome connected lifting the rabbit and throwing it in to the brambles.number 2. going behind the sheds i spotted one around 50 yds,at the bottom of a newly mown incline,a quick glance to where the dog was and he was running towards me,if he carries on hell spook the rabbit and usually i would get closer but not enough time to stop the dog,also id usually drop to one knee to get a solid base but i felt i had a chance,no wind but sometimes a tend to drag the gun from right to left,i aimed slightly to the right ,squeezed and the rabbit slumped to the ground.the dog carried on straight past and got his 2nd rabbit.i was amazed thats the longest standing shot id ever done ,paced it out and it was roughly 49 yds .i dont know who was happier me or the dog who ran to me with the catch in his mouth.number3.i stopped for a smoke ,and gave the dog a well earned drink.didnt see much after that well with the dog doing his ill catch them all trick.bless him.saw a spotted woodpecker which is quite rare in this area,on our way back the dog got a scent and proceeded to bush a small copse of trees,i stuck a pellet in ready and aound 30yds saw a squirrel at the bottom of a tree stopped to see what this 4 leeged noisemiester was,it gave me enough timeto send the squirrel 12 inches in the air,on the way down it was met by the jaws of my border,in his mouth and out he came pleased as punch.so there it was a couple of hours out ,a small bag cause of the dog but i enjoyed it and i know for sure the dog did .squirrel for the dog tonight feck me these are hard to skin hope you enjoyed my morning and 49 yds well made up !

[jackinbox99 41]

Excellent write up!!!

[hw97k 36]

Excellent write up!!!

cheers mate ill take the camara next tme atb carl

[Ron Weasley 83]

Sounds like you had a good trip pal, nice one.