Back to the Sport

[Mawders 595]

Hi all,

 

Have been following the Hunting Life forums for a while now and thought it about time to post and introduce myself. I am 30 years old and for my 30th I decided I wanted to get back into air rifle hunting. When I was 14 onwards my dad I started airgun hunting together and purchased two BSA supersports in .22, fitted them with scopes and off we went learning our craft and enjoying the sport. My dad was in the RAF and so where we were based in High Wycombe, Bucks we had a large wooded area to shoot squirrel, crows, maggies and pigeons and then got ourselves a permission in Gloucestershire where some of our family lived for when we were home visiting them.

 

I guess as most people experience my dad and I did everything like that together but when I hit 17 girls and other things tempted me away and we stopped shooting.

 

During that time though I managed to upgrade from a supersport to a superstar and my dad got himself a AA TX200 MK2. The gun sat in my cupboard until I got married in 2005 and sold the gun and equipment to my local dealer for extra spends to help fund the wedding. I always wanted to get back into the sport and it wasnt until Jan 2012 when I hit 30 that I realised I WILL get back into the sport. A quick conversation with me dad and we agreed we would get back into the sport. We had no permissions so knew we would have to start there and if successful THEN purchase new equipment.

 

A few doors knocked later and we now have two local permissions and no knock backs so far with the chance of a third permission on the horizon. Luckily for my dad he kept his TX200 and its in mint condition, I however had to start from scratch so went and purchased myself a brand new TX200 Mk3 HC in .22 and a new scope, bag and other bits and bobs.

 

One of our permissions is a 141 acre farm so we have been learning the land the last few visits and mostly been going first thing in the morning as daylight breaks. On all but one occasion we have come away with something but its just nice to get out in the country air and enjoy the wildlife and thrill of the hunt. Nothing goes to waste that gets shot.

 

I just thought I would share with you a few pictures of the most recent trip which started at 3pm and lasted till 6pm when the sun finally went down. Only the one kill but it gave me the chance to Gut/skin and prepare the rabbit for the first time since I was a young lad. You never do forget that smell when you first open one up lol.

 

So it was about 16:00 hours and the sun was started to fall so I dug in against a tree and covered the front of me with bracken and dead branches. I was waiting for a rabbit or two to come out and present me with a shot. The two pictures below were taken from my seated position;

 

 

 

I waited for about an hour and then heard rustling sounds from my right. I slowly turned my head and saw a good sized rabbit hoping along coming from behind me, past my right hand side and out in front of me hoping back towards a set of warrens just to the right of that large reg truck in the picture. I slowly shouldered the TX200 and took aim waiting for it to stop, by this time the rabbit was approximately 25 yards in front of me. The rabbit clearly couldnt see me but must of got a whiff of something as it suddenly got twitchy and stood up with its back to me on its rear legs looking around. I steadied the cross hairs and aimed for the back of the skull. I fired and suddenly heard the unmistakable crack of the pellet going through the skull. I watched in the cross hairs as the rabbit just slumped forward and stretched its rear leg out and then nothing, stone dead. My adrenaline levels went through the roof and I had to treat myself to a ciggy whilst I just sat there and enjoyed the scenery. Nothing else presented itself and an hour later the sun had set and it was time to skin and gut the rabbit to take home for the freezer. My dad who went elsewhere came back with a squirrel or two so he also had an enjoyable few hours.

 

Here are a few pics of the rabbit showing entry and exit wound and my rifle. Hope you enjoyed.

 

P.S I now have shooting running back though my veins and we both just cant wait to keep getting back out there and enjoying our sport. I wish I had never stopped now back in the day!

 

Mawders

 

[dtw 42]

Welcome back.

[Fran74 1]

Hi Mawders,

 

 

That was a great read and great pics too, thanks for sharing.

Beautiful shot you placed there by the way.

 

There's nothing like enjoying the sport with your old man I suppose. My dad taught me everything he knew about hunting, but I've never managed to get out with him.

 

Good stuff buddy, keep it coming.

 

ATB

Fran

[Sweeney-Todd 208]

Hi Mawders.

 

WELCOME

 

 

What a great first post, realy enjoyed the read, nice shooting and pictures too.

I bet the old man is as happy as you about being back out with his Son again, magic moments.

 

If you had not lit that ciggy, you may have got another bunny......bloody fags

 

.......right........wheres me backy pouch

 

 

ATB.

 

 

Bill.

Edited February 23, 2012 by Sweeney-Todd

[Mawders 595]

Thanks for the comments guys, will do more stories and pics whilst out at my perms in future. We both love it and both eager to keep getting back out there. I knew when I lit that fag it would probably be the end to the shooting rabbit wise but couldn't resist, a toast to the rabbit and also to steady the adrenaline haha. Thanks again.

[villaman 9,982]

Hi

What a good post

[gurtwurz 793]

excellent post mate, and good shot too!

 

bill's right about the fag mind you, but as a fellow smoker i find it hard to resist one meself. i usually nip back to the motor for a roll up and a brew as they dont smell so strong on you and it keeps it away from where youre shooting i'm currently trying one of them electronic ciggies in order to give up and that has next to no smell but still gets the nicotine down you when youre gagging...

 

 

cheers, wurz

[StevoSmith 147]

Great write up and pic's Mate.....cracking rifle the TX200 mk3 HC one of the best springers out there.....great feeling getting your first kill with a new rifle after you've been out of the game for such a long time......Also great times spending your time with your dad and doing things you both love to do...helps to bring you closer

 

 

ATB Stevo

[brickie 76]

Tidy write up mate, my lad is 14 now and used to come out hunting with me , he's got himself a bird now [non feathered type] and he's never away from her long enough to come out with his old man . Hopefully he to will catch the bug again one day ,but for now i'll leave him alone, your'e only young once . Keep up the shooting ,cheers

[dbm 49]

Great write up mate,keep up the good work

[stealthy1 3,964]

A nice reintroduction to the sport, welcome back