Foxing last week

[Mr_Logic 5]

I was out last week with my 223. I shoot at the farm where my other half keeps her horse, so with new S&B scope on, I thought I'd go for a wander. The idea was have a quick butcher's while she did the horse, maybe see the odd bunny but basically just see what the S&B was like under the lamp. The other thing was that because of issues with a very tight-fitting Predator8, my front swivel stud had broken off and was repaired with epoxy, so I was testing that too.

 

So out I wander, scanning around. And then, looking through the scope, I thought I saw something, easily 500 yards off and just a hint of an eye. For the first time, I couldn't see it at all with the naked eye, but it was definitely there in the scope. I had a good old squeak but nothing appeared to work. So I stopped being lazy and did the walking myself...

 

Shooting at this yard is very difficult, lots of dark horses in places you don't know, they never stick to the same corner of the field I spotted mostly horses, but, carrying on, there it was! This time nice and bright to the naked eye. I moved a bit closer, mainly to make sure there was no horse between me and Charlie, and he scarpered. Squeaked him again though, and he about-faced and came bounding to the edge of the thick vegetation. Bad move, one 50gr HP later and AFAIK he was a gonner. Heard a very, very solid thump and went to look.

 

Couldn't find him in the undergrowth but I saw him go down and it sounded SOOO final. Worst case, he got away but not far. As I continued to hunt for the body, I had a quick scan, and couldn't believe my luck when I caught more eyes about 100 yards from me, on the other side of the field (it's quite narrow at the top, much wider apart from that). Foxy was sat, so I had plenty of time to drop prone and line up the shot. Bang! An almighty thump and the fox when down immediately. I got there and found a very dead vixen. No exit wound from the 50gr, and a pool of blood everywhere. Much better!

 

Disposing of this one, I went back to carry on looking for fox #1. Couldn't find it and gave up looking. Just wandering away and I caught some more eyes at the far end of the field. I had plenty of light and vision for the shot, but I couldn't see the background clearly. I knew what it was, mud and grass, but the horses can blend so well I wasn't taking the chance out there, sheer numbers of horses make the odds of accident very high. I got lucky - I squeaked and in he came, trotting all the way up the field. In true style, the horses got back in the way, so I moved position. The fox was naive enough to trust me, and he paid the price.

 

So, 3 in 45 minutes. One very happy poultry-farming horse-yard owner, and a very successful trip out with the new scope. Only ruined by the crack from the stock at the end, and the bipod in my hands once more

 

I did even spy a 4th fox, but he was sleeping on top of some hay in a field, and the background was a distant house. No thanks! I did squeak but this one wasn't so stupid and toddled off into the undergrowth. Still, one to shoot at next time

 

On an equipment-related note, was interesting because I shot 2 there the other week, and had a different moderator on. All the horsey folk complained about the noise, but with the predator, the most they heard was one shot. Since the Pred didn't fit, I now have a T8 AR instead - don't want to lose shoots through complaints, no matter how silly.

Edited November 17, 2008 by Mr_Logic

[SNAP SHOT 194]

Good going there logic, bet your happy with the new scope, hope you get the front stud sorted soon.............good bag for a short trip out

[Mr_Logic 5]

Cheers Snap, I've found a nut which just about fits the end of the swivel thread, it's on there now and *seems* OK but then all the repairs did. Out tonight weather permitting so will see!