Snoopy. 0 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 (edited) Autumn has really taken hold this past week. The warm westerly breeze that used to warm your skin now carries a bitter bite. Lush green fields are now a mass of fiery oranges and soothing reds as the leaves loosen their grip and float to the ground, creating a carpet like blanket throughout the land. The Wood pigeons are making the most of the freshly cut fields, waiting in eager anticipation of them being drilled and re-seeded. The squirrel population is getting ready for the winter, foraging furiously for mere morsels of food to get them through the harsh times ahead. The rabbits are in a poor state. Flea bitten and very weak. The younger, healthier rabbits will be left throughout the winter months. Creating good breeding stock for the warmer months of spring. Bringing with it fantastic and bountiful sport. The older, weaker looking rabbits will be taken for the pot. As the seasons change, so do my tactics. I’ll be working hard for my kills, taking whatever mark my scope gazes upon. Unfortunately for my quarry, these next few months just happen to be my favourite time for stalking... It's been a hectic week in my household. After failing to get out for a dawn raid on two consecutive days, I announced at 3:45pm today that I was "off out shooting." Within 10 minutes of uttering those words, I was at my shoot. I proceeded quickly onto a Zero check. Pellet on pellet at 35 yards. What more could you ask for? I unravelled my Jack Pyke camo' and slipped on my new Thinsulate finger gloves. My new fingerless gloves are superb. They have a mitten like flap that can be pulled over the fingers to keep them warm when they are not in action. A good addition to my ever growing kit-bag. I packed the target holder away and left my kit-bag at the entrance to my shoot. Carrying only the essentials. Pellets and my knife... As I rounded the first corner and began my long stalk I was greeted with this picture. A beautiful start to an evenings hunting. The entrance to my shoot, a fantastic start to the day. I hugged the hedge line and stalked slowly along the edge of the fields. Moving from one piece of cover to another. Ensuring the wind was in my face whenever I could. I crept close to a break in the hedge line dropped slowly to my knees and peered through an opening. I gazed upon two wood pigeon feeding about 30 yards out in the opposing field. I slipped my rifle through the hedge and rested my cross hairs just behind the eye of one of the woodies. With a gentle squeeze the pellet was sent thundering towards its mark. It dropped stone-dead. Not a single feather fluttered. Perfect. On closer inspection of the bird I found my pellet had found its mark. The entry wound being exactly where I had aimed. This is why I love the variable mag' of my MTC Viper 4-16x50IRS scope. The high mag' means shots like this can be taken with extreme precision... Wary wood pigeon, taken at 30 yards. Prone position. I collected the Wood pigeon and left him in the fork of a tree for pick up on my return leg. I got back into stealth mode and began my stalk once again. I stalked as slow as I could, rolling my boot from heal to toe, hoping to avoid the dreaded "crack" of a brittle twig. Eventually, the jagged hedge line and leaf covered stubble field turned into a lush green pasture. In the distance I could see a light brown mass, feeding unnaturally and un-characteristically far out for this time of the day. Alarm bells started to ring! Was it Myxie'? I stalked closer and raised the Daystate Huntsman Classic to my shoulder, peering through the viper, my fears were confirmed. The rabbit was infested with myxie. I dropped the legs of the bipod and settled my crosshairs behind its eye. I estimated the range to be about 45 yards. And with a mil of holdover applied the rabbit toppled onto its side without a twitch. If it wasn't for the myxie this rabbit would have made superb eating. He didn't go to waste however. He was left in the hedge, belly open for one of nature’s hunters to collect. Rabbit taken at 45 yards from the 'pod, left for one of natures hunters. I got my things together and began to work my way around the shoot. I kept my nose into the wind and tried to keep my shadow under my feet. These fickle-friends can easily betray your position. So always take it into account. I kept low along a hedge line as I approached a known "sitty-tree" Perched amongst the thick green ivy was a Wood pigeon. He hadn't spotted me so I was quick to exploit this. With my Vipers cross hairs latched onto the side of the woodies head, I estimated the range to be 30 yards, and so with the needed compensation for gravity, I sent my JSB Exact on his mission. The shot hit home and toppled the wood pigeon from its perch. He greeted the ground below him with a resounding thud. Job done. Resting Woody taken at 30 yards, Standing position. With two Wood pigeons and a rabbit in the bag, I stopped for a rest. I looked back on the three kills. To see if their was anything I could have done differently, of course there was. But I was happy with the way things were happening. I went and collected all my kills and placed them in my game bag. I took a sip of the fresh orange juice I’d taken with me. With light fading I decided to head over to a known "hot-spot" for woodies, rabbits and squirrels. Within minutes of bridging the fence and beginning a stalk, a rabbit popped into view. He was about yards off. So a long stalk was needed. About 30 yards into the stalk I noticed he wasn't moving at all. Not even to feed. I peered through the viper to realise it was another myxie bunny. I got within 45 yards of him. Hold over applied, the pellet found its mark and dropped the said bunny. The sound of the pellet hitting home alarmed another rabbit and he made a bolt for the hedge line. He stopped about 15 yards from the rye grass at the base of the hawthorn bushes. A quick check through my scope revealed him to be a perfectly healthy young rabbit. I lowered my rifle and carried on. I reached the end of the field and paused to survey the ground. Another 3 rabbits had escaped the wrath of the Huntsman. They will be left to re populate the warrens in spring. As I sat I noticed movement to my half right. I planted the scope firmly on the grey mass, the viper revealed a bushy tail, out foraging for the winter months. He was only a youngster. But as a game keeper I can't have too many of these fellas around. I let out a loud click with my tongue which brought squirrel to an abrupt halt. Seconds later He lay motionless in the grass. Another testament to the Huntsman's Pin-point accuracy... At that point I decided to head home. The sun was dipping down beneath the hills and the last rays of light were shrinking with each coming minute. The sky turned a dark purple masked by a thick white mass of cloud. I came across two more young squirrels on my way back to the kit bag. They were left to fight another day. I don't want to eradicate species, that's not what I’m about. But they will be controlled. I reached the kit-bag just as the sun was dieing. Darkness was beginning to spread its eerie cloak across the fields. The land looks beautiful at this time of the day and is one of the reasons I love hunting so much. It's just as much about seeing Mother Nature at work as to filling the game-bag for me... The game bag at the end of the day’s hunt, minus the rabbit left in hedge. Bringing the total to; two rabbits, two wood pigeon and 1 squirrel. On the way back to the car I noticed a hot air balloon coming toward me whilst descending. It was silhouetted beautifully against the darkening sky. And lit up with amazing detail as the pilot injected more hot air into his canopy. I jokingly waved as I was walking across a field and to my astonishment, the dark mass on the side of the basket waved back. I got my camera out and started snapping. What a beautiful and peaceful end to a hectic and busy week! A beautiful end to a beautiful day's shooting. Hot air balloon at low altitude over the North Riding at sunset. Until next time, safe and happy hunting. Snoop'. Edited October 9, 2009 by Snoopy. Quote Link to post
ferretville 69 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Enjoyable read there snoopy and nice mixed bag. Must admit the huntsman is a smart bit of kit atb FV Quote Link to post
bedrock 16 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Excellent post snoopy Are you sure you want that huntsman because I could give it a good home Quote Link to post
ianltz 5 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 great write up fella and great pics, keep up the good work, Ian Quote Link to post
Phantom 631 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 That was a good read, I was looking through your eyes there buddy Excellent shooting as well I was hoping to be out this evening but its my Grandaughters birthday today and its a chicken and (well for me Rabbit) curry. I don't have the luxury of a stunning permission such as yours, but that read placed me firmly in your boots. AWSOME Phantom Quote Link to post
aaronpigeonplucker 32 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 thats the best post i've read on here i a long time. you could publish that in airgunner. i know there is no point in destroying sport but squirrels are an invasive species and in my opinion, the more that are wiped out, the better. i say, bring back our native red. Quote Link to post
aaronpigeonplucker 32 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 (edited) That was a good read, I was looking through your eyes there buddy Excellent shooting as well I was hoping to be out this evening but its my Grandaughters birthday today and its a chicken and (well for me Rabbit) curry. I don't have the luxury of a stunning permission such as yours, but that read placed me firmly in your boots. AWSOME Phantom i think you would be at an advantage with all those gravestones to hide behind Edited October 9, 2009 by aaronpigeonplucker Quote Link to post
stealthy1 3,964 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Well written post, and I think most folk who use airguns admire the wildlife around them when they shoot, its some thing that comes with this branch of shooting sports Quote Link to post
zini 1,939 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 A brilliant read friend and excellant shooting there . I take it from the ranges that you were shooting and the size of the entry wounds on the pigeons pic 2 and 3 you were using .177 calibre? My favourite calibre by far. Pictures 4, 5, and 6 look like .22 though. What calibre is the combo if you dont mind me asking friend? Zini Quote Link to post
Snoopy. 0 Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 (edited) A brilliant read friend and excellant shooting there . I take it from the ranges that you were shooting and the size of the entry wounds on the pigeons pic 2 and 3 you were using .177 calibre? My favourite calibre by far. Pictures 4, 5, and 6 look like .22 though. What calibre is the combo if you dont mind me asking friend? Zini Hello Zini. All shots were taken using JSB exact's in .177 flavour Snoop. Edited October 9, 2009 by Snoopy. Quote Link to post
davyt63 1,845 Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 hi snoopy another convert! from AAOC. great post buddy and shooting & pic's.you have to visit me with the huntsman.did paulxpalir tell you i was tinking of getting one,wouldnt mind a demo regards davy Quote Link to post
zini 1,939 Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 Yes i thought so Snoopy I love .177 calibre mate, in my own opinion its great for fur and feather. I have never seen any vermin run if its been hit in the brain with a .22 or .177 so what’s the big problem i ask myself? I know people like the .22 because it is a heavier pellet and it will sometimes drop a bunny with a body shot. I personally would never shoot a bunny in the body anyway, Id sooner let it live for another day, so for me .177 is my flavour. My next gun will defo be a .177. I want a BSA Ultra single shot with the black tactical stock. Ive seen Reggaemans in action and them guns are the best kept secret i know of. I think that people sometimes buy the more expensive rifles (pre charged wise) thinking that the £300 ish guns are just a sub standard rifle, especially when you can buy a HW 95 springer for more than a Ultra. Ive owned a Tony Wall (Sandwell Fieldsports) tuned HW 95 which shot wonderful but that Ultra would smash it in every sense for style and accuracy. Zini Quote Link to post
Snoopy. 0 Posted October 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 hi snoopy another convert! from AAOC. great post buddy and shooting & pic's.you have to visit me with the huntsman.did paulxpalir tell you i was tinking of getting one,wouldnt mind a demo regards davy Hello mate, He did indeed You PM'd me if you can remember, on the AAOC I really can't fault the Huntsman mate. THe orginal one i bought wasn't up to scratch. So i sent it back to daystate and they replaced it with a brand new beauty' All i can say, is get one as soon as possible. And enjoy everything about it mate. They are superb rifles. And one i will be keeping for many years Snoop. Quote Link to post
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