Highs n lows

[Country Life 0]

Not everything is as perfect as the text books and mags make it.

I was working in Prestatyn Friday, so I decided to take my new CZ 452 Varmint SAK mod Hawke 3-12x44 SR6 on a Harris bipod out for some bunny bashing on the way home. The shoot which I have permission on is 180 acres of hills and valleys, classic rough shooting land. In the past this land has been shot over by other people and so the rabbits have become notoriously skittish. So stalking is very hard, not to mention tiring to say the least. The farmer was grazing his sheep and cattle over the best ambush areas. I noticed some Coney way up the hill by the thickets, so I set up in an area half way up a steep hill facing the rabbit warren, this gave me an excellent back stop but a nightmare to get comfortable on, having to lay down on an impossible angle to get a shot off, left leg straight out, right leg stuck out at 3 o`clock to stop me rolling down the hill.

I set up behind a bit of scrim supported by green canes (homemade hide poles from B n Q), I muttered to myself “this will have to do, not the best but the best of what is on offerâ€. As time passed I fell into the mood lying quiet watching and waiting, waiting n watching, the cramp became apparent after 2 hours or so.. I just had to move and get the circulation back into my legs, I crawled backwards folding the pod legs, retreating with the rifle but trying not to make myself noticeable. I walked over to another area in the hope of bagging a bunny or two only to see 4 rabbits bolt from the hedge disturbed by a cow rubbing against the gate to ease an itch..Well that put pay to that idea..I started back to my ambush point only to notice movement by this time I was some 150yds away, so it was down on the ground and a long crawl up-hill to the scrim by this time I was out of breath,(gonna have to give the fags up). It had disappeared behind some tall grass, This gave me time to regain my posture, but the light was fading fast I had just the one chance at this I had to get it right.. The rabbit reappeared some distance away, I put the scope through its paces, checking my calculations I estimated it was 70yds away that gave me 3†holdover with a zero at 50yds. it dropped its head to munch on the grass, I slipped the safety off and squeezed a round off, the only sound was the .22 hitting the bunny into a spin. I walked over pacing the distance but uphill on rough ground isn’t accurate. The entry was just below right of the right eye and exit was through the left shoulder, cleaning the rabbit gave me three edible legs and a load of meat on the haunches..placed in the freezer for a later day.. Only to find out that the misses had given it away to my son in-law the following morning.. Still it was a memorable evening some good points some not so good but all in all lessons were learnt.

 

John

[Guest hyperion]

good read chap!

just shows its not about the end result its about what you do to get it!

we went out yesterday and all ive got to show for it are mossy bites! lol!, going to try our luck again this evening though!

cheers

[dirty twister 31]

i agree very good read you should write for countryman's or ST mate!

[Country Life 0]

Thank you all..

 

Tis the first lengthy post I have done, It is not all fun and games out in the field, But all the same the peace and quiet is unbeatable..I cant get enough of it, shame the wife doesnt see it that way..

 

John

[dirty twister 31]

my missus dont see it like that either pal i can have had a buzzin day.Out all day come back in havin got afew pigeon and she'll grunt at me "get out with them f'in wellies on !" or moan about me being out all day theyre good arent they spose thats why we love em!!

i always think tho them days when you have to graft for youre quarry turn out to be the best days!