Quick Shine

[SportingShooter 0]

I went for a quick look out in the snow earlier on.

 

I've never lamped in snow before, we never seem to have this degree of Snow, at least not that I can remember.

 

By 'eck it was different! I started off as I normally do on this particular farm, through a set of double gates and into a large sloping field.

 

I had the lamp with me, but for the first few fields I didn't use it, the ground was so contrasting, that I could see whatever was around, but of course that meant they could see me. I got the picture of just how much they could see me, when I put the scope on a Bunny about 120 yards away which I'd spotted without the lamp.

 

I had the crosshairs on him, no intention of pulling the trigger, and he hopped a few steps, I put the rifle down as my arm was beginning to ache. I put it back up a second or two later on the bunny and bang, he bolted like grease lightning!

 

Change of tactics I thought.

 

I walked close to the hedgerow, which was by now back to normal colour. Dark and miserable! It crossed my mind that I wish I had Snow camouflage

 

Anyway, I carried on walking up the long and bendy hedgerow for another 300 yards or so where you come to a gate. The next field looks like it would suit a Motte and Bailey! Summit in the middle of it and the ground sloping down around you. You have to be on top of the summit to see anything in here. Which is far from perfect

 

That field was a blank as well. A few Woodcock in there and a bunny, but no Fox.

 

On I trudged. Trudged is about right, even in the 2" of snow, the ground was wet underneath and damn difficult to walk, same as ever!

 

From the summit, I went right, towards another gate. On the other side, there is a large sloping field going away from you, probably the biggest field on the farm and one which I've shot the most foxes.

 

I walked up to it, rested the rifle on the top of it.

 

Nothing made itself apparent straight away, so for a change, I used the lamp. From left to right nothing.

 

From right back to left something caught my attention right at the edge of the beam. I continued slowly, slowly, Fox! Lamp Off

 

I put the rifle steady on the top bar of the gate and steadied myself behind it. He was a good 230 yards away, its 255 from the gate to the bottom of this field.

 

Steady enough on the spot I saw him. I flicked the lamp on. Still in exactly the same place, I adjusted the cross hair and put it on the top part of his throat. It's a steep field this!

 

Squeeze...........................Bang!..............................Pop! It would seem I'd hit my target

 

Over the gate, trudging down the field, I could see a large lump in the snow, certainly wasn't moving!

 

I got to him, paced at 224 yards. A dog in pretty good nick. Only problem was the large sloshing sound inside him I think he was feeling a bit loose

 

I was happy, never lamped in the snow before, and I had one less Dog about the place, all good

 

SS

 

P.S. One thing I never forget to take shooting is the camera, but guess what? I forgot the camera