Well, At Least I Know My Camo Works.....

[Dr B 186]

So, the other day I managed to have an unexpected visit to my new rabbit perm (mentioned here in other posts). It was a bit rushed and a last min thing, but by luck had spent the day beforehand doing some zeroing on the two S410s and knew they were ready to rock - so I seized the opportunity. I packed the guns, pellets, full camo gear, headed up the M6.

 

A three-hour (yes, three hour) drive and I'm there - landing around 5:30am. I took both guns fully charged but no pump or anything as it was just a day trip and between the guns I had 160 shots. I used the early morning to reccy the rabbit whereabouts as this is still a new perm and sure enough, they were true to their previous patterns and I could see in the 'large field' separate pockets of 5-8 rabbits in all four corners, and spooked a couple around the farm buildings where I'd not encountered them before - just goes to show - research (doh!). This field is also full of separate splats of cow shit and it's easy to walk right past a rabbit thinking its cow poo.....so a scan through the scope at distance is the only way to know for sure. Spotted a few just sitting there amongst the patts.

 

As the rabbits were already out, it was tricky to get anywhere near to them, so I decided to do something I rarely do. Leave them and return in the afternoon to blat them on their evening feed. I popped in to see family that live nearby during the day, had a man-nap during the mid morning, and returned to the farm at 4pm to get into place for evening feed, which seems to start at around 6pm on this land. I had full camo on, Realtree hardwoods green, pants, jacket, hat and gloves. The full clobber. Remember the film "Leon"? Well, that was me, no women no children, just varmint.

 

I sat about 25yds downwind of where I knew a group emerges, right by the fence with some gauze-bush behind me for coverage. Opened my faithful flask for a swig of coffee (why does coffee always smell great coming out of a flask in the middle of a field or woodland?), I cranked a pellet into the S410 Classic, slipped the safety catch on and just sat there for a while waiting and listening to the wildlife singing around me. All was well with the world. Now, due to the layout and the way I was sat I had to make the decision to align myself in a certain way for where I anticipated they would be, at the cost of the other possibility 90-degrees to my right. It was a gamble, I made a decision and sat facing in my chosen direction.

 

After around 30mins, the first rabbit pops right out through the fence and then bolts almost immediately right off into the middle of this huge field to feed. It's now around 70yds away from me and well out of my range. Bugger. Then another one pops out and starts to run right at me. I dip my head so my hat brim keeps my face obscured, but I also watch it as it gets closer. Bugger me, it darts to the right of me, getting closer and gets to within 10yds of me and just sits and feeds. Problem is, I'm now facing 90-degrees in the wrong direction and in its full view to the far side of me. There is no way I can rotate myself and not spook it, so I thought to just sit there and wait. Then I hear thumping, but can't see anything....I slowly realise there must be a rabbit running around behind me and very close to me.....there was, as it ran around the side of me after a couple of mins.

 

I'm now in the middle of the most farcical situation. There I was, in my full camo gear, with a loaded, fully set up and ready to go airgun, with what was now three rabbits running around me as if I was not there - and none of them on the side I can shoot them. I wait a further 10mins to see if, in their playing and running around they would enter my kill zone. They did not. So, I thought, sod it, and slowly starting to rotate on me arse, orienting myself towards the play full bunnies. I got to the angle I needed and they appeared oblivious to my movement up to that point. So far, so good. I slowly raised the gun into my shoulder. As the butt of the airgun passes my chest and headed towards my right shoulder, I got to being within a few cms of the final position and all three ran like a stabbed rat right back into the hedge - gone.....Oh f**k. A total embarrassing washout.

 

So, next, I could see rabbits in the distance of this field and decided to stalk them, using the nearby farm buildings for cover. I ended up getting two out of about 102 I saw that night - needless to say, not happy! I reckon the only thing I can say from this venture was that my camo works! Sometimes I go shooting and seem unable to miss. The decisions I make can always seem to be the right ones, and things fall into place. Other times, everything goes wrong, every decision is the wrong one.....and the bunnies have the last laugh.

 

Ever had one of those days? Time to confess. What's your most hilarious failure in the field? Have the bunnies (or any quarry for that matter) just took the piss?

[Rez 4,961]

Off subject but how come your text is in times and not the standard Helvetica?

[Dr B 186]

Because I'm special.....

 

or......

 

I typed it in word first, pasted it, and taaadaaaahhh

[j j m 6,601]

i like to use good cammo

[mark williams 7,566]

Nice write up Doc - your camo must have been spot on mate, but your "text was in times and not the standard Helvetica" nice advice and helpful input .

Edited June 2, 2015 by mark williams

[Dr B 186]

Thanks Mark, I did not know there was a "Font mafia" on here :laugh: . I just wrote it in Word and cut n pasted....didnt think anymore about it. However, I think you will find, by chance, the font is actually easier to read (more spacing in the letters and lines). Nonetheless I'll make sure for next time......

 

In relation to the actual question in the OP Mark, ever had one of those days????

[mark williams 7,566]

Yeah ! Like forgot my pellets and turned the outing into a 40 mile round trip instead of 20

Senior moment i think.

 

atb.

[stealthy1 3,964]

You don't half write like Milegajo

[Dr B 186]

and you didn't even have to pay to read it.....lucky you.

Edited June 2, 2015 by Dr B

[mark williams 7,566]

What ever happened to Milegajo, family and caravan ?

[random 659]

What ever happened to Milegajo, family and caravan ?

Good question,some good reading they were.

 

Dr b at least you know your concealment works! An annoying outing but we live and learn,or do we??

[stealthy1 3,964]

and you didn't even have to pay to read it.....lucky you.

[kilbs66 23]

Milegajo?

[villaman 9,982]

Milegajo?

Long story ,if some body doesn't tell you today ,I will over the weekend

[bigmac 97kt 13,824]

At least you were out bud ,what part of the north east is your perm

 

we could poss meet up for a shoot yours or mine if close enough

 

atvbmac :thumbs: