chrismdd 787 Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 With all this fine weather that we have had lately I decided on a second trip up to the field that I shot on last week. This time I set up at the other end of the same damaged patch as last week, partly because I saw rabbits at the far end last time and also because the wind was in the opposite direction. Put out markers at 30, 40 and 50 yards for the distances that I have been practising over the last week. Set up the usual camo net and poles, sorry Rez I know you're sick of seeing it so this time here is a selfie (not quite a celebrity one): Made myself comfortable, had a choccy bar and a swig of water and got ready for any action. It was a good half an hour before the first young rabbit came out at just beyond the 50 yd marker so left this one alone. Another ten minutes and a nice rabbit came out just 20 yds away, aimed and dropped him with a nice clean shot. Looking up the young rabbit was now alert and right next to my 50 yd marker so a bit of holdover and he dropped. He was kicking around a bit, as young rabbits do, but on picking him up he had a clean headshot. Brought them both back and lay in wait again. As I waited I noticed sufflings and gruntings in the hedge next to me and soon a couple of badgers were passing me barely five feet away. As they continued down the hedge behind me I glanced behind to see a rabbit just 25 yds behind me next to the hedge. Too good an opportunity to miss so as stealthy as I could I slid the S410 from under the netting and tried to pivot round. All the time this rabbit was getting anxious and obviously ready to bolt. I only managed to get the gun resting on my boot in a rather awkward position and rushing the shot I fired high and he was gone. Annoyed with myself for not taking more time I went back to my usual position and saw another young rabbit but this was well beyond the 50 yd marker and I guessed it was at around 60. Still annoyed with my earlier mistake I decided to have a go when normally I would leave it. The air was still and I went for a headshot with 3 mildot holdover, fired and the rabbit dropped without as much as a kick. Picked him up and there was no sign of a shot, paced it back and it was 72 yards, closer examination showed a heart shot where the pellet had dropped. Went for a look around and saw a number of rabbits up in the top corner so with still a good hour of light I upped sticks and changed position. This area showed more damage than anywhere else so set up against the standing wheat. This hedgerow is one that we ferreted hard in the winter and cleared out and many of the rabbits showed a bout of mixy at the time. They have obviously returned in numbers which maybe due to the neighbouring field now growing potatoes and so forcing more rabbits over. Over the next hour I took two nice rabbits and will definitely try this area properly again during the coming week. With the light now almost gone it was time to head home. Three of the rabbits were young ones destined for the ferrets, whilst the other two were nicer larger youngish tender rabbits perfect for cooking. As I headed back to the truck I could see brake lights coming on and off in two distance large fields that had recently been cut for silage. They were shooting rimfires / hmrs possibly with NV. Sounded a bit like a massacre going on as they drove around the fields. Made me think that yes it may be a very efficient method of controlling rabbits when in large numbers but would I want to do it no I much prefer the fieldcraft of stalking and laying in wait with a sub 12ft/lb airgun where the skills still persist. I compare this to my love of fishing natural rivers for coarse fish rather than fishing commercial carp puddles. Just my thoughts I suppose but each to their own. Chris 7 Quote Link to post
Durham John 693 Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 cracking write up as usual mate Quote Link to post
David.evans 5,323 Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Excellent Chris And great shooting mate Ab Tb Dave Quote Link to post
Rez 4,957 Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Absolutely mint post. Question, how the hell did you get the camera to take a picture of yourself?! Vain sod. I imagine you taking picture... no that isn't right, taking picture, no that isn't right... And second, you look much much younger in your profile pic Great post and images. Again. 2 Quote Link to post
villaman 9,980 Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Great write up , nice pictures and good shooting Quote Link to post
mark williams 7,549 Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Ditto to above, Well done Chris. Quote Link to post
billyhunter 0 Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Putting those markers out is an excellent idea, great post! Quote Link to post
bullmastiff 610 Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Well done mate, still hitting them over I see! just make sure you leave some for us in the winter!! As always a great write up. 1 Quote Link to post
j j m 6,481 Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Good write up mate Quote Link to post
chrismdd 787 Posted July 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Absolutely mint post. Question, how the hell did you get the camera to take a picture of yourself?! Vain sod. I imagine you taking picture... no that isn't right, taking picture, no that isn't right... And second, you look much much younger in your profile pic Great post and images. Again. I had a 'Carly Simon' moment and used my fishing rodrest with a camera adapter that I use when taking fishing trophy shots. That's my oldest lad in the profile picture when he was four years old on his first ferreting expedition. He's now just turned eight and over the last three years has been on all the local beating trips on a small pheasant shoot and enjoys coming ferreting as long as its not raining and he can have some time on my phone playing games whilst we crawl around setting nets. Well done mate, still hitting them over I see! just make sure you leave some for us in the winter!! As always a great write up. By the looks of the damage around here I'm confident they'll be plenty here come September when we get reacquainted with those lovely nettles. Plus there are still some places where we have permission but have yet to ferret. Looking forward to it. Quote Link to post
bullmastiff 610 Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Not looking forward to the nettles, their crazy 'hot' at the moment even the big woody ones are stinging the hell out of me already!! Quote Link to post
random 659 Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Good write up enjoyed reading that and always nice to see pics,looks like you've got a fair bit to go at and numbers to make each trip worthwhile... Quote Link to post
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