Five out of Five.

[Ideation 8,217]

I had to work late last night, and didn't get home until after dark, so the dog hadn't been out for his usual couple of hours, and was restless. I took the lamp with me when i went to the bottom of the garden to shut the chickens in, and he followed on as usual, if i was lucky i might get a run for him to take the edge off him a bit. The wind was picking up and a good drizzle was driving in my face, good weather for lamping, but i had work again early doors this morning so had decided against it as anywhere worth visiting is a good drive from me.

 

As i shut the chickens in, i had a flash across the field next door, and was surprised to see a bunny sat right up the hill, i hissed the dog on and he was off over the fence, and away. Half way up the hill, the bunny spotted him and made off like a rocket, he caught up wel and was on it, turning it back down the hill and out of sight (and the beam) behind some cover, but moments later they were back, and heading for the top gate, i couldnt make out the bunny, and when the dog abruptly pulled up at the gate i thought it was gone. As he turned around however, the white flash of belly fur gave the catch away. Back down the hill he came and over the fenc into the garden.

 

At this point, i couldnt resist a little walk, so stuck my wellys on, grabbed a slip and set off on my shortest 'local' route, which is the five fields immediatly surrounding my house, which hold very few rabbits, all of which are pretty much the fittest that have survived. The ground is challenging, with a mix of very short grass, and lots of cover, mostly steep and badly fenced. Some nights i am lucky to get one run, and some i might get four, but its done in half an hour and gives the dog a chance of a stretch.

 

Anyway, with one rabbit in field one, i started at field two, climbing the gate quietly and lighting up the hill as i went, immediatly one was on its toes in the distance, heading for a gully, off goes the dog, running to cut it off, hes on it quickly and a couple of turns later it dead, as he's coming back, i have a quick look at the other end of the field, where there is a sheer earth cutaway, and a level standing with a horse training ring. Perched halfway up the sheer mud bank is a bunny, somewhere i have never seen one in my life. Lights out and i dash across the field with the dog, running for the far side of the ring, the bunny starts moving as the lamp comes on, scrambling for the grassy top, the dog beats him to it, and he decides to run downhil instead, followed by the dog, what ensues is a proper keystone cops moment as both dog and rabbit try to spiderman climb across the sheer bank, with a quality leap and tumble, the dog makes contact and number three is in the bag.

 

Over the gate into the next field, i light up the slope falling away in front, across the bottom flies a coney, and down goes the dog, hes on its tail quick, and it makes for some reeds, but is too slow as he ploughs into them behind it and pins it to the floor.

 

At this point i'm feeling pretty lucky, four out of four here, is very good, especially from three fields, as i go through the hedge and into the fourth field, its back to normal, as there is feck all apart from two bored looking horses, through the open gateway i go, into the fifth and final field, and, nothing. I'm just thinking, how it would have been nice to have got the fifth, when here he comes over the ridge to my left, the dog leaps forward and they are soon both gone out of the beam, back over the ridge, i keep the lamp on hopefully, and sure enough, it comes flying back over with the dog on its arse, couple of yards and it makes cover, in goes the dog, and the rabbit comes out of the other side like a cork from a bottle, straight under an electric fence (luckily switched off), the dog flies over and bang, number five is in the bag.

 

Now i know that five rabbits is hardly a massive deal, and i've waffled on a lot (i have had a few beers), but i was really chuffed, it was by far my best walk across these particular fields and the dog, who isnt a lamp dog by any stretch of the imagination, was on fire. We killed everything we saw

 

[tegater 789]

Exciting night pal, and no prisoners taken

[Ideation 8,217]

They were just all good quality runs to watch, better than any half hour of t.v on at the time

[tegater 789]

Numbers of rabbits dont matter to me, its all about the time you had getting them.

[johnny boy68 11,726]

Well done that little tyke, all starting to come together with him now mate, great stuff.

[malc1 544]

well done finn and jai i think you hid all those rabbits sataday night ha ha

[johnny boy68 11,726]

well done finn and jai i think you hid all those rabbits sataday night ha ha

[dytkos 18,181]

Another good result and write up, whens the book out?

 

Cheers, D.

[bryson 562]

well done mate i always enjoy reading your posts

[Adam_Chuck 256]

Great write up mate good on the dog

[tb25 4,627]

i enjoyed reading thate mate

[jasher 55]

Enjoyed reading that, it's all about getting out and sounds like a satisfying local 1/2 hr

Cheers